Lightning guidelines

[canump]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Have ever read a report about a herd of cows getting electrocuted? If you have, weren't they huddled under a tree? Ever read one where the cow was in the middle of a pasture?

I can see sending the kids to their cars or to a large building. The practice I object to is that of sending them to the dugout.

On the field I was describing, except for the center fielder, the players are all seem closer to the bottom of the nearest light pole than the top of the light pole is to the bottom (while probably a safe distance away), while on the field. It is my assertion that the kids are safer in the field than near the backstop/light poles.

If we would have taken a picture I could show what 6 cows look like after they were struck by lightning in the middle of the feild. They were almost
200' away from any other object, so don't think that it's any safer putting your youngster out in center feild. Like everyone is saying, get them to proper cover ASAP.

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

I ask coaches at HS games, to remove their players to the cars or buses. I will repeat that request when I see coaches who don't comply. However, I have had both coaches and parents argue that "it is raining too hard," or something along those lines. My belief then, is, you can lead a horse to water....

My belief then, is, you can lead a horse to water.... But you can't make him think.

Bob

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by bluezebra

My belief then, is, you can lead a horse to water.... But you can't make him think.

Bob

Amen to that.
And it's a good thing we have no responsibility for making a coach think. I'm not really sure those words go together weill - in some cases.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Found this old post, so thought I'd ask my question here.

I arrived at a men's wreck league game the other night. It was 15 minutes before game time and we had lightning and a huge thunderclap. I drove into the main field area from the parking lot and informed the players there that we'd be waiting 30 minutes from that last boomer, and another 30 for any subsequent flashes/thunder.

They protested that it wasn't game time yet. I'm assuming their argument was that any lightning/thunder that occurred prior to game time does not come into play for purposes of holding up a game.

I told them my clock was already running and we'd not play until we had had 30 minutes lightning/thunder-free skies.

Turned out to be a moot point as a few minutes later, the field was deluged and made the decision easy.

Most of these guys probably had the incentive to start on time because it was the 6th game of the NHL Finals and they wanted to get home to see it. (That part was accomplished.)

Thoughts on when you start your clocks or if there is an specific game time mandate?

Thanx.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

OTOH, as a parent watching a game at a field with 60' to 80' light poles and 25' chain-link back stops, surrounded by 50' to 70' tall trees, I have questioned the wisdom of taking my 5'10" DD off the field to put her in a chain-link pen with a metal roof, connected to this 25' fence, and sitting her on an aluminum bench (for which the back rest is this same 25' tall fence).

Looking at the angles, I think I'd rather her be on the field.

That's why it really should not be clear the field, it should be clear the stadium. This means go to a bus, car or if available building (not the dugout).

I had several instances this season of weather delays during track meets I was officiating. It was made clear you went inside the bus or inside the buildings at the track, and did not stay outside. One of these storms was a full blown 60 plus mph wind and hail storm. The other was flashes of light every few minutes and maybe 5 drops of rain total. Try explaining to coaches, athletes and parents that they need to stay inside and away from the track when it isn't raining and the sun is coming out.

[chapmaja]

There was a strike at a boy scout camp recently that left several people injured although none critically. The scouts had all huddled under a tent in a wooded campsite area. Lightning struck a tall tree at the edge of the campsite, traveled through the ground underneath the scouts, and exited via another nearby tree. The scouts, and leaders all had signs of being struck including tingling, muscle cramps, and spider web pattern burns on their skin. They were all under a tent in a campsite in a wooded area. If lightning is going to strike, it will strike. It doesn't care where you are.

I personally have almost been struck twice. Once when I was young, I went to open the back door of the house to let the dog in. Lightning struck the big Willow Tree, came though that and blasted a chunk of the back step apart. The only injury I suffered were cuts from the exploding concrete steps. The second time I was in bed at another house when I felt tingling. As I got up I witness lightning strike the well head just outside my bedroom window. The lightning also came into the house as well, causing a small fire near my bedroom window.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

if there is an specific game time mandate?

Thanx.

Good job on waiting !

Of course not, just don't play within 30 minutes of t/l.

[Rich]

I had a confrontation at a park about a month ago when some idiots decided that the thunder *surrounding* the park wasn't adequate to stop the game.

No, I wasn't the umpire. I was the parent of an 8-year-old player. The umpire finally "ejected" me from the vicinity of the field (when I couldn't get the coaches to do anything, I grabbed his attention between innings against my better judgment) and I had a subsequent confrontation with the tournament directors, who have no clue about lightning protocols, only that "we didn't see a lightning bolt and we can play until there's visible lightning."

They didn't like my reply, "You know, it's all around us. The first one you see could kill everyone on the field."

All this to keep on schedule for a tournament for EIGHT YEAR OLDS.

