What do we do when there's lightning or thunder?

The NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee's lightning guidelines (printed in the football rules book appendix) set the default policy:

• Suspend play immediately when thunder is heard or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen. The storm is close enough to strike your location. Everyone takes shelter.
• 30-minute rule: wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning before resuming.
• Any new thunder or lightning resets the clock, and a new 30-minute count begins.

The guidelines also call for staff assigned to monitor the weather, an evacuation plan with identified safe areas, and an annual review of the policy with administrators, coaches and game personnel.