Issued 5/19/20
Modified 7/20/20 and 7/23/20
These recommended procedures will be in place until modified or canceled.
Any player, coach, umpire, or family member who has any cold or flulike symptoms should not attend the game.
Anyone with a preexisting condition that could be complicated by the COVID-19 virus or 70 or older should not attend games for their own protection.
It is recommended that all players, coaches, umpires, and family members planning on attending a game check their temperature just prior to leaving for a game and anyone with an elevated temperature should not attend the game.
Teams are required to stay out of their respective quad of fields until 5 minutes before their scheduled game time. Once your game is complete teams should immediately vacate the dugout and hold any post game meeting outside the quad of fields. The cooperation of everyone is requested when entering and leaving the field to allow games to be played on time as scheduled.
A face covering is required to be worn by everyone while entering and leaving either quad and while moving around either quad of fields, for example when headed to and from the concession stand and restroom, face covering must be worn. Anyone not complying with the face covering requirement while moving about each quad will be asked to leave. Should they refuse to leave the team they are associated with will forfeit their game.
Umpires for 12U and younger age levels have the option to call balls and strikes from either behind the catcher or from behind the pitcher. If behind the catcher, as much distance as possible should be left between the umpire and catcher, while still being in position to make a proper ball/strike call.
Anyone in attendance to watch any game is required to station themselves to the outfield side of 1B and 3B and should sit/stand in family units spaced at least 10 feet apart from any other family units. Additionally, no one should station themselves closer than 10 feet to any fence enclosing the field or any out of play boundary, if there is no fence. No one under any circumstances will be allowed to stand or sit on any paved area in either quad.
In general limiting the number of family members who attend games is encouraged and in no instance should a team have more than 35 spectators.
Coaches should stay out of dugouts as much as possible and will be allowed to stand outside of the dugout in foul territory without penalty. There should be no more than 3 players in the dugout at any time and while in the dugout they should space out as much as the dugout allows. A player’s bag and equipment should be kept outside the dugout and field of play. Teams will have access to all the space from the outermost entry of their dugout to the middle of the backstop. Each player should set up a station in this area. It is recommended as much space as possible is used between each player’s station. Additionally, it is suggested players are provided a chair or some type to use at their station while not in the game. Players that should be in the dugout when their team is at bat are the next 3rd, 4th and 5th scheduled batters that inning. Then as one batter leaves the dugout to go on deck the next hitter in line enters the dugout. This will limit close contact as much as possible but allow for games to proceed at a relatively normal pace. If a dugout or bench area is larger than normal, large enough to appropriately space out more than 3 players, more than 3 players can be in the dugout at one time.
There should be no displays of support or congratulation that involve contact with others. Verbal support and cheering are encouraged. Teams are strongly encouraged to come up with their own unique way as a team for showing non-contact support/congratulations for their teammates.
No seeds or gum are allowed on the field or in the dugout. The use of chewing tobacco by coaches or umpires is not allowed. It was not previously allowed; this is just a reminder. Spitting by players, coaches or umpires is not allowed.
Teams are responsible for their own disinfecting of player’s and coach’s equipment and baseballs. Players should not share equipment.
Each team needs to designate a coach responsible for disinfecting baseballs for the team. Baseballs should be sprayed or wiped down with some type of disinfectant. The traditional practice of returning balls to the dugout on the side from which the foul ball was hit should not be followed. Foul balls should only be returned by spectators to the designated coach of the team in the field, on defense at the time. Each team while in the field will be responsible for providing and disinfecting baseballs their team uses while in the field. It is recommended baseballs be swapped out between batters if touched by several players during an at bat. As this process will require the use of more baseballs than normal we will be providing more baseballs than normal. We ask that all baseballs be returned to the Tournament Director after each game so they can be disinfected for future use.
There are no rule changes concerning game play, but players are encouraged to avoid physical contact as much as possible. The tradition of coaches and players chatting while in close contact while on the bases should be avoided as much as possible. Any participants included in any mound meetings or between inning meetings should space apart as much as possible. As is the tradition for some teams, there should be no gathering of players during a pitching change.
The post-game handshake should be replaced by the opposing teams lining up on their respective foul lines properly spaced and offer a tip of the cap to the opposing team. It is important as a league we show the importance of good sportsmanship, regardless the circumstances.
No community water coolers are allowed.