A Bulletin from the Ontario Baseball Association.

The provincial government announced that Ontario will move to Step 1 of the Roadmap to Reopen on Friday, June 11th!

As such, Baseball Ontario will lift the suspension of in-person baseball activities as of 12:01am on Friday, June 11, 2021. NOTE: only outdoor activities are permitted under government regulations. No indoor practices.

In Step 1, we are restricted to training only, in groups of up to 10 “patrons” (i.e. players).

As per the Baseball Ontario Return to Sport Protocols, 2 events are permitted on one baseball diamond. This means that 2 different groups, of not more than 10 each, can participate in separate practices on the same field. One team could split into 2 such groups as long as they stay separate throughout the practices. Everyone must stay in their own group and there can be no players, coaches or other persons participating in both events even if the two groups came from one team.

Any equipment used by one event or group must be cleaned/sanitized prior to use by the other event or group, including if both events are being run by the same team (i.e. a split squad practice). All activities for both events must adhere to the distancing measures required by the provincial government, the relevant municipality and public health authorities and the Baseball Ontario Protocol.

Please note the following rules when implementing these protocols:

  • Diamonds must be age group appropriate. For example, one full size (regulation) diamond can be used to accommodate two 10-person events of any age category. “Regulation” meaning at least 300’ down left/right field, and 350’ at centre field. However, at a 13U-sized diamond, participants in older age categories (14U+) would be limited to one 10-person event. Participants in 13U and younger age categories could have two 10-person events at a 13U-sized diamond.
  • Government rules do not allow for spectators, except for one parent/guardian for players under the age of 18 years.

Full team practices as one group are still not permitted, as long as the provincial restrictions on gatherings remain at 10!
It is important to ensure NO gatherings of large groups while activity is taking place. Please respect social/physical distancing measures as set in place by governmental public health authorities.

All activities delivered must adhere to the distancing measures and recommendations, along with any gathering restrictions issued by the Ontario Government, relevant municipality and public health authorities and Baseball Ontario Protocol, including the arrival and departure of players, including:

  • Prescreening before attending (If you are exhibiting symptoms, stay home)
  • Attendance tracking
  • Regular hand sanitizing (at least every 30 minutes)

Our focus is getting back to baseball in Step 1. Ontario Baseball will be meeting with the ministry this week and hope to get clarification on what will be allowed in Step 2 and Step 3. An update will be provided this week.

NYBA Rep teams are moving swiftly to sort out a schedule for all teams to get our on the diamond.

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Posted in Return to Play

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