Note: Officials should have a reasonable knowledge of the location of emergency personnel equipment at all stadiums.
(The Rules Committee expresses its appreciation to the National Football League for development of these guidelines.)
Lightning is the most consistent and significant weather hazard that may affect outdoor sport. While the probability of being struck by lightning is low, the odds are significantly greater when a storm is in the area and proper safety precautions are not followed.
Education and prevention are the keys to lightning safety. Authorities should begin prevention long before any athletics event or practice by being proactive and having a lightning safety plan in place. The following steps are recommended to mitigate the lightning hazard:
The following specific lightning safety guidelines have been developed with the assistance of lightning safety experts. Design your lightning safety plan to consider local safety needs, weather patterns and thunderstorm types.
Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) have become a common, safe and effective means of reviving persons in cardiac arrest. Planned access to early defibrillation should be part of your emergency plan. However, CPR should never be delayed while searching for an AED.
Note: Weather watchers, real-time weather forecasts and commercial weatherwarning devices are all tools that can be used to aid in decision-making regarding stoppage of play, evacuation and return to play.
Outside locations increase the risk of being struck by lightning when thunderstorms are in the area. Small covered shelters are not safe from lightning. Dugouts, rain shelters, golf shelters and picnic shelters, even if they are properly grounded for structural safety, are usually not properly grounded from the effects of lightning and side flashes to people. They are usually very unsafe and may actually increase the risk of lightning injury. Other dangerous locations include areas connected to, or near, light poles, towers and fences that can carry a nearby strike to people. Also dangerous is any location that makes the person the highest point in the area.
Adapted by IFAF from NCAA guidelines.
For more information, see the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
A concussion is a brain injury that may be caused by a blow to the head, face, neck or elsewhere on the body with an "impulsive" force transmitted to the head. Concussions can occur without loss of consciousness or other obvious signs. A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain recovers from the previous one (hours, days or weeks) can slow recovery or increase the likelihood of having long-term problems. In rare cases, repeat concussions can result in brain swelling, permanent brain damage and even death.
Game officials are often in the best position to observe players after they have had a blow to the head or body, and may be the first to notice the behaviours that indicate a concussion may be present. While the following is primarily focused on players, any participant can suffer a concussion and must be removed from the field of play.
Clear indicators of concussion include when a player:
Other signs include:
A player might have suffered a concussion if they complain of:
IF A CONCUSSION IS SUSPECTED:
Editor: Jim Briggs, BAFA/BAFRA Rules Committee
rules@britishamericanfootball.org