Hagerstown Area Church Softball - Weather

 
 
Inclement Weather Policy   

Pre-game Cancellation Decisions.  

6:30 Games. In case of imminent weather, teams and their players will be notified by telephone (usually around 5:30 p.m.) by the League’s new Automated Phone System and told if games are cancelled. This phone call may show up on your caller I.D. as: 301-223-4556, which is Mike Kelbaugh’s number or as another number as used by the service provider. Please be sure to have your team fill out the automated Phone Contact List (included in the forms section) and turn it into the League prior to the start of the season. If conditions are questionable, the decision to cancel games may be made just before starting time (6:30 p.m.), so please have your team at the field and ready to play if the call has not been made. The League will continue to have cancellation messages left on the answering machine at the above number just in case you are not near the phone which you’ve previously provided on the Automated Phone Contact List.   

8:00 p.m. Games. Since there is no way of contacting players once the 6:30 p.m. game has begun (can’t access computer or telephone answering system), teams playing 7:45 games will have to report to the field for a decision as to whether or not the game will be played.                  

Guidelines for Lightning Safety
All individuals participating in or observing an outdoor softball event are responsible for their own safety and should monitor threatening weather conditions.
 
A League Official, e.g. Mike Kelbaugh or representative,    is hereby designated as the official “weather watcher.” If the home plate umpire is the only official at the event, then the home plate umpire should be responsible for the duties of the “weather watcher.” The individual will make the call to stop play, remove individuals from the field, and announce a warning to the spectators.   When the weather becomes dangerous, the designated weather watcher will announce that all play activities are suspended and all individuals, both players and spectators, should seek appropriate shelter.
 
When determining whether or not to suspend play, the designated weather watcher should use his/her common sense and good judgment. If a thunderstorm appears imminent before or during an activity or contest (regardless of whether lightning is seen or thunder heard), postpone or suspend the activity until the hazard  has passed. Signs of imminent thunderstorm activity are darkening clouds, high winds and thunder or lightning. Even storms that are many miles away can pose a lightning danger. This may mean the appropriate decision is to suspend activities even before the first sight of lightning or sound of thunder.
 
All individuals should have the right to leave an athletic site or activity, without fear of repercussion or penalty, in order to seek a safer structure or location if they feel they are in danger from impending lighting activity. Safety is the number one consideration; the activity can be made up later.
 
If activity has been suspended due to lightning, the designated weather watcher should wait at least 30minutes after the last lightening flash or sound of thunder prior to resuming activity. Each time additional lightning is observed or thunder is heard, the minimum 30-minute waiting period should be reset. A clear sky or lack of rainfall is not adequate indicators for resuming play. The minimum 30-minute return-to-play waiting period should not be shortened. Play should not be resumed even after the 30 minute waiting period if any signs of thunderstorm activity remain in the area or if the weather forecast indicates the threat is not over.
 
NO LIGHTNING SAFETY GUIDELINES CAN GUARANTEE ABSOLUTE SAFETY. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY PERSON TO BE AWARE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO BE SAFE. USE COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT. PLAN AHEAD AND MAKE SAFETY YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.