Question Number: 19632

Law 5 - The Referee 7/21/2008

RE: Rec Under 13

Steve Kemme of Spring Lake, MI USA asks...

How would you have handled this situation: It is the championship game, there is a tornado watch for the entire state. The weather is fine where the game is being played. The game gets through half time and the players are back on the field when there is thunder heard in the distance. The ref starts a running 30 minute clock and after 5 minutes the game is called. There is another game going on at the same time and it is not stopped during the thunder and they play out the game...Question is the sun is still out and there was no visible lightning, do you stop the game or play it as it is the championship game?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Just this week lightning struck again at a soccer game. Several people sheltering under a tree were injured. It was unclear from news reports whether the game had been suspended at the time or not.

You were fortunate to have a referee who felt that safety was more important than who wins a bit of plastic and gilt. It's the guy or gal on the other field that has the problem.

You might also check the league or tournament rules. Our regional select league has the policy that games are cancelled when there is a tornado watch in effect. Our local rec association allows games to continue, subject to the opinion of the referee on safety. The theory is that people in the local league know where to go if weather turns nasty; people in the regional travel league wouldn't have that local knowledge.

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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
there was a very GOOD chance that your game COULD have been played successfully with no one struck by lightning. The fact is there was an OUTSIDE chance that someone might be killed by a lightening strike.
Do you think those odds are ok?
It takes guts as well as wisdom to do the thing those around you fail to do in the interest of our kids. Champion Shampion who cares, it is a game that can always be replayed another day! Cheers

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Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

WHO CARES if it is a championship game or kids kicking around on the park? There is no difference.

Listen to what you're saying.

1. There was a TORNADO warning
2. The referee observed that there was Thunder.
3. The referee probably thought Thunder = possible Tornado danger.

So, he felt it was unsafe to continue and then he ended the game. What happens if everyone assumed it was safe and then someone was hurt or killed? Not only would everyone feel awful, but many would be questioning the referee's decision to allow play to continue and they might even sue him.

The ref made the right call, in my opinion.

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I often follow this simple saying: Paperwork is a pain in the arse. So given that premise we must evaluate the possible eventualities given the two decisions possible for the match referee:

1. Continue the match.

2. Suspend play based on weather.

In decision one the paperwork involved is a match report, disciplinary report[s] [if necessary] and the possibility of an injury[s] report or a possible report of the death of a player[s].

In decision two we see a match report and disciplinary report[s] and no other paperwork.

Ah Ha, go with decision 2. Less paperwork...

You might consider reading this:

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/lightning1.htm

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

MOST lightning strikes occur without rain. That's a fact. When you hear thunder there IS lightning. The game on the adjacent field should have been called also.

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Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If a reasonable person can conclude there is a reasonable possibility of lightning in the vicinity, then the game is either suspended until it is safe or it is abandoned. Referees are generally reasonable people undeterred by the unreasonable behavior of others who might value a game score over the lives and well being of the children and their parents. Bully for this referee and wet noodle lashing for the sole unreasonable one (one wouldn't wish lightning to strike - it might hurt someone).

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The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 19694