Audley Boyd: Move like lightning on thunderstorm protocol for outdoor sports

The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), high school sports’ governing body, has no protocol as it relates to lightning. The same applies to the country’s ruling body for football, the Jamaica Football Federation.

However, with two incidents of ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup footballers being struck by lightning, happening just weeks apart, this unpredictable situation has now become a concern in major competitions here. “This reality desires immediate implementation of a lightning policy for outdoor sporting events,” writes Viewpoints contributor Audley Boyd. He contends that the severity of the issue extends beyond the playing field to officials, spectators and people in the general vicinity. All are at risk and a protocol must be shaped with urgency.

Read Boyd’s viewpoints at viewpointsja.com.