Lightning presents a real risk of death or serious injury to outdoor sports participants. It accounts for around 10 deaths and over 100 injuries in Australia each year.

Lightning does not need to directly strike a person to cause death or serious injury. A person touching, or close to, an object struck by lightning may be affected by a side-flash or transferred energy (for example, being within 20m of a tree struck by lightning is considered to be in the lethal zone).
Participants must not let the desire to start or complete a match or training session hinder their judgment when the safety of players, coaches or spectators is at risk.

See full policy from FNSW