Lightning Safety
Appendix E 2012 NFHS Baseball Rules Page 76
National Federation of State High School Associations I
Guidelines on Handling Contests During Lightning Disturbances
The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a default policy to those
responsible for making decisions concerning the suspension and restarting of
contests based on the presence of lightning. The preferred sources from which
to request such a policy for your facility would include your state high school
association and the nearest office of the National Weather Service.
Proactive Planning
1. Assign staff to monitor local weather conditions before and during events.
2. Develop an evacuation plan, including identification of appropriate nearby shelters.
3. Develop criteria for suspension and resumption of play:
a. When thunder is heard, or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen,the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play and take shelter immediately.
b. Thirty-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play.
c. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30-minute count, reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.
4. Hold periodic reviews for appropriate personnel. For more detailed information, refer to the "Guidelines for Lightning
Safety" contained in the NFHS Sports Medicine Handbook.
Reviewed and Approved in 2010
Plus rules NFHS 6 Sec 2 Ar1 1 b ( page 38 of the 2012 rules book)
UIL Lightning Safety
Lightning may be the most frequently encountered severe storm hazard endangering physically active people each year. Millions of lightning flashes strike the ground annually in the United States, causing nearly 100 deaths and 400 injuries. Three quarters of all lightning casualties occur between May and September, and nearly four fifths occur between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm, which coincides with the hours for most athletic events.
Postpone or suspend activity if a thunderstorm appears imminent before or during an activity or contest (irrespective of whether lightning is seen or thunder heard) until the hazard has passed. Signs of imminent thunderstorm activity are darkening clouds, high winds, and thunder or lightning activity
Recommendations for Lightning Safety
Establish a chain of command that identifies who is to make the call to remove individuals from the field.
Name a designated weather watcher (A person who actively looks for the signs of threatening weather and notifies the chain of command if severe weather becomes dangerous).
Have a means of monitoring local weather forecasts and warnings.
Designate a safe shelter for each venue. See examples below.
Use the Flash-to-Bang count to determine when to go to safety. By the time the flash-to-bang count approaches thirty seconds all individuals should be already inside a safe structure. See method of determining Flash-to-Bang count below.
Once activities have been suspended, wait at least thirty minutes following the last sound of thunder or lightning flash prior to resuming an activity or returning outdoors.
Avoid being the highest point in an open field, in contact with, or proximity to the highest point, as well as being on the open water. Do not take shelter under or near trees, flagpoles, or light poles.