Sports Weather
Weather Safety for Coaches: Lightning, Heat, Air Quality, and Field Conditions
A practical weather safety guide for coaches handling lightning delays, heat illness, smoke, air quality, wet fields, and severe storm timing.
Quick answer: Coaches should treat weather safety as part of practice planning, with clear stop rules for lightning, heat, air quality, and unsafe field conditions.
Lightning rules
Stop for thunder or lightning and move athletes to safe shelter.
Dugouts, trees, and open-sided shelters are not enough.
Heat and air quality
Adjust practice length, intensity, hydration, and rest for heat index and smoke.
Athletes may push through symptoms unless coaches set firm limits.
Field conditions
Wet fields, standing water, mud, and high wind can create injury risk even after storms end.
Document policies before the season.