Caledonia Baseball Softball League (CBSL) Lightning Safety Policy
CBSL will implement and follow these Lightning Avoidance Procedures; these guidelines are
in accordance with current NOAA policies and will be updated to include the most current
thinking and technologies.
The President of CBSL will see to it that all Board Members, Coaches, and Umpires are
trained in CBSL’s Lightning Avoidance Policy. The President may appoint a designee to
handle this function.
CBSL will adhere to the following two Avoidance Procedures:
1. When Thunder Roars (or Rumbles), Go Indoors!
2. When the SPARKY function of WeatherBug indicates Lightning within 10 miles.
When either criteria is met, ALL field activity WILL BE SUSPENDED for 30 minutes after the
last audible Thunder or when SPARKY indicates the current Lightning Strikes are greater
than 10 miles away.
Visually sighting Lightning is not a criteria but should sharpen awareness. Under certain
conditions, Lightning can be seen over 50 miles away and does not pose immediate danger.
The individuals responsible for postponement due to Lightning are as follows:
1. The President
2. A Board Member
3. Umpire
4. Coach
The President will attempt to schedule a Board Member as the Daily Field Director. This
Director will be responsible for calling a postponement. However due to CBSL utilizing
several field locations, the lack of personnel, unexpected weather conditions, etc., a Field
Director may not be available. The Coaches and Umpires are also authorized to order a
postponement.
The Coaches and Umpires will receive Annual Training in CBSLs Lightning Avoidance
Procedures.
If a postponement is necessary, seek adequate shelter immediately. Adequate shelter is a
building with plumbing and wiring such as a school, church, restaurant, or home. An
automobile is also acceptable and in most cases the only option at a ball field.
Picnic pavilions, dugouts, under trees, are NOT places of refuge.
Coaches will be responsible for making sure the players and umpires have adequate shelter.
If the game can not be resumed, the Coaches will make sure the players are returned to
their parents or offer other arrangements.
A game will not be allowed to resume if it is too dark to safely play. If the field is under
water, play may have to be cancelled. The Field Director is the preferred individual to make
this decision but the Umpires are also trained with regard to safe play conditions. It is
preferable NOT to have the Coaches make this decision as they are emotionally attached to
the game.
Under the RARE instance where someone is struck by Lightning, apply the following:
1. Call 911
2. The victim is NOT electrically charged and can be touched.
3. Often the heart’s rhythm is stopped due to the electrical charge. CPR or an AED will
often times get the otherwise undamaged heart beating again.
4. If possible, move the victim to a safer location———Lightning CAN strike twice.
A Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm WATCH do not automatically dictate a cancellation. However such conditions will bring a heightened awareness to the weather situation.
The President, or appointee, will use all available resources such as local forecasts, radar,
WeatherBug, etc., to decide if Play should be cancelled. If it is deemed safe to play as
scheduled, additional Field Directors will be called and placed into service.
Under NO circumstances will play commence or proceed if a Tornado or Severe
Thunderstorm WARNING is issued for CBSL’s Fields.
When Thunderstorms threaten, Coaches and CBSL Officials must not let the desire to start
or complete a baseball game hinder their judgment when the safety of players and
spectators is in jeopardy!
Lightning Safety is an Inconvenience that can save YOUR Life!
Feb/2015
