THUNDER/LIGHTNING POLICY

 Applied to regular season through NYSPHSAA Finals:

1. Thunder and lightning necessitate that any outdoor contest be suspended. The occurrence of thunder and/or lightning is not subject to interpretation or discussion- thunder is thunder, lightning is lightning.
2. If lightning is observed at the site of an outdoor contest by an Athletic Administrator, coach, or official(s) 15 or fewer minutes before the scheduled start of that contest, the official(s) and the responsible school authorities shall delay the contest for a minimum of 30 minutes.
3. With your site administrator, set up a plan for shelter before the start of any contest.
4. When thunder is heard and /or lightning is seen, the following procedures should be adhered to:
   1. Suspend play and direct participants to go to a shelter or a building normally occupied by the public, or if a building is unavailable, participants should go inside a vehicle with a solid metal top (e.g., bus, van, and car).
   2. Do not permit people to stand under or near a tree, and have all stay away from poles, antennas, towers, and underground watering systems.
   3. After thunder and /or lightning have left the area, wait at least 30 minutes after the last boom is heard or strike is seen before resuming play or competition.
   4. If, at any time during the 30-minute delay, additional thunder and/or lightning occurs, the 30-minute delay clock starts over.