Sports Medicine-Athletic Training Lightning & Severe Weather Policy I. Chain of Command The responsibility for terminating an athletic activity in the event of lightning, severe weather, and/or storms lies with the FGCU head coaches and/or Certified/Licensed Athletic Trainers (practices) and the FGCU Game Operations Staff, Certified/Licensed Athletic Trainers, Game Officials, and Game Administrator (games). A. During competitions FGCU Game Operations Staff will communicate with the FGCU Game Administrator, the sports medicine-athletic training staff, the head coach and/or his/her designee, and game official(s) / umpire(s) of the potential for a lightning, severe weather, and/or storm in order to advise of any foreseeable weather concerns for the upcoming contest(s). B. During practices or activities in which no sports medicine-athletic training staff member is present, it is the head coach and/or his/her designee will monitor the weather and make the decision that all activities stop immediately. If an FGCU sports medicine-athletic training staff member is present, they will be responsible for stopping all activities and clearing the field(s)/court(s) or pool. C. During practices or activities in which a member of the sports medicine-athletic training staff is present it is the athletic trainer that will be responsible for stopping all activities and clearing the field(s)/court(s) or pool. II. Criteria for Evacuation of Competition Area The policy of Florida Gulf Coast University Department of Athletics for the threat of severe weather will be as follows: A. A member of the sports medicine-athletic training staff will inform the visiting team’s athletic trainer and/or coach of FGCU’s policy with regards to lightning, severe weather, and/or storms upon their arrival. B. A member of the FGCU Game Operations Staff will inform the game officials, sports information staff, and Game Administrator of FGCU’s policy with regards to lightning, severe weather, and/or storms upon their arrival and the status of any impending weather conditions. C. During outdoor competitions members of the FGCU Game Operations Staff and Sports Medicine- Athletic Training Staff will monitor electronic weather alerts (sent directly to their cell phones), watch for lightning/listen for thunder, and will be responsible for keeping track of the “flash / bang” count if necessary. 1. Department of Athletics Staff will begin monitoring when lightning is detected at a 20-mile distance from campus. 2. Department of Athletics Staff will go on alert, for monitoring purposes, when lightning is detected at a 20-mile distance from campus. 3. Department of Athletics Staff will position themselves in preparation to clear venues of spectators, when lightning is detected at a 12-mile distance from campus. Activity may be stopped at any time from this point forward. 4. Department of Athletics Staff will cease activities, and clear venues of spectators, when lightning is detected at an 8-mile distance from campus. D. In the sports of baseball and softball, when tarping the field is deemed necessary, additional time must be given so that all personnel can be in safe shelter accordingly. E. A member of the FGCU Game Operations Staff will also monitor local weather radar via internet and media outlets for severe thunderstorm, tornado, hurricane, and/or other severe weather watches / warnings. F. When an electronic lightning alert is received or the “flash/bang” calculation reaches 8, both indicating lightning within a 8-mile radius, all activities are to cease IMMEDIATELY, and ALL personnel are to evacuate to a safe structure or location. 1. A member of the sports medicine-athletic training staff will alert the game officials to stop the activity and instruct the teams to evacuate to the designated safe structure/location. They will also notify the game officials and teams when the all clear has been given. Lightning/Severe Weather Policy (2014-15) Sports Medicine-Athletic Training 2. A member of the FGCU Game Operations Staff will inform the sports information staff to make the weather announcement to evacuate the area, notify concessions to cease operations, and instruct all FGCU Staff to seek safe shelter. III. Criteria for Evacuation of Practice Area The policy of Florida Gulf Coast University Department of Athletics for the threat of severe weather will be as follows: A. A member of the Sports Medicine-Athletic Training Staff will inform the head coach or his/her designee with regards to lightning, severe weather, and/or storms upon their arrival and the status of any impending weather conditions. B. During outdoor practices members of the FGCU Sports Medicine-Athletic Training Staff, when present, will monitor electronic weather alerts (sent directly to their cell phones), watch for lightning/listen for thunder, and will be responsible for keeping track of the “flash / bang” count if necessary. 