Back into the swing of things
Revised guidelines mean young athletes won’t be restricted to their own communities this summer
Adults won’t be playing each other in community-based all-star competition in junior and senior baseball and softball in Newfoundland and Labrador this summer. However, kids will be permitted to suit up for a game of ball against opponents from neighbouring communities.
Sport Newfoundland and Labrador members and government officials huddled over the past several days working to make revise Alert Level 2 Sport Guidance documents so as to allow for community-based competition for age-group minor players.
When Alert Level 2 guidelines were initially announced, there was a clause prohibiting competition amongst teams from different communities. For example, that would have meant St. John’s athletes could not play youth house-league baseball, softball and soccer games against those from nearby Mount Pearl.
That created an uproar with volunteers in some sports.
“You could only play in your backyard,” said Todd Powell, a Conception Bay South minor baseball volunteer who was an outspoken critic of the idea on social media. “With one bantam team (in C.B.S.), we rely on Paradise for interlocking competition.
“Thankfully, common sense prevailed at the end of the day.”
The revised guidance documents for sports now state the following:
• So long as the 50-person maximum-gathering rule is followed (along with all Public Health Guidelines), single games between sports teams, including neighbouring communities, are allowed.
• Tournaments, provincial championships and backto-back games in a normal tournament style cannot take place due to gathering restrictions and concern about crowding.
• A minimum 30-minute break between games is required to allow spectators and participants time to leave, and for cleaning/disinfection of equipment and frequently touched surfaces to occur before the next teams arrive.
• Game organizers must keep records of all players, coaches, trainers, officials and others related to game play for two weeks to aid in rapid contact tracing if needed.
• A minimum of two metres between all participants is recommended at all times.
• Besides cleaning in the 30-minute break between games, all frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected prior to a new group being provided access to facility space (bleachers, railings, picnic areas, mats, gates, etc.).
• Employees and volunteers of facilities and sport organizations must have access to disinfection products and any appropriate personal protective equipment needed to use those products.
• Signage on the risks of COVID-19, proper cough etiquette and hand hygiene must be posted.
• Balls and similar sport equipment may be shared during warm-ups, training and competition as long as hand hygiene and equipment-cleaning procedures are in place.
• Spectators must maintain physical distancing of two metres between household bubbles, and spectator spaces should be clearly marked.
• Teams must use physical-distancing measures in common team spaces, such as dugouts and team bench areas.
• Physical congratulatory gestures, such as high-fives and handshakes are not permitted. Group huddles between players, or players and coaches are also forbidden.
• Dressing rooms and change rooms in arenas may not be used during Alert Level 2. Participants must come prepared to participate in the activity when they arrive. In other words, they must have their equipment on prior coming to the facility.
“(Before the changes), you could only play in your backyard... Thankfully, common sense prevailed at the end of the day.” Todd Powell