From US Youth Soccer, Region IV Policy (adopted May 1, 1999)
This lightning policy is a proactive and comprehensive on that may save the lives of athletes, coaching staff, and fans.Therefore, the following policy should be adhered to without variation, as no game or practice is worth anyones life.
*Before each season coaching staff and administration should be made aware of the following policy.
At each event the athletic trainer, coach and/or administrators should have chosen a safe structure.The first choice is a building, secondarily are any vehicles with metal roofs.
Athletic trainers, coaches and/or administrators should carefully monitor weather reports to help determine when to stop playing and seek shelter and when to allow activity to continue.
If a storm is present, use the Flash to Bang method in order to determine when to leave and when to return to the playing field.
When a decision is made to evacuate a field, this must be accomplished as quickly as possible.Players are to leave the field in an orderly manner, keeping away from all tall objects, i.e. trees and light posts, which may line the field.
Athletic trainers, coaches and/or administrators are responsible for moving people to safe structures.
The decision-making and responsibility hierarchy is as follows: Athletic trainer, Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Administrators.
Flash to Bang Method
When you see a flash, start counting (..thousand one, thousand two )
When you hear thunder, stop.
Divide that number by five to determine how far away the lightning was in miles.
Flash to Band counts of 30 or less equals 6 miles or less and indicate that fields should be evacuated.
Return to play should not be ordered until 30 minutes after the last Flash to Band counts of 30 or less.
Lightning Facts
7,741 people were killed by lightning between 1940 and 1981.
Approximately 200 people are killed each year by lightning strikes in the United States, and 400-500 people are injured.
Roughly 30 percent of the people struck by lightning die.
Orphanage kids in Mexico and in Africa are in great need of your old soccer shoes, shin guards and balls.
Please help us make a difference to these children.
Two ASUSC families have asked us to join them in helping orphan children living in Uganda, Africa and in Miacatlan, Mexico.In both areas soccer (football) is a favorite sport for these children. Most of the orphans only have one pair of sandals and play soccer with no shoes and a ball made from plastic bags. We are hoping that you would want to donate your old soccer shoes, shin guards and balls to these less fortunate kids. Collection boxes will be available at Summer Skills and Blackahwks Aademy and all donations will go directly to needy kids.
The Lundy family will be sending the soccer items to Mexico this summer through their church who work with the organization called NPH Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos or Friends of Orhans For more information contact M Lundy
The Cedarleaf family will be going back to Uganda again in November. This African orphanage has about 50 kids all have been diagnosed with AIDS.The Cedarleaf family has purchased the entire property and is bringing supplies to these children on a regular basis. For more information on the African orphanage, contact D Kimmel