I don't go to many games anymore because my daughter's coach is a moron who sided with the umpire and the tournament staff and sent me an email telling me I was completely out of line. My wife, though, sided with me and has promised me that she will pull my kid to the car if anything like that ever happens again.

[SWFLguy]

I am currently only working high school softball. FHSAA has well defined guidelines which only a fool would not follow. Fortunately the high school season from the end of January to May does not usually have a lot of lightning storms. I couldn't imagine working summer ball down here during our rainy/tropical storm season.
Yes, a car or bus or inside a steel frame building would be my choice for shelter.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Andy

I believe someone has posted it here before, but I can't find it.

Is there something in a rule book - any ruleset - with guidelines for dealing with lightning?

I looked in the ASA and NFHS book and couldn't find anything...

Page 180 in the 2013 ASA book

[xtremeump]

It is our duty to postpone play for the Time allowed 30 minutes. I tell the Coach that my partner and I will be in the car. That's it, the coach gets training on what to do. It is not our responsibility. Do not direct anyone what they should do.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by xtremeump

It is our duty to postpone play for the Time allowed 30 minutes. I tell the Coach that my partner and I will be in the car. That's it, the coach gets training on what to do. It is not our responsibility. Do not direct anyone what they should do.

No, it isn't. We suspend play for the time it is necessary for the safety issue to pass.

We instruct the teams that the game is suspended. I prefer that to postponed as I have found many to take that as it being rescheduled at a later date and leave, but that certainly isn't what we mean during a simple delay.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Rich

I had a confrontation at a park about a month ago when some idiots decided that the thunder *surrounding* the park wasn't adequate to stop the game.

No, I wasn't the umpire. I was the parent of an 8-year-old player. The umpire finally "ejected" me from the vicinity of the field (when I couldn't get the coaches to do anything, I grabbed his attention between innings against my better judgment) and I had a subsequent confrontation with the tournament directors, who have no clue about lightning protocols, only that "we didn't see a lightning bolt and we can play until there's visible lightning."

They didn't like my reply, "You know, it's all around us. The first one you see could kill everyone on the field."

All this to keep on schedule for a tournament for EIGHT YEAR OLDS.

I don't go to many games anymore because my daughter's coach is a moron who sided with the umpire and the tournament staff and sent me an email telling me I was completely out of line. My wife, though, sided with me and has promised me that she will pull my kid to the car if anything like that ever happens again.

Rich:

I understand your frustration. We all know that: Using facts and logic with an idiot is like having a gun fight with an unarmed man. Why didn't you pull your child from the field.

Years ago when our younger son was playing lite-weight football (he was 10 years old at the time) and his team practiced at our E.S. playground field 1-1/2 blocks from our home. Practice was after school and a thunderstorm rolled through the area. I went to the field figuring that the coaches would stop practice and move the players to a safe place. Much to my surprise the team was still practicing and parents were standing around thinking it was okay. I walked out onto the field and told the HC (who know that I was a H.S. baseball and fast pitch softball umpire) that he needed to get the team off of the field because of storm, he told me that the lightning was not directly over them so he was going to continue to practice the team. I told him: 1) I was taking Andy home; 2) He was not even going to think about penalizing Andy for my actions; and 3) He was an idiot for not stopping practice. I took Andy home.

Sometimes you just have to take the bull by the tail and face the situation.

MTD, Sr.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Rich:

I understand your frustration. We all know that: Using facts and logic with an idiot is like having a gun fight with an unarmed man. Why didn't you pull your child from the field.

Years ago when our younger son was playing lite-weight football (he was 10 years old at the time) and his team practiced at our E.S. playground field 1-1/2 blocks from our home. Practice was after school and a thunderstorm rolled through the area. I went to the field figuring that the coaches would stop practice and move the players to a safe place. Much to my surprise the team was still practicing and parents were standing around thinking it was okay. I walked out onto the field and told the HC (who know that I was a H.S. baseball and fast pitch softball umpire) that he needed to get the team off of the field because of storm, he told me that the lightning was not directly over them so he was going to continue to practice the team. I told him: 1) I was taking Andy home; 2) He was not even going to think about penalizing Andy for my actions; and 3) He was an idiot for not stopping practice. I took Andy home.

Sometimes you just have to take the bull by the tail and face the situation.

MTD, Sr.

I was hoping they'd see the logic. They didn't. I was talking with people who had no common sense.

[xtremeump]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

No, it isn't. We suspend play for the time it is necessary for the safety issue to pass.

We instruct the teams that the game is suspended. I prefer that to postponed as I have found many to take that as it being rescheduled at a later date and leave, but that certainly isn't what we mean during a simple delay.

No it isn't what ? Yes postponed is a better way to say it. Really what did I say that you can say " No, it Isn't" Wow simply stop the game and go to the car. You are really taking me to task. This is a FORUM for everyone... Not just you !!!!