We do our best to notify all parents, players and coaches in a timely manner of postponed/cancelled games. Coaches have the discretion of calling off practices. The HHASA Board Member on Duty (BMOD) and commissioners are the ones who will officially call off games and practices. Your child’s safety will always be our first concern. No teams should be on the field or in the dugouts when lightning is seen. The safety of our players, spectators, officials and other league personnel is paramount and the sole purpose of this policy. We expect all involved to understand and adhere to its requirements.

THUNDER OR LIGHTNING

• This rule is for all leagues and all divisions and is not optional.

• Games/practices will be stopped immediately if lightning is seen from the field. If a game/practice is being played at a multi-field complex, any one game/practice being halted shall stop all games/practices.

• You must wait 30 minutes before allowing play to resume. If there is another clap of thunder or lightning is seen again, the clock is restarted. If the game delay exceeds one hour, the game or games are postponed and everyone must leave the field. For practices, any additional delays after the first 30 minute session will result in the end of practice.

• Should the National Weather Service issue a Severe Thunderstorm Warning or Tornado Warning for our area, all games in progress shall be stopped and all scheduled games during the duration of the warning shall be postponed.

• The Umpire and/or Board Member on Duty (BMOD) has the full authority to immediately delay, cancel or suspend games as they determine necessary.

• After play is halted due to weather, all players, coaches and fans should remove themselves from the fields/dugouts and head to their vehicles.

• Once the umpire or BMOD stops play during games or practices all activity ceases on the fields. THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL!!

RAIN

• Rain, in the absence of thunder or lightning, will be monitored by the umpires and Board Member on Duty (BMOD) as to severity and impact on the game being held. Games may continue if deemed acceptable by league officials and no safety concerns exist.

SEVERE WEATHER

• Watches are usually in effect for several hours, with 6 hours being the most common.

• Tornado Watch: Conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area.

• Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.

• WARNING issued by the National Weather Service, this means that a tornado or severe thunderstorm has been detected by radar or observed by trained storm spotters or public officials.  These warnings are for short-fuse events that only last an hour or longer.

• Tornado Warning: Tornado is indicated by radar or sighted by storm spotters.
  
  
• TORNADO SIRENS:  seek immediate shelter.  If no shelter is available leave the facility immediately. All play will be suspended. 
  
  
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Issued when a thunderstorm produces hail ¾ of an inch or larger in diameter and/or winds which equal or exceed 58 mph.

Game Cancellations/Field Conditions (due to weather):

• Rain outs will be rescheduled; schedule permitting.  * Sunday games are a possibility.

• In the case of suspended games:

  • The umpire will notify the coaches of the time that play is suspended.

  • Scorekeepers will record this time in the scorebook.

  • The amount of time left will be noted if play resumes.

  • Coaches, scorekeepers, and umpires will meet and record on the scorebook, the count on the batter and the score.

  • All incomplete games will be rescheduled and completed (schedule permitting). The game will be restarted at the point of the suspension