Hagerstown Area Church Softball League

LET'S PLAY BALL!!!!

If you do not have your name listed on your team's Automated Phone Contact list, please email HACSL@myactv.net  with your name, church team's name and the phone number you want listed.  This number should be a number where you can be reaced around game time so that the automated system will contact you if the game is rained out.

For Your Information, here are our policies regarding Game Cancellations and Weather Conditions:

1.      Pre-game Cancellation Decisions 

        a.     6:30 Games.  In case of imminent weather, teams and their players will be notified by telephone (usually around 5:30 p.m.) by the League’s new Automated Phone System and told if games are cancelled.  This phone call may show up on your caller I.D. as: 301-223-4556, which is Mike Kelbaugh’s number.  Please be sure to have your team fill out the automated Phone Contact List (included in the forms section) and turn it into the League prior to the start of the season.  If conditions are questionable, the decision to cancel games may be made just before starting time (6:30 p.m.), so please have your team at the field and ready to play if the call has not been made.  The League will continue to have cancellation messages left on the answering machine at the above number just in case you are not near the phone which you’ve previously provided on the Automated Phone Contact List.  If you would like to be placed on the automated phone list, please contact:  HACSL@myactv.net

         b.     7:45 Games.  Since there is no way of contacting players once the 6:30 game has begun (can’t access computer or telephone answering system), teams playing 7:45 games will have to report to the field for a decision as to whether or not the game will be played.  

2.     Rain Cancellations During Games.  Games called by rain during play will be considered complete after five (5) innings.   Coaches are responsible for rescheduling make-up games for games totally cancelled by rain.  Make up games can be scheduled by signing up at the concession stand and must be done, at the very least, one week ahead of the rescheduled game date.  Coaches must ensure that their teams show up for these make up games, or they can be fined.  Instructions for making up games are provided in the handouts section of your packet.

3.      Guidelines for Lightning Safety

          a.     All individuals participating in or observing an outdoor softball event are responsible for their own safety and should monitor threatening weather conditions.  

          b.     A League Official, e.g. Mike Kelbaugh or representative, is  hereby designated as the official “weather watcher.” If the home plate umpire is the only official at the event, then the home plate umpire should be responsible for the duties of the “weather watcher.” The individual will make the call to stop play, remove individuals from the field, and announce a warning to the spectators.   When the weather becomes dangerous, the designated weather watcher will announce that all play activities are suspended and all individuals, both players and spectators, should seek appropriate shelter. 

         c.     When determining whether or not to suspend play, the designated weather watcher should use his/her common sense and good judgment. If a thunderstorm appears imminent before or during an activity or contest (regardless of whether lightning is seen or thunder is heard), postpone or suspend the activity until the hazard has passed. Signs of imminent thunderstorm activity are darkening clouds, high winds and thunder or lightning. Even storms that are many miles away can pose a lightning danger.  This may mean the appropriate decision is to suspend activities even before the first sight of lightning or sound of thunder.

        d.     All individuals should have the right to leave an athletic site or activity, without fear of repercussion or penalty, in order to seek a safer structure or location if they feel they are in danger from impending lighting activity.  Safety is the number one consideration; the activity can be made up later.

        e.     If activity has been suspended due to lightning, the designated weather watcher should wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightening flash or sound of thunder prior to resuming activity.  Each time additional lightning is observed or thunder is heard, the minimum 30-minute waiting period should be reset. A clear sky or lack of rainfall is not adequate indicators for resuming play. The minimum 30-minute return-to-play waiting period should not be shortened. Play should not be resumed even after the 30 minute waiting period if any signs of thunderstorm activity remain in the area or if the weather forecast indicates the threat is not over.

        f.     NO LIGHTNING SAFETY GUIDELINES CAN GUARANTEE ABSOLUTE SAFETY. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY PERSON TO BE AWARE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO BE SAFE. USE COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT. PLAN AHEAD AND MAKE SAFETY YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.