Stoppage for Thunder/Lightning

[wardtc]

"When lightning is observed or thunder is heard and the contest is suspended, play may resume when lightning has been absent from the sky and thunder has not been heard for thirty minutes"

I always ask the game management though - every time there is a chance of bad weather what is the plan if we do need to stop. It's a good habit just like asking for a roster - do it every time.

The bad news is that some officials do stop and the crowd then goes to watch the football players practice on the next field - ??????

Also we have a field where it is quite a hike (2-3 minutes) to get to shelter. But be prepared anyway. It commands respect when you know as opposed to guessing.

[RonRef]

I am a football official in WI and we had to stop a jv football last night in the 4th quarter with 2 minutes left to play in a 33-14 game. We got together with the coaches and we decided to just end the game. As we are leaving a parent is yelling at us that "we only have 2 minutes left," then he pops off "do you have a hot date you have to get to." Sometimes I really can't believe how stupid parents/fans can be. The lighting the stopped the game was a bolt that seem to start at the top of the sky and hit the horizon.