USA lightning guidelines

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I am going to jump into the discussion from a personal point of view.

My sister and I started playing golf at the same time when I was 9 and she was 5 in the Summer of 1961. I played competitively until the boys started coming in 1990 and my sister played on the women's golf team at the University of Miami (FL) in the mid-1970s. We have always taken lightening VERY seriously. And why have we taken it seriously? In 1965 at a local country club where one my future H.S. golf teammates belonged a foursome and their four caddies decided to continue playing in a thunderstorm. The result was two members and two caddies seriously injured and two members and two caddies DEAD!

The lightning detection systems that many golf clubs and athletic fields are great. I was officiating a H.S. soccer game at a school in Michigan one year when the AD stopped the game because the school's lightning detection system had detected lightning even though it was a clear day. Mark, Jr., and I have twice had games that we were umpiring when the game site's lightning detection system signal went off on a near cloudless day. We cleared the field and waited for the all clear signal. BUT actually seeing lightning or actually hearing thunder trumps a lightning detection system that does not detect lightning when it is confirmed visually.

Lightning can strike from as far away as 15 miles even when the storm has passed through. Rich has commented upon and NFHS recommendation with regard to cloud to cloud lightning. I do not officiate football like Rich and can only assume that this is something that will be discussed at baseball and softball meetings in the Spring for the benefit of we umpires. Hopefully, Rich can elaborate more on the recommendation. That said, cloud to cloud lightning send me off the baseball or softball diamonds.

MTD, Sr.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

BUT actually seeing lightning or actually hearing thunder trumps a lightning detection system that does not detect lightning when it is confirmed visually.

And my experience was the exact opposite. I clearly saw and heard it, but I was told that we keep playing until the siren sounds. It floors me that an official involving a game being played by young children would have that attitude.

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Rich has commented upon and NFHS recommendation with regard to cloud to cloud lightning. I do not officiate football like Rich and can only assume that this is something that will be discussed at baseball and softball meetings in the Spring for the benefit of we umpires. Hopefully, Rich can elaborate more on the recommendation. That said, cloud to cloud lightning send me off the baseball or softball diamonds.

Well, I'm no meteorologist, but to me, lightning is lightning. Can someone unequivocally say that if you see so-called cloud-to-cloud or intracloud lightning, there is no chance for cloud-to-ground lightning to take place as well?

Now, if you're talking about sheet lightning where you can't even hear any thunder, yeah, that might be something you can play through since it's so far away. But where I live, there's just too many hills and trees to see that happening.

[Mountaincoach]

True story--Local certified, trained umpire here with the worst combination--tremendous arrogance and narcissism, but no common sense or interpersonal skills. The other umpires literally refuse to work with him. Beautiful spring day several years ago. I was coaching a Little League team. I mean we had a completely blue sky except for one cute little white cloud off in the distance. You know that "boom" sound that comes from the shaking of an empty tailgate on a dump truck when the truck hits a bump? (if not, just trust me when I say it's a pretty good boom) We all were very used to that sound because a big bridge was about a 1/4 mile away. I heard the truck hit the bump on the bridge and make that sound. Umpire immediately throws his hands up, screams TIME!!, and sends all the kids to the dugouts. I walked over and whispered "Dude, what the hell are you doing?" He said "I heard thunder. Automatic 30 minute delay." I whispered "You heard a dump truck on the highway, and, secondly, aren't you supposed to be looking for lightning?" He said "Oh" and put everybody back on the field. All of the parents were like "What the heck was that about?"

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Manny A

And my experience was the exact opposite. I clearly saw and heard it, but I was told that we keep playing until the siren sounds. It floors me that an official involving a game being played by young children would have that attitude.

What does the age have to do with it? For that matter, why would anyone keep a team on the field when it is unsafe? Don't care what the TD or anyone else states, the umpire crew is ultimately responsible for what happens on that field