Lightning guidelines

[NCASAUmp]

I'm surprised at the number of umpires who try to keep their games going, despite visible lightning in the area (within 10 miles). Then I get the crazy looks from teams, fellow umpires and local field supervisors when I pull my players off the field and tell them to wait.

[shipwreck]

Or with stupid umpires, when told to clear the teams from the field and dugouts, who reply "we only need one more out." Last time I checked, lightning can't count. Dave

[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.

[Skahtboi]

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.

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....

[shipwreck]

We are required to get the teams off the field and out of the dugouts. We can't be expected to take everyone's hand and lead them to their cars, their parent's cars or the bus. The coaches need to take a little initiative on their own. Dave

[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.

[Dakota]

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.

I have a handout on this site dealing with lightning safety, taken from information published by the National Weather Service.

Your concern about kids staying in the bench area, near the chain link fence is justified, but your best alternative is NOT to stand out in an open field. Here is an excerpt from my handout:

Seek proper shelter when required. Don't hesitate, seek shelter immediately. The lightning casualty stories are replete with events where people were about to make it to shelter when they were struck; if they'd just started a minute earlier, they'd have been safe.

Proper Shelter: The best shelter commonly available against lightning is a large fully enclosed substantially constructed building, e.g. your typical house. Substantially constructed means it has wiring and plumbing in the walls. Once inside, stay away from any conducting path to the outside. Stay off the corded telephone. Stay away from electrical appliances, lighting, and electric sockets. Stay away from plumbing. Don't watch lightning from windows or doorways. Inner rooms are generally better.

If you can't get to a house, a vehicle with a solid metal roof and metal sides is a reasonable second choice. As with a house, avoid contact with conducting paths going outside: close the windows, lean away from the door, put your hands in your lap, don't touch the steer¬ing wheel, ignition, gear shifter, or radio. Convertibles, cars with fiberglass or plastic shells, and open framed vehicles don't count as lightning shelters.

MYTH:
Cars are safe because the rubber tires insulate them from the ground.
TRUTH:
Cars are safe because of their metal shell.

If you can't get to proper lightning shelter, at least avoid the most dangerous locations and activities. Avoid higher elevations. Avoid wide-open areas, including sports fields. Avoid tall isolated objects like trees, poles, and light posts [or backstops]. Avoid water-related activities: boating, swimming (includes indoor pools), and fishing. Avoid golfing. Avoid open vehicles like farm tractors, open construction vehicles, riding lawnmowers, golf carts (even with roofs), etc. Avoid unprotected open buildings like picnic pavilions, rain shelters, and bus stops [or dugouts]. Avoid metal fences and metal bleachers.

[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.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I'm surprised at the number of umpires who try to keep their games going, despite visible lightning in the area (within 10 miles). Then I get the crazy looks from teams, fellow umpires and local field supervisors when I pull my players off the field and tell them to wait.

I did a tournament earlier this year where the TD wanted to continue the games even though the tornado warning sirens were sounding...

[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.

[Dakota]

Being out in a field during a lightning storm is not a safe place to be, even though there are MORE dangerous places to be (such as leaning against the back stop). No one is arguing that the dugout is a safe place.

Being directly hit by lightning is not the only hazard. The charge will travel along the surface of the ground for some distance, and this has nothing to do with how tall the item directly hit is.

While lightning TENDS to strike the tallest grounded object, that is no guarantee. It will TEND to strike the tallest object in the middle of a sports field.

[Skahtboi]

These people were on an open field when lightning struck!