SUBJECT: Liberty Hill Youth League (LHYL) Severe Weather Policy

1. References:

a. University Interscholastic League Lightning Safety

(https://www.uiltexas.org/health/info/lightning-safety

)

b. National Weather Service Lightning Safety Tips and Resources

(https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning

)

c. National Weather Service Tornado Safety Rules

(https://www.weather.gov/bmx/sps_torsafetyrules

)

d. WeatherBug Spark Lightning Detection

i. Website- https://www.weatherbug.com/alerts/spark/liberty-hill-tx-78642

ii. Android- https://tinyurl.com/4e7ehnsj

iii. iOS- https://tinyurl.com/24urkwx8

2. The LHYL Board President retains authority to update or change the severe weather policy

as he/she deems necessary to protect the health and safety of all players, coaches, volunteers,

umpires, spectators at LHYL events.

3. The LHYL Board President may delegate his/her authority to make “severe weather calls” to

the LHYL Director of Operations. The Director of Operations may delegate this authority further

to a Vice President or a single division commissioner for a limited period of time (single day or

week). The Board President will not delegate this authority below division commissioners or to

umpires.

3. The LHYL Director of Operations will review the policy annually and provide recommended

updates or changes at the February board meeting. The LHYL Board President will certify this

policy annually before spring assessments.

4. This policy applies to everyone attending LHYL events and all LHYL fields.

5. This policy does not cover cancellations or delays related to weather related field conditions

commonly known as “rain outs”.

5. Lightning Policy.

a. A designated individual (coach or parent) from each team must have an application

installed that provides GPS-based, real time lightning strikes alerts when lightning strikes

within 10 nautical miles of the teams current location.

i. LHYL will prioritize information obtained from Weather Bug’s Spark Lightning

Detection system to make weather decisions.

ii. Teams must configure lightning alert applications to use GPS location and

enable push alerts to immediately notify teams of lightning strikes.

b. If there is a lightning alert or observation within the 10 nautical mile range:

i. During a game the umpire must be alerted. The umpires will suspend the game

to contact the appropriate commissioner or board representative.

ii. During practice, the head coach must be alerted. The head coach will suspend

practice and notify their division commissioner that a lightning strike has been

observed (visually or through weather application notification).

iii. Players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, and spectators must vacate the field and

dugouts.

iv. Players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, and spectators will seek shelter in

accordance with lightning safety tips published by the national weather service.

At a minimum, all personnel will shelter away from fields and dugouts and inside

a vehicle.

v. All activities are suspended for 30 mins from the last observed or reported

lightning strike. After 30 minutes have passed, a reevaluation will occur. If the

lightning has not ceased, ALL individuals will wait an additional 30 minutes.

vi. If after one hour (60 minutes) lightning activity has not ceased and the LHYL has

not made the official weather call, the (home team) head coach on each field is

responsible for suspending all activities on each field and reporting to their

respective commissioners.

vii. The LHYL Director of Operations (or designated representative) may review local

weather radar to determine if severe weather is directly approaching the park and

will positively move through the playing area. If it is determined, at this time that

it will, then all play should be suspended, and all participants asked to vacate the

fields.

c. Any lightning observation or alert event applies to all LHYL fields and events.

i. LHYL division commissioners will inform the LHYL Director of Operations as

soon as they receive a lightning observation or alert event.

ii. The LHYL Director of Operations will notify the President, and Vice Presidents

that lightning safety measures are active for all fields.

iii. The Vice Presidents will notify their division commissioners that all events are

suspended. Commissioners will contact their coaches to ensure lightning safety

measures are implemented.

iv. The Director of Operations or designated representative will make the “all clear”

call when favorable weather conditions return.

6. Severe Weather Policy.

a. LHYL will cancel all events when any LHYL facility is included in a severe weather or

tornado warning area by the national weather service.

b. LHYL will actively monitor local weather and radar information when any LHYL facility is

included in a severe weather or tornado watch area by the national weather service.

The LHYL VP of Baseball, VP of Softball, or Director of Operations may recommend

canceling events to the LHYL Board President to preserve the health and safety of all

LHYL players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, and spectators.

7. This is a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY. This lightning policy is for the safety of our children

and all participants in LHYL activities.

a. Any team that violates this policy will have their next scheduled activity canceled and the

head coach will be asked to appear at the next scheduled LHYL Board meeting.

b. Any volunteer, parent or spectator that violates this policy will be suspended from

attending LHYL events for a period of time determined by the LHYL Board of Directors.

8. Point of Contact for this policy is the LHYL President. Coordinate any questions or

recommendations through the LHYL Board Secretary at [email protected] .