How long do you have to wait after lightning before playing soccer again?

30 minutes after the last thunder you hear or lightning you see, and the count starts over with every new flash or rumble. That is the NFHS guideline for practices and contests, the National Weather Service's advice for outdoor sports, and U.S. Soccer's Recognize to Recover policy. State youth associations say the same thing: Massachusetts Youth Soccer and Minnesota Youth Soccer both wait 30 minutes. Your league's or the facility's own policy governs on the day.

Does thunder count if I never see the lightning?

Yes. Every source here treats thunder the same as a flash: the NFHS says to suspend play when thunder is heard or lightning is seen, and the NWS says to stop if you hear thunder. If you hear it, tap the timer as if you had seen it.

Will the countdown match on my teammates' phones?

Yes. The link carries the second the strike was logged, and each phone works out that second plus 30 minutes against its own clock. Phones that set their clocks automatically agree closely, so the countdowns match. Nothing is stored on a server and there is no account; anyone who opens the link sees the same countdown, and anyone can tap Strike again and share the new link.

Can a lightning app replace the timer?

Not on its own. The NFHS says detection devices and phone apps can help you decide to suspend play, with a strike within 10 miles as the suggested trigger, but that you should never depend on them: hearing thunder or seeing lightning always takes precedence over what an app reports. Use the app to spot a storm early and the timer to hold the 30 minutes.

Lightning delay timer

Tap when you see lightning or hear thunder. The timer counts down the 30 minutes the NFHS, the National Weather Service and U.S. Soccer all call for before play may resume, and the link carries the whole timer, so the team chat opens it and every phone shows the same countdown. Nothing to install, nothing stored.

Reading the timer

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Delay

The rule

When you see lightning or hear thunder, stop play and get everyone into a substantial building or a fully enclosed metal car or bus, and do not go back out until 30 minutes have passed since the last flash or rumble; every new flash or rumble starts the 30 minutes again.

The NFHS calls its guideline a default policy and points to your state high school activities association and the nearest National Weather Service office for the policy to use at your facility, and some bodies stop earlier than the flash: Massachusetts Youth Soccer suspends when lightning is within five miles, with or without thunder. The league's or the facility's own policy governs.

NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee
When thunder is heard or lightning is seen, suspend play for at least 30 minutes and move to the designated safer location. Once suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or lightning is witnessed before resuming. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the count begins resets the clock. Lightning detection devices and apps can assist (a strike within 10 miles is the suggested trigger) but hearing thunder or seeing lightning always takes precedence over them. The document calls itself a default policy and points to your state high school activities association and the nearest National Weather Service office for the policy to use at your facility.
Guidelines on Handling Practices and Contests During Lightning or Thunder Disturbances (January 2021)
National Weather Service
Stop activities if you see lightning, if you hear thunder, or if the skies look threatening, because thunderstorms can develop directly overhead. People should wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming outdoor activities.
Lightning Safety and Outdoor Sports Activities
U.S. Soccer
No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area; all activity should be suspended even if lightning or thunder has not yet been observed. Outdoor activity may resume 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or flash of lightning, and the 30 minute clock restarts every time lightning flashes or thunder sounds.
Lightning and Severe Weather, Recognize to Recover
Massachusetts Youth Soccer
If lightning is within five miles, with or without hearing thunder, games or practices should be suspended and shelter sought. Games should not be restarted for at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike is seen or roll of thunder is heard.
Safe Soccer: thunder and lightning

How to use it with a team

1
Tap Lightning seen now
The moment you see a flash or hear thunder. The timer stamps that second into the page's address and starts counting the 30 minutes.
2
Share the link to the group chat
Share link opens your phone's share sheet, or copies the address. Coaches, parents and the referee open it and see the same countdown and the same resume time.
3
Get everyone to a safe place
The NFHS names a substantial building with plumbing and wiring, or a fully enclosed metal car or bus. Do the timer from there, not from the touchline.
4
Tap Strike again if it flashes again
Any new lightning or thunder restarts the 30 minutes. Share the new link, or tell the chat the clock reset.

The delay picker offers longer waits for a league that writes one. The timer runs on the phone's own clock; if a phone's clock is wrong, its countdown is off by the same amount.

Questions

How long do you have to wait after lightning before playing soccer again?: 30 minutes after the last thunder you hear or lightning you see, and the count starts over with every new flash or rumble. That is the NFHS guideline for practices and contests, the National Weather Service's advice for outdoor sports, and U.S. Soccer's Recognize to Recover policy. State youth associations say the same thing: Massachusetts Youth Soccer and Minnesota Youth Soccer both wait 30 minutes. Your league's or the facility's own policy governs on the day.
Does thunder count if I never see the lightning?: Yes. Every source here treats thunder the same as a flash: the NFHS says to suspend play when thunder is heard or lightning is seen, and the NWS says to stop if you hear thunder. If you hear it, tap the timer as if you had seen it.
Will the countdown match on my teammates' phones?: Yes. The link carries the second the strike was logged, and each phone works out that second plus 30 minutes against its own clock. Phones that set their clocks automatically agree closely, so the countdowns match. Nothing is stored on a server and there is no account; anyone who opens the link sees the same countdown, and anyone can tap Strike again and share the new link.
Can a lightning app replace the timer?: Not on its own. The NFHS says detection devices and phone apps can help you decide to suspend play, with a strike within 10 miles as the suggested trigger, but that you should never depend on them: hearing thunder or seeing lightning always takes precedence over what an app reports. Use the app to spot a storm early and the timer to hold the 30 minutes.

Sources

Every statement of the rule on this page was read from one of these documents on September 5, 2026. Bodies revise them; if your league's policy says otherwise, the league is right.

Guidelines on Handling Practices and Contests During Lightning or Thunder Disturbances (January 2021) · NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee
Lightning Safety and Outdoor Sports Activities · National Weather Service
Lightning Safety · National Weather Service
Lightning and Severe Weather, Recognize to Recover · U.S. Soccer
Safe Soccer: thunder and lightning · Massachusetts Youth Soccer
Weather Policy · Minnesota Youth Soccer Association

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