1. Department of Athletics Staff will go on alert, for monitoring purposes, when lightning is detected at a 15-mile distance from campus. 2. Department of Athletics Staff will go on alert, for monitoring purposes, when lightning is detected at a 12-mile distance from campus. 3. Department of Athletics Staff will cease activities, and clear venues of spectators, when lightning is detected at an 8-mile distance from campus. C. In the absence of a member of the Sports Medicine-Athletic Training Staff, it will be the head coach’s, or his/her designee’s, responsibility to monitor weather conditions and keep track of the “flash / bang” count if necessary. D. When an electronic lightning alert is received or the “flash/bang” calculation reaches 8 both indicating lightning within a 8-mile radius, all activities are to cease IMMEDIATELY, and ALL personnel are to evacuate to a safe structure or location. IV. Criteria for Safe Return to the Practice/Game Area A. Personnel should not return to the practice/game area until an electronic weather “ALL Clear” alert has been received by the Event Operations and/or Sports Medicine-Athletic Training Staffs, indicating thirty (30) minutes have passed, and/or that lightning is greater than 15 miles away. B. When utilizing the “flash/bang” count, if the calculation is 15, or below and/or lightning is observed and/or thunder is heard, the “30-minute clock” is to be reset. C. Blue skies in the local area and/or a lack of rainfall are not adequate reasons to breach the 30-minute return-to-play rule. Lightning can strike miles away from the rain shaft of a storm. V. Other Safety Considerations A. A safe structure or location is defined as- “any sturdy, fully enclosed, substantial, and frequently inhabited building that has plumbing and/or electrical wiring that acts to electrically ground the structure”. Examples of locations that DO NOT meet the criteria include: 1. Baseball / Softball dugouts; 2. Baseball / Softball batting cages; 3. Beneath any bleachers 4. Outside storage sheds; and/or 5. Canopy / awning / tent. B. In the absence of a sturdy, fully enclosed, substantial, and frequently inhabited location as described above, a secondary structure such as a fully enclosed vehicle with a hard metal roof, rubber tires, and completely closed windows can provide a measure of safety. Persons should not touch the sides of the vehicle! Convertible (“soft-top”) vehicles and golf carts do not provide a high level of protection and cannot be considered safe from lightning. C. Persons should avoid taking showers and using plumbing facilities (including indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, and hot tubs) and landline telephones during a thunderstorm. D. If no safe structure or location is within a reasonable distance, personnel should find a thick grove of small trees surrounded by taller trees or a dry ditch. Everyone should assume the “lightning-safe” position- a crouched position on the ground with the feet together, weight on the balls of the feet, head lowered, and ears covered. DO NOT LIE FLAT! Lightning/Severe Weather Policy (2014-15) Sports Medicine-Athletic Training E. If unable to reach safe shelter, persons should stay away from the tallest trees or objects (i.e. light poles, flag poles, etc.), metal objects (i.e. fences, bleachers, etc.), individual trees, standing pools of water, and open fields. Persons should avoid being the highest object in an open field. F. In situations where thunder and/or lightning may or may not be present, yet someone feels his/her hair stand on end and skin tingle, LIGHTNING IS IMMINENT! Therefore, all persons should assume the “lightning-safe” position as described above. G. A cellular and/or portable remote phone is a safe alternative to landline phones, if the person and the antenna are located within a safe structure or location, and if all other precautions are followed. H. All individuals have the right to leave a site or activity, without fear of repercussion or penalty, in order to seek a safe structure or location if they feel that they are in danger from impending lightning activity or severe weather. VI. University Cancellations/Closings A. If the FGCU administration has cancelled classes due to severe weather, the FGCU Department of Athletics Executive Staff must evaluate all activities including competitions, practices, conditioning sessions, etc….) B. If the FGCU administration has closed the University due to severe weather, Department of Athletics Staff is considered non-essential and is not to be on campus during an inclement weather or other emergency campus closing. No athletic activities may take place on campus during this time unless approved by UPD Chief of Police and the Director of Athletics. C. Any plans to relocate teams in preparation for, or as a result of, a University closing must be approved by the Director of Athletics.