Lightning strikes with the power of 125 million volts of electricity--enough to run a 100-watt bulb for 3 months. This jolt of electricity can kill a human or leave him / her with permanent neurological damage. In fact, the American Meteorological Society reports that lightning is second only to floods in causes of storm-related deaths in the United States. Understanding basic safety rules for dealing with lightning can help keep you stay alive and well during a storm.

If there is lightning nearby, you are to leave the soccer field immediately - whether it be a practice or game, recreational or travel.  Please see the 30/30 rule below for details on how to know when it is safe to return to the field.

30/30 Rule

The 30/30 rule helps you determine when to take cover from lightning and how soon it is safe to come out. The first 30 refers to the time between lightning and thunder (flash to bang ratio). If you hear thunder within 30 seconds of a lightning flash, the storm is close and you should take cover immediately. The second 30 refers to how long you should remain under cover to be safe. Once you don't see lightning or hear thunder for at least 30 minutes, you'll know that the storm has passed and it's safe to return to your normal activities.

Under no circumstances should ANYONE  be on a soccer field within 30 minutes of hearing thunder or seeing lightning.

For more information on lightning safety while outdoors, please see the National Weather Service Lightning Safety page