Newsletter :

Lightning & Lacrosse

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?


When to delay the game

“30–30 rule”

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 to

stop 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 miles

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.

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 miles

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.

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 !!!