Mounds View Softball Association

Mounds View Softball Association Return-to-Play Guidelines Phase II

The purpose of this document is to outline MVSA’s approach to control social distancing (SD) during Phase II of the return to softball outlined in the COVID-19 Sports Guidance for Youth Sports.

• Scheduling:

  • Game scheduling will be managed by MN Softball.  To comply with gathering sizes below 250 people Rice Creek Fields will be limited to two fields in play at a time.

  • There will be 15 minutes allowed between teams ending and beginning practice.

• Coach Expectations:

  • Coaches will watch and enforce social distancing while the players are at the Mounds View fields.

  • If the players are not following the rules, then the Coaches will remind the player and their parents about adhering to these standards before they can return to practice or it may be discuss with the board president to determine appropriate action. Players that repeatedly and willfully ignore social distance will be suspended for a period of time determined by the MVSA board.

• Parent Expectations:

  • Parents must sign the JOSoftball Roster which includes the waiver indicating that they are responsible for their child adhering to the appropriate social distancing standards while at the facility. The JOSoftbal roster must be signed for the child to play. MVSA and the city of Shoreview cannot be held responsible if the player gets sick.

  • Parents must stay off the fields but may wait in their cars or spaced out in the non-field areas of the park. Players are strongly recommended to travel to the venue alone or with a member(s) of their immediate household, if possible.

  • Parents should conduct daily symptom assessments and verify the player does not show some of the following symptoms:

    • Fever of 100 degrees or above

    • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing

    • Chills

    • Sore Throat

    • Nausea

    • Diarrhea

    • Vomiting

  • If the player is showing any of the above symptoms, does not feel well, or has been exposed to any known Covid cases they MUST stay home. Players showing any symptoms or have been exposed to any known case MUST stay home for a minimum of 3 days after symptoms no longer exist and the player’s health returns to normal. Parents MUST notify the coach if their child shows signs of illness and the coach will notify the board president and an action plan will be created to address that player’s return to practice.

• Practicing:

  • Teams are allowed to practice as one group while maintaining proper social distancing.

  • Players moving in and out of the field of play must take turns entering/exiting so they can maintain a six-foot separation.

  • Whenever possible equipment and personal items should have proper separation and should not be shared including but not limited to face masks, helmets, or gloves. Either cones or spray-painted dots will be used to indicate where player’s equipment should be located outside the dugout.

  • There will be no sharing of food, snacks, or drinks between players. There will also be no spitting seeds, gum, or other products near the field.

• Scrimmages and Games:

  • Umpires have the option to work behind the pitcher or home plate.  Umpires will maintain social distancing as practical and will not handle softballs or other equipment used by players.

  • The dugout will be extended to behind the dugout to the backstop for both teams. This is to allow rostered players and up to three coaches per team to practice social distancing throughout the game while their team is up to bat. Hand and equipment sanitizing between innings is recommended.

  • At the pregame meeting and throughout the game, coaches and umpires will not be allowed to shake hands or have any physical contact with each other. All parties must maintain social distancing guidelines. No physical contact or touching is permitted. Players and coaches are asked to refrain from high fives or any other physical gestures of celebration. All team personnel must always maintain social distancing guidelines. At the conclusion of the game, players will be asked to forego the sportsmanship line at the end of the game. Instead we are asking for each team to line up on their respective foul line and “tip their cap” as a salute to the other team to promote sportsmanship.

  • Each team needs to provide their own softballs for when they are in the field. Each team is responsible for switching out their baseballs/softballs each inning or sanitizing their baseballs/softballs as best as possible. Again, hand and equipment sanitizing between innings is recommended.

• Sanitization:

  • Between softball drills and after practice or scrimmages the players should sanitize the equipment being used.

  • Each player should have their own hand sanitizer and spray sanitizer. They should also avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth while at the fields.

  • No team water coolers or shared drinking stations will be allowed. Players may not use the water fountain and should bring their own water which cannot be shared with others.

  • No touch rule – players should refrain from high fives, handshake lines, and other physical contact with teammates or coaches.

  • Bathroom occupancy will be limited based on social distancing standards. The goal will be 1 person utilizing the bathroom at a time.

Mounds View Softball Association Return-to-Play Guidelines Phase I

The purpose of this document is to outline MVSA’s approach to control social distancing (SD) during Phase I of the return to softball outlined in the “2020 Back to the Diamond guideline” published my MYAS, MBL and MN Softball.

• Scheduling:
  • During Phase I only softball practices will occur so umpires will not be needed. The practice schedule will be designed to allow SD between teams.
  • There will be 15 minutes allowed between teams ending and beginning practice.
• Coach Expectations:
  • Coaches will watch and enforce social distancing while the players are at the Mounds View fields.
  • If the players are not following the rules, then the Coaches will remind the player and their parents about adhering to these standards before they can return to practice or it may be discuss with the board president to determine appropriate action. Players that repeatedly and willfully ignore social distance will be suspended for a period of time determined by the MVSA board.
• Parent Expectations:
  • Parents must sign a waiver indicating that they are responsible for their child adhering to the appropriate social distancing standards while at the facility. The waiver must be signed for the child to play. MVSA and the city of Shoreview cannot be held responsible if the player gets sick.
  • Parents must stay off the fields but may wait in their cars or spaced out in the non-field areas of the park. Players are strongly recommended to travel to the venue alone or with a member(s) of their immediate household, if possible.
  • Parents should conduct daily symptom assessments and verify the player does not show some of the following symptoms:
    • Fever of 100 degrees or above
    • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
    • Chills
    • Sore Throat
    • Nausea
    • Diarrhea
    • Vomiting
  • If the player is showing any of the above symptoms, does not feel well, or has been exposed to any known Covid cases they MUST stay home. Players showing any symptoms or have been exposed to any known case MUST stay home for a minimum of 3 days after symptoms no longer exist and the player’s health returns to normal. Parents MUST notify the coach if their child shows signs of illness and the coach will notify the board president and an action plan will be created to address that player’s return to practice.
• Practicing:
  • Each team will be broken up into pods of 10 people or less.
  • There will be a maximum of 3 pods, preferred 2 pods, per field and the people within those pods will stay together throughout the practice. Different teams will not intermingle during practice. Only one pod can be at the batting cages at any given time. At all times, the players will need to use appropriate SD during the practice.
  • The catcher will be positioned at the backstop behind the batter to maintain social distancing standards.
  • Players moving in and out of the field of play must take turns entering/exiting so they can maintain a six-foot separation.
  •  
  • Whenever possible equipment and personal items should have proper separation and should not be shared including but not limited to face masks, helmets, or gloves. Either cones or spray-painted dots will be used to indicate where player’s equipment should be located outside the dugout.
  • There will be no sharing of food, snacks, or drinks between players. There will also be no spitting seeds, gum, or other products near the field.
• Sanitization:
  • Between softball drills and after practice the players should sanitize the equipment being used.
  • Each player should have their own hand sanitizer and spray sanitizer. They should also avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth while at the fields.
  • No team water coolers or shared drinking stations will be allowed. Players may not use the water fountain and should bring their own water which cannot be shared with others.
  • No touch rule – players should refrain from high fives, handshake lines, and other physical contact with teammates or coaches.
  • Bathroom occupancy will be limited based on social distancing standards. The goal will be 1 person utilizing the bathroom at a time.