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Ask the Ref Who has the authority to stop a game in bad weather conditions

Deana_King

Well-Known Member
Staff
May 31, 2001
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WTXYCOLOR (Poster says)

Will someone please clarify who has the authority to stop play when severe weather threatens? And then clarify who determines when it is OK to resume play? Also is there a set distance for a lightning strike away from playing field when action must be stopped? How about a severe weather alert for the area? If the game officials are not in charge of stopping and restarting the contest you may not know those last 2 answers, but I would bet that y'all do.
 
REF4E (Poster says)

Either the officiating crew or the game administrator (usually the home AD or a Principal/AP) has the authority to stop play in the case of severe weather. As officials, we are told that if a game administrator tells us to stop play, we do so--no questions asked. However, we (officials) can stop it before the game administrator steps in if we deem it appropriate.

There is no set distance away for lightning that is a universal guide. However, the NWS tells us that lightning strikes can occur up to 10 miles away from a storm, so if radar, lightning detectors, etc. indicate that a storm is within that distance (going or coming), you are likely to see the field cleared.

When play is resumed is generally going to be no less than 30 minutes after the last lightning occurs, and is usually a group decision involving game administration, officials, and coaches.

Some school systems also have policies that games cannot be played if there is an active severe thunderstorm watch/warning or tornado watch/warning in effect. In cases like that, you follow the local policy.

In this day and time, it is always best to err on the side of safety. I can remember times many years ago when you would play right up until lightning was almost overhead. Those days are gone now, and you are going to see games halted quicker and resumed more slowly than in the past.
 
Will someone please clarify who has the authority to stop play when severe weather threatens?

The referee or the game administrator. The home team is now required to inform us who the game administrator is.

And then clarify who determines when it is OK to resume play?

The game administrator, but usually in conjunction with the referee.

Also is there a set distance for a lightning strike away from playing field when action must be stopped?

No. Neither the NFHS nor the NCHSAA is going to tell you a certain distance. What if the NCHSAA said the distance was 10 miles and then a player was struck by a lightning bolt that measured 12 miles away? See the liability involved in creating such a policy?

If we see sky to ground lightning, we're supposed to stop play.

How about a severe weather alert for the area?


If the game officials are not in charge of stopping and restarting the contest you may not know those last 2 answers, but I would bet that y'all do.

The NFHS lightning policy says nothing about alerts. That would be more of a local system decision that would probably be made before we even arrived at the site..
 
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