As a spring sport and a sport that doesn’t stop play for rain, lacrosse is
quite vulnerable to thunderstorms.
Every official needs to understand the issues concerning lightning.
The referee (crew chief) carries the burden of dealing with thunderstorms and lightning.
The
referee needs to consider:
• The obvious pressure to continue the game.
•
The availability and distance to shelter (buildings and vehicles with solid roofs).
• If the game
is stopped, is it being delayed (possible resumption the same day), suspended (to be completed another day), or terminated
(score stands as final, with the remaining game time not played)?
There are two major questions to address:
• When should the game be stopped?
• When is it reasonably safe to resume the game?
The first “30”
in the “30–30 Rule” says to stop the game when the time from the flash to thunder is 30 seconds or less.
This means that the strike was 6 miles or less. Since
can be no argument against getting everyone
to shelter as soon as possible. Keep in mind that 30 seconds is a long time, so if there’s a lightning strike followed
shortly thereafter by thunder, it’s best tostop the game and take shelter.
stop
the game and take shelter.
“If you hear it, clear it”
Depending on how good your hearing is and the amount of background sound this is also generally
good advice. Why? Because it’s believed that if you can hear thunder the lightning is either less than 8 miles away
or less than 12 miles away. Since a lightning strike can move 10 miles along with the speed at which a storm travels, even
a strike 12 miles away is at the doorstep of the danger zone.
“If
you see it, flee it”
This is good advice if it is referring to
seeing the bolts or shards of lightning. It wouldn’t be true if the lightning were sheet lightning (sometimes called
heat lightning).
strikes can move 10 miles, there Sheet lightning might be
40 miles away. Sheet lightning has no audible thunder.
Technology
Some high level games have fixed lightning detectors, a warning service or Internet availability
to determine the status of the lightning threat. Generally there has to
be someone assigned to monitor
these devices. However, for most games this type of assistance is not available.
However, an official can
acquire a small lightning detector for about $85 from Strikealert.com. This device beeps and turns on a light if there have
been lightning strikes in
one the following distance brackets within the last two minutes:0–6 miles
6–12 miles
12–24 miles24–40
miles
This device can be overly sensitive at times and it doesn’t work indoors or around machinery
such as a car engine. But it does offer valuable information if a storm is moving
toward the field and
the opportunity to get everyone to shelter.
Lastly, the device aids a measure of credibility to the referee’s
decision to stop the game.
24–40 miles
This device can be overly sensitive
at times and it doesn’t work indoors or around machinery such as a car engine. But it does offer valuable information
if a storm is moving
toward the field and the opportunity to get everyone to shelter.
Lastly,
the device aids a measure of credibility to the referee’s decision to stop the game.
When to resume the game
The second “30”
in the “30–30 Rule” stands for waiting 30 minutes after the last lightning and thunder before resuming the
game (or going outdoors to leave the game site). Typically as the storm moves through the area, one has to keep resetting
the 30-minute clock several times.
About lightning
Although these guidelines are designed to reduce risk to a reasonable level, there are no
absolutes or guarantees. On rare occasions, lightning has been known to go
dozens of miles and literally
strike “out of the blue” (sky). It’s also a myth that it has to rain for a lightning strike to occur.
Shelter
It’s also
important that everyone stay in the shelter until it’s safe to go back outside. Younger players or siblings may get
involved in a game of tag running outside. As
with controlling the game, officials may have to remind the
coaches and game management personnel to keep everyone inside.
0–6 miles
6–12 miles
12–24 miles24–40 miles
This
device can be overly sensitive at times and it doesn’t work indoors or around machinery such as a car engine. But it
does offer valuable information if a storm is moving
toward the field and the opportunity to get everyone
to shelter.
Lastly, the device aids a measure of credibility to the referee’s decision to stop the
game.
24–40 miles
This device can be overly sensitive at times and
it doesn’t work indoors or around machinery such as a car engine. But it does offer valuable information if a storm
is moving
toward the field and the opportunity to get everyone to shelter.
Lastly, the
device aids a measure of credibility to the referee’s decision to stop the game.
When to resume the game
Section XI rules are: If you
see lighning or hear thunder the game is suspended immediately !!!
