SIMSBURY LITTLE LEAGUE (“SLL”) REOPENING PLAN
Summer registration ends June 19. Here are the proposed guidelines.
Simsbury Little League (“SLL”) will post our approved guidelines on our website and will include a link to the State of Connecticut Sector Rules for June 17th Reopen.
SLL will post signs throughout Memorial Park, providing the following (we are working on final language):
•. Maintain social distancing whenever possible
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No sharing equipment
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No congregating around the fields or in the parking areas– please leave quickly
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No gum or seeds
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No spitting
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Refrain from contact if possible – no high fives, etc.
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Don’t come to a game or practice if you’re sick or not feeling well
GENERAL
Pursuant to the State’s Rules, all individuals that will attend any SLL event, must perform a self-evaluation before attending. In this connection, SLL will post on SLL website that people should not attend SLL activities if they are sick or not feeling well.
Additionally, per State’s Rules, we will post on the SLL website that those in high-risk groups, including those over the age of 65, should not attend SLL events.
SLL will provide each team with hand sanitizer and sanitizer spray (pump bottles). Each team will designate a coach who will be responsible for sanitizing: 1) balls; 2) dugouts; 3) bleachers; and 4) additional touch points. Touch points are locations that people often touch, including, but not limited to: 1) the dugout fence; and 2) the gate onto the field. SLL will provide each dugout with a sheet to track cleaning and the coach will initial that he/she has completed sanitizing the above following every practice or game.
Each team will assign a coach who is responsible for enforcing social distancing as discussed in more detail below.
All coaches and league officials must have a mask with them so that they can put it on if social distancing becomes impossible.
PRACTICES
SLL hopes to start a practice schedule on June 22.
Practices will be scheduled with at least 30-minute gaps between. Practices will be staggered so that Fields 2 and 4 will start at same time and 1 and 3. Players will be asked to leave the field quickly after practice.
Players will be assigned a specific spot along the inside of the baseline fences – spaced 10 feet apart – where they will put their equipment (bags, glove, bats, helmets, etc). When not being used – all equipment will be kept at the individually assigned location.
There will be no sharing of equipment. Every player must have his/her own: glove; bat and helmet. If players do not have their own, SLL will provide one for the season. Catcher’s equipment will not be shared.
All players must bring their own water bottles.
Practices – which lend themselves to spacing – will be run as normal. However, players will not be allowed to reach into communal ball buckets. All balls must be put into play by a coach. Multiple coaches may have ball buckets (for example, one coach doing infield practice and another doing outfield). However, coaches may not share a bucket.
Dugouts should not be used during practices if possible.
Balls will be frequently sanitized throughout practice and will be sanitized after every session.
Masks will not be required during practices, assuming social distancing can be observed.
GAMES
We hope to begin game play in July.
Scheduling will include a 1-hour gap between games and games will be staggered as with practices (see above).
Players will be encouraged to arrive no more than 40 minutes before game and to leave as quickly as possible when the game ends.
Players will store their gear in the same manner as with practices as discussed above.
Masks will not be required for any player while participating in baseball/softball. Coaches are not required to wear a mask if they are able to maintain social distancing. If social distancing is not possible, coaches will be required to wear a mask.
Game play – games will be played as normal with no changes to game rules. However, there will be 1 umpire, who will be located behind the pitcher’s mound. The umpire will not be required to wear a mask if they can maintain proper social distancing. If social distancing is not possible, the umpire will need to put on a mask.
When hitting, the team will be sitting in the bleachers, maintaining social distancing while in the bleachers. We will have a designated bleacher for every team. Spots will be marked out on the bleachers indicating where players will sit. A coach will be responsible for ensuring the players in the bleachers are social distancing
We do not plan to use the dugouts. However, if people are inside the dugout, they must maintain social distancing. And, the dugout must be fully sanitized after use.
There will be no team meetings unless social distancing can be observed. Pre- and post-game will be conducted in OF with all participants sufficiently spread out.
No mound visits during which a coach would come in close contact with a player. Any discussion between coach and player must be done 6 feet apart.
No handshake lines. Teams will stand on respective base paths and tip caps.
SPECTATORS
Spectators will be limited to “limited family members.” Only “immediate” family members – defined as parents/guardians and siblings – will be permitted to attend.
Spectators must maintain social distancing. Spectators will be allowed to view from around the fields – we will create a viewing spot every 20 feet around the fields (outside the fence, down the baselines and around the outfield.). There will be no spectators behind the plate – those spots will be reserved for players. There will be viewing from the LF of Field 2 or RF of Field 1. These locations will be marked and will be first come, first served.
Every family will have its own spot, but there will be no seating provided for spectators. Spectators must take everything with them when they leave.
PPE
We recognize that baseball is an outdoor sport and Memorial Park provides us with the ability to maintain social distancing. Thus, players will not be required to wear PPE. Coaches and spectators will not be required to wear masks, assuming that they can maintain proper social distancing. If socially distancing becomes impossible, masks must be worn.
--SIMSBURY LITTLE LEAGUE
