Lightning Guidelines

 

Doug Cundall and Peter Kluszczynski, Co-Umpires ‘n Chief

 

We follow the Softball Canada, Softball Ontario and Provincial Women’s Softball Association guideline for the calling of games due to lightning in the area.

That policy is a “30-30” Policy.

If lightning is observed the umpire will immediately start a count of seconds until the sound of the thunder is heard. If the thunder is heard within 30 seconds then the game is immediately suspended and may not be restarted for 30 minutes from the last lightning observed.

Players, coaches, fans and umpires should immediately take shelter away from tall objects (trees, light standards, metal fencing, etc.).  Cars are a good choice to shelter in due to their relative insulation from the ground.  The umpires are the sole determiners of whether or not a game shall be suspended or can restart.  League executive have the right to order teams from the game/field but not to order teams to remain playing or to restart play. Error on the side of safety!

It is a scientific fact that lightning can travel 16 km. in just under 20 seconds, from its source, to strike the ground and the National Weather Office advises careful and close adherence to removing yourself from danger.

While “sheet lightning” generally occurs without the accompanying thunder, it still can be a source of lightning ground strikes and as soon as it is observed the same rules need to be followed.