DIRT DAWG SPORTS
USA SOFTBALL COVID-19 GUIDELINES
Updated May 23
Massachusetts Phase 2
2020 Return to Practice
COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected hundreds of thousands of people in many ways. One of the ways is the impact it has had on the softball community, its youth, adults, umpires, and spectators. USA Softball of Massachusetts has developed the following guidelines to help maintain social distancing and safely return to practice.
The safety guidelines herein are to be enforced before, during and after all softball practices by a designated representative of the team/league. These would be in addition to guidelines provided for by the CDC, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, which will be strictly followed to promote social distancing. USA Softball of Massachusetts will not be held responsible should a team/league fail to adhere to these guidelines. Should the local authorities or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts close down a team/league practice for failure to adhere to these guidelines or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Reopening Guidelines, USA Softball of Massachusetts reserves the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including revocation of registration with USA Softball.
PRACTICE GUIDELINES
There will be a maximum of 25 participants on each softball field. Participants include players and coaches. Teams should not enter the softball field while another team is on the field or in the dugout. They are to remain off the field and social distance until the previous team leaves the field and the dugout bench has been sanitized.
There will be no organized games, scrimmages, or tournaments during Phase 2.
Leagues will designate a representative to ensure social distancing of all participants and spectators during all practices.
Spectators are limited to only the player’s parents/guardians. The number of spectators will be limited to the Department of Public Health assemblage/capacity guidance for Phase 2. Spectators must go beyond 1st and 3rdbases with social distancing. Bleachers will be marked to show social distancing. Should a family member bring their own chair, they must social distance from the bleachers or other spectators. Spectators may have to wear a face covering per Massachusetts COVID-19 Order #31. (See Figure 1)
Players should have their own helmet, bat, & water bottle. Each catcher should have their own catcher’s equipment. Players should refrain from sharing equipment. No communal water coolers.
Players to wear batting gloves as much as possible during practice, especially when handling a bat.
Team/league should have hand sanitizer or wipes available for all participants.
Players and coaches must refrain from any physical gestures of celebrating including but not limited to high fives, fist or elbow bumps.
No seeds or any food that encourages spitting will be allowed.
Dugouts are to be extended outside behind the dugout to the home plate backstop with fencing on both sides to keep spectators separate. This area will be marked for social distancing. No more than 3 to 5 individuals in the dugout (dependent on dugout size). Remainder of players to be in the extended outside dugout area with social distancing. Dugout benches will be marked to show social distancing. (See Figure 2)
Each team will be responsible for sanitizing their dugout bench once their practice has completed.
Face coverings may have to be worn when not on the playing field or in the dugout by all youth participants per Massachusetts COVID-19 Order #31. Adult coaches may have to wear a face covering both on the playing field and off per Massachusetts COVID-19 Order #31.
Players or coaches that are not feeling well or exhibiting symptoms of possible exposure to COVID-19, such as fever should not attend the practice until such time as the player or coach has been tested and/or cleared.
"Practice Hard Win Easy"
Updated Nov 16,2020
On Thursday November 12th, the State EEA made some updates to their guidance concerning out of state players. They posted it on their website but failed to send it to the members of the EEA sports subcommittee, so I apologize for the delay in getting this out to everyone.
Here are the updated changes:
Massachusetts teams can have players from outside Massachusetts so long as they follow the Massachusetts Travel Order. If they are from CT, RI or NY, they are from a high risk state and need to quarantine or get a COVID-19 test 3 days prior to arrival into Massachusetts. This is each time they come into Massachusetts. So if you practice once per week, they will need a test each week they come into Massachusetts. Massachusetts teams with players from VT, NH or ME do not need a test or quarantine at this time because they are currently from a lower risk state. For further information on the travel order, visit Mass.gov/MATraveler.
Massachusetts teams CANNOT play against out of state teams in Massachusetts. Massachusetts teams are allowed to play out of state, BUT they must comply with the Massachusetts Travel Order upon arrival back into Massachusetts.
Failure of any Massachusetts based team to comply with the EEA guidelines risks suspension of all team/league practices and/or games by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Again these are rules established by the State EEA and not USA Softball of Massachusetts. As further updates are made, I will do my best to get them out to everyone.
Wayne Coe
Deputy State JO Commissioner, USA Softball MA.
Updated May 23, 2020
Massachusetts Phase 2
2020 Return to the Field
COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected hundreds of thousands of people in many ways. One of the ways is the impact it has had on the softball community, its youth, adults, umpires, and spectators. USA Softball of Massachusetts has developed the following guidelines to help maintain social distancing and safely return to practice.
The safety guidelines herein are to be enforced by a designated representative of the league. These would be in addition to guidelines provided for by the CDC, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, which will be strictly followed to promote social distancing. USA Softball of Massachusetts will not be held responsible should a league fail to adhere to these guidelines. Should the local authorities or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts close down a league facility for failure to adhere to these guidelines or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Reopening Guidelines, USA Softball of Massachusetts reserves the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including revocation of registration with USA Softball.
FACILITY GUIDELINES
There will be a maximum of 25 participants on each softball field. Participants include players and coaches. Teams should not enter the softball field while another team is on the field or in the dugout. They are to remain off the field and social distance until the previous team leaves the field and the dugout bench has been sanitized.
There will be no organized games, scrimmages, or tournaments during Phase 2.
No seeds or any food that encourages spitting will be allowed.
Dugouts are to be extended outside behind the dugout to the home plate backstop with fencing on both sides to keep spectators separate. This area will be marked for social distancing. No more than 3 to 5 individuals in the dugout (dependent on dugout size). Remainder of players to be in the extended outside dugout area with social distancing. Dugout benches will be marked to show social distancing (See figure 1).
League will be responsible for sanitizing each dugout bench at the conclusion of each day fields are used.
League to ensure players have their own helmet, bat, & water bottle. Each catcher should have their own catcher’s equipment. Players should refrain from sharing equipment. No communal water coolers. Should any equipment be shared among players, the equipment is to be disinfected immediately before the next player uses it.
League should have hand sanitizer or wipes available for all participants.
CONCESSION STANDS
CONSULT YOUR LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH AS THOSE GUIDELINES WILL SUPERSEDE THESE
No seeds or any food the encourages spitting will be allowed
Concession stand workers must follow CDC guidelines with face coverings and gloves
Concession stands will only sell bottled or canned beverages and prepackaged snacks. No cooking of items will be allowed including popcorn. No selling of fountain beverages will be allowed
No picnic benches allowed near concession stands. Items purchased at concession stands MUST be consumed at the player or spectator social distancing areas.
RESTROOMS
CONSULT YOUR LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH AS THOSE GUIDELINES WILL SUPERSEDE THESE
Restrooms or portable restrooms must be disinfected at least twice per day when games/practices are played. When portable restrooms are used, a portable hand washing station must be installed.
SIGNAGE (to be posted in all dugouts & concession stands)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/stop-the-spread-of-germs-11x17-en.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention-H.pdf