Lightning Safety: UIC & Tournament Director Responsibilities

Question
Dr. Mark,

When it comes to the halting and re-starting of play due to lightning/thunder what are the duties and responsibilities of the UIC and the TD? (This is a safety procedure question not a is it an official game and who wins question.)

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Dave,

This is from my last umpire's pre-tournament meeting....

Weather---STRICKLY, EXCLUSIVELY, TOTALLY, COMPLETELY, ABSOLUTELY the TD抯 call.  If we stop play due to weather, if asked, the only opinion you might have is that today is Saturday

Just to elaborate a little, all the TD's I've worked w/ work closely w/ the UIC on this stuff, but stopping and restarting is the TD's sole responsibility.

mark