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THIS POLICY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL SOFTBALL
GAMES WORKED BY O.D.O.A.
“If thunder is heard within 30 seconds (approximately 6
miles) of visible lightning, all games shall be suspended immediately.
All team members (players, coaches, assistants, managers, etc.) must be removed
from the field to a protected area (hard-covered dugouts would suffice).”
Game officials are required to strictly enforce this
policy for all contests. If the officials do not enforce this policy, then the
Principal, Athletic/Activities Director, or Administrator on Duty shall suspend
the contest.
The decision to resume play will be made by the School
Official(s) present, after a thirty (30) minute period of no lightning. If no
School Official is on site, then play cannot be resumed until there is a thirty
(30) minute period free of lightning and thunder.
For lightning and thunder only (no rain), after a
30-minute delay and lightning is still visible, suggest to the Principal,
Athletic/Activities Director, or Administrator on Duty that you would like to
wait an additional 30 minutes. If there is still lightning and/or thunder after
the additional 30 minutes, request that the Principal, Athletic/Activities
Director, or Administrator on Duty declare the game ‘suspended to a later
date’.
For rain (no lightning involved), after a 15-minute delay
and it is still raining, and the field is still playable, tell both coaches
that you will wait another 15 minutes and then decide if the game is to be
resumed. If after a total of 30 minutes and it is stilling raining too hard to
play, call the game and go home. The field is now (or will be) too wet to
continue to play. As long as no lightning is involved, you do not need
permission from anyone to call the game.
As always, use your best judgment. Always err on the side
of safety. But do your best to get the game in. If the game has gone past the
required 4-1/2 or 5 innings, this is a ‘completed’ and not suspended game. Make
sure you inform both coaches that the game is considered complete.
Remember: Never declare a game ‘suspended’ or a ‘no contest’. Just call the game. Call the Commissioner whenever you don’t complete the game (4-1/2 or 5 innings) and inform him of the conditions that resulted in the game being ‘called’. He and the schools will make the determination as to whether the game will be replayed from the beginning or from the point of interruption.