Severe Weather can not only cause field conditions to be unplayable, but can also prompt environmental and other health hazards.

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The following policy has been adopted by the DPS sports medicine staff.

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• For lightning the national regulation of ten miles has been adopted. Anything lightning less than ten miles from the event can be considered hazardous and should be treated accordingly.

• If severe weather conditions (lightning, heavy rain, hail, wind, sleet, snow, temperature, humidity, etc.) occur during practice or competition times, the athletic trainer will coordinate with the head coach and officials to determine the safety of the conditions. Inclement weather restrictions will be followed based on NATA recommendations and CHSAA policy.

• If the athletic trainer determines the conditions to be unsafe, the athletic trainer will notify the officials and head coaches of all teams to postpone their practice or competition and to come indoors immediately.

• The athletic trainer will determine the length of the delay based on NATA (30-30) standards and inform the head coaches when it is safe to return to practice or competition..

• The athletic trainer’s determination to postpone practices or competitions due to severe weather will be based on the NATA Position Statements, CHSAA policy,  information obtained from WeatherBug™, and reasonable judgement.

• The CHSAA recommends that lightning be monitored by a lightning meter or lightning device such as an appropriate weather app on a smartphone.  

• The NATA position statement regarding severe weather supports the use of WeatherBug™ as superior to a standard lightning meter.  

• Based on the recommendations, DPSSM utilizes Weatherbug™ to monitor severe weather and makes practice and game delay determinations based on this information.

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