Severe Weather Guidelines

Mar 20, 2024 | Athletic Directors, Baseball, Homepage Updates/Alerts, Softball

Severe Weather Guidelines

Administrators, Athletic Directors and Coaches:

With the possibility of severe weather this weekend, please take time to review the TAPPS weather concerns and policies outlined below to ensure the safety of your players, coaches and fans. TAPPS recommends that member schools have an emergency plan in place for all events and locations which include specific procedures for dealing with severe weather conditions.

TAPPS Weather Concerns:

  • Severe Weather Forecast – If there is a threat or forecast of bad weather for the contest, the two schools should agree prior to the contest to the following:
    • The home team shall be responsible for
      • Monitoring the weather
      • Monitoring the possibility and existence of lightning
      • Appointing a person to advise the officials crew and both teams of the presence of bad weather or lightning.
    • Latest time to begin the contest
    • Latest time to begin a quarter
    • Latest time to complete the contest
    • These guidelines shall be discussed with the visiting team and presented to the officials’ crew prior to the contest beginning.
    • Prior to the game, decisions concerning field conditions, rain/weather delay and responsibility to monitor lightning are determined by an agreement of both teams. Once the game begins, decisions concerning field conditions, rain/weather delay and lightning are under the authority of the game officials.
  • Lightning Detectors – TAPPS strongly recommends the use of a Lightning Detector to track local lightning strikes. In the absence of Lightning Detectors or Predictors, TAPPS rules are as follows:
    • When thunder is heard or cloud to ground lightning is observed, the storm is close enough to strike your location with lightning.
    • Suspend play and take shelter immediately.
    • Distance Rule: When using a detector, this rule is in place for lightning strikes within 10 miles of the game location.
    • Thirty Minute Rule: Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last strike is detected, last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play. After beginning application of the 30 minute rule, any subsequent thunder or flash of lightning shall reset the clock and teams shall wait an additional 30 minutes from that point prior to resuming play.

 

  • Suspended Games
    • If the officials suspend the game after initial kickoff and prior to the clock stoppage (end of game)
    • Friday games must be completed the next day; Saturday games can be completed Sunday if both schools agree, otherwise on Monday. There must be five complete days between football games.
    • Agreement should be made in advance of the contest as to the following:
      • Warmup Time prior to games resuming
      • Game Time for the contest to resume from the point of stoppage regardless of quarter
        • Quarter and Time
        • Line of Scrimmage
        • Down and Distance
  • Complete Games (Termination prior to the clock ending)
    • If it appears not to be feasible to complete the contest because of weather, the team trailing on the scoreboard may declare the contest final and accept the loss. The result of this concession is not considered to be a forfeit.

 

  • Authority of Game Officials – In accordance with the NCAA football rules and outdoor sport NFHS rules, once the contest begins, the game officials shall determine delays, suspension or termination of the contest.

A school that is following the above guidelines shall not be required to forfeit contests.