Mother Nature does not often call ahead. That’s why it’s important to plan for eventualities and practice what to do when lightning strikes.

Literally.

There are five components that schools and leagues should build into a lightning plan:

Promote lightning safety slogans

Kids remember slogans better than longwinded information about the importance of safety measures. Pick a quick sentence or phrase that you want to instill into young athletes – and coaches – to remember when the time comes.

Here’s two:

• “When thunder roars, go indoors”
• “Half an hour since thunder roars, now it’s safe to go outdoors.”

Reliable means to monitor weather

Any smart phone can be equipped with an app that tells you how far away lightning is, so identify a weather watch who will be at the practice or game field every night. Establish a clear rotation if this is a group of people.

Establish a chain of command to execute your emergency action plan

Utilize your staff and venue to carry out severe weather plan. Go over the plan during the preseason when conditions – and heart beats – are normal.

We ask are young athletes to practice in order to remain calm and produce under pressure. We must demand the same of ourselves.

Identify safe locations

Ideally, each practice and game site will include a fully enclosed building with plumbing and wiring where people can go to wait out the storm.

If not, send everyone to a fully enclosed metal vehicle – a car, a van – until the lightning has cleared.

Requirements for postponement or resumption of activities

Never be pressured into resuming a game early just to stay on schedule or because people want to leave. This is about safety.

Just because the sky has been clear of lightning for 15 or 20 minutes doesn’t mean another round isn’t coming soon.

• Continually watch for developing or approaching storms
• Evacuate when a thunderstorm is approaching
• Allow ample time for athletes and spectators to take cover
• Resume activities only when the last sound of thunder is heard & no lightning strikes seen for 30 minutes
• Each time a lightning strike occurs within a 10 mile radius, the 30 minute clock restarts.

Weather can be unpredictable, and no athletic event is more important to the safety of the participants or spectators.

Laura Schnettgoecke is in her second season with the San Francisco 49ers as the team’s assistant athletic trainer. Before joining the 49ers, she was the head athletic trainer for the women’s soccer team at Texas Tech University. As a graduate assistant at Clemson University, she worked with 21 intercollegiate sports. She also was a student trainer at Kansas State University.