Following new rule book
Baseball players back on fields with COVID-19 protocols in place
HALIFAX — Baseball is the latest sport to get the nod for a return to activity, but like other provincial associations, will have to follow a COVID19 rule book.
To date, 25 provincial sport organizations have been given the go ahead to return to activity according to Sport Nova Scotia's website.
Like any winning team, making a game plan is crucial. Organizations had to go back to the drawing board reimagining how their sport could move forward with the COVID-19 staples of physical distancing, limiting groups to 10 people, good hygiene among many others.
Using the predetermined return to sport guidelines, all sport bodies created a back to activity playbook specific to their own sport blueprint. These plans then had to be reviewed by the Nova Scotia Department of Community, Culture and Heritage before moving forward.
“The Nova Scotia Sport guidelines are a general set of guidelines that is applicable to every sport and these guidelines were approved by Public Health,” said Jamie Ferguson, the chief executive officer for Sport Nova Scotia.
Ferguson said a sport such as golf wouldn't look much different than it normally would after a few adjustments in distancing, but others had to make some major changes.
“For others, if you are thinking about team sports, they've had to make some pretty significant changes on how they are going to deal with the numbers,” said Ferguson. “The types of activities they can put together right now, in a group of 10. What are things those groups will be able to do and have to make sure there is physical distancing while dealing with equipment issues?”
The return to activity has had a different timeline for each sport.
“Some sports had activities that you could actually take part in because they weren't part of an organized program,” said Ferguson. “So like in equestrian, you could go ride your horse, if you had a canoe you could paddle, you could go play golf, you could go to the tennis courts. Those were some of the early ones. Archery and surfing, those types of sports lend themselves to activities that could be done that didn't require organized groups and leaders. They were the first ones out the door.”
Return to facilities is the next on the list for the organizations, said Ferguson.
“The next piece is, of course, now that (sport organizations) know what the activity looks like, what about the facility pieces? Are they able to get facilities? What are the rules they have to follow? We have to go through those boxes as well.
“There are a lot of pieces to it. The guidelines for sport would obviously include the fact that whatever facilities protocols are, they have to abide by those protocols as well.”
A return to competition is the great unknown at this time. While the Nova Scotia Golf Association has been able to develop a plan to host its major provincial championships, most other sports are in a wait and see pattern.
While games may not be an option, Ferguson believes provincial sports leaders will be able to come up with ways to keep athletes interested.
“They have all done a great job in trying to adapt by any means that they can, so I think you will see some things that will be a lot of fun like skill development and work that is done in smaller groups. The big thing is there is going to be opportunities for kids to get out and participate. That's the main thing at this stage of the game.”
Baseball Nova Scotia executive director Brandon Guenette said the return to the field was welcome news.
“No. 1 there was a lot of excitement and No. 2 there was a lot of questions,” said Guenette. “Everyone wants to make sure they are abiding by the guidelines and they are clear on what needs to be done. There has been a lot of followup since we informed our associations last Friday. There is a nervous excitement but most of our groups seem up to the task of adapting.
“Just being able to offer opportunities to the youth in these communities is so important.”
Guenette said return to training for baseball will mean no more than 10 people on the field at once including a minimum of two coaches. Players will not have access to dugouts and must use their own gear.
Other sports whose plans adhered to the provincial guidelines are athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoe/kayak, cheer, crosscountry ski, gymnastics, karate, taekwondo, arm wrestling, cricket, equestrian, table tennis, orienteering, pickleball, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, skating, soccer, squash, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
Teamwork has been essential throughout the process and leaders of the provincial sport organizations had met regularly in zoom meetings to discuss ways to return to activity.
“I have to tell you our sports have done an incredible job with the plans and reimagining in a lot of cases what their sport might look like in the short term. We have been really impressed with what they have all been able to put together,” said Ferguson.
“Lots of meetings and a lot of work was done. It's rewarding when you get to see how everything has come together in such a short period of time. The very interesting and thoughtful ways they have gone about making sure that kids stay active was done in a way that is safe and fun.”