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Hershey Girls Softball Association

Hershey Girls Softball Association

Spring 2021

East Shore Fastpitch League COVID-19 Guidelines for Resuming Play:  Spring 2021

It is expected that the steps necessary to safely resume play in Spring of 2021 will require some dedication of manpower and effort from the league and the participating associations.  What follows is a summary and synthesis of the PA State guidance for resuming athletics, USA Softball’s reopening guidelines, and USSSA Softball’s reopening guidelines.  The guidance from USA Softball and USSSA has been in use since June with some revisions to keep pace with the changing guidelines from the state of Pennsylvania. 


1.          Players

     ·    Parent or guardian of player must sign ESFPL waiver.

     ·    Players must provide their own masks and hand sanitizer.

     ·    Masks to be worn by players when not drinking water.  This includes wearing them in the dugout, on the field of play, and during team instruction.

     ·     Players are strongly encouraged to provide their own equipment.  In the event that equipment must be shared, it must be sanitized between users (by coach or parent volunteer.)  Shared bats and helmets can be wiped down between at bats as needed.  The position of catcher should be assigned to a single player per game when safe to do so (i.e. not too hot for one girl to spend a full game behind the plate).  Catchers gear, batting helmets and other shared equipment should be sanitized (Lysol spray seems to work well) and allowed to ‘rest’ for 24 hours after use.  **** The ESFPL board realizes that shared equipment is a potential barrier for many organizations to return to play.  Please contact a board member if you are in need of catcher’s gear, extra bats, etc.  We will assist if possible.

      Players are NOT to attend practice or games if:

  •  Player or immediate family member has fever > 100.4F
  •  Player or immediate family member has known exposure to a COVID positive individual within the last 10 days
  •  Player or immediate family member has a pending COVID test
  •  Player or immediate family member has traveled within the last 10 days to a state on the PA Department of Health’s advisory list – find the up to date list at https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Travelers.aspx

2.          Spectators

     ·     2 spectator limit per player, no more than 90 people present at a field

     ·     All adults to be masked at all times, this includes coaches on the field

     ·     Family groups must separate from each other by at least 6 feet and adult spectators must wear masks

     ·     No non-coach parents on the field at any time

3.          Dugouts

     ·     Dugouts to be wiped down by an adult with sanitizing towelettes (Clorox wipes or similar) prior to use by players, and after use as well.  30 minute interval between back to back games is recommended.

     ·     Dugouts to have 6ft intervals clearly marked.  Little League baseball has been placing colorful tape along the fencing at 6ft increments.  Consider bean bags or buckets so the players know where to place themselves. 

     ·     6 foot distancing to be maintained by players and coaches not on the field.

     ·     Strongly suggest that each team have a “COVID bucket” with Clorox wipes (or similar) as well as extra hand sanitizer and other needed cleaning supplies and extra masks.

     ·     No common water coolers to be used.  Each player should bring their own drink and have it CLEARLY marked so there is no sharing of drinks.

     ·     No spitting or sunflower seeds.

4.          Conduct of the game

     ·     Home plate meeting done at 6 foot distance and to involve only the coaches and umpire

     ·     Rosters MUST be exchanged by text message (photograph on cell phone) and retained by each coach for 10 days following the game. 

     ·     Mound meetings at 6 foot spacing

     ·     No postgame handshake.  Teams lineup on foul lines and wave.

     ·     Umpire’s discretion to position behind the catcher or behind the pitcher.  Umpires to mask.

     ·     Each team provides two game balls (good quality).  Balls should be marked with team’s initials or other identifier (WH, LS, Her, etc).  Team uses their OWN balls on defense.  This minimizes touching of ball and sharing between teams. 

5.          Miscellaneous

     ·     Any association may identify additional requirements as necessitated by their municipality, insurer, or association leadership. In order to have these guidelines respected by opposing teams, the coach must notify the opposing coach not less than 48 hours in advance of a scheduled game. Guidelines shared with proper notification shall be respected by both teams and their coaches.

Fall 2020

East Shore Fastpitch COVID-19 Guidelines for Resuming Play:  Fall 2020

 

It is expected that the steps necessary to safely resume play in Fall of 2020 will require some dedication of manpower and effort from the league and the participating associations.  What follows is a summary and synthesis of the PA State guidance for resuming athletics, USA Softball’s reopening guidelines, and USSSA Softball’s reopening guidelines.  The guidance from USA Softball and USSSA has been in use since June with some revisions to keep pace with the changing guidelines from the state of Pennsylvania.  

 

1.Players

• Parent or guardian of player must sign ESFPL waiver.
• Players must provide their own masks and hand sanitizer.
• Masks to be worn by players when not actively playing.  This includes wearing them in the dugout and during team instruction.
• Players are strongly encouraged to provide their own equipment.  In the event that equipment must be shared, it must be sanitized between users (by coach or parent volunteer.)  Shared bats and helmets can be wiped down between at bats as needed.  The position of catcher should be assigned to a single player per game when safe to do so (i.e. not too hot for one girl to spend a full game behind the plate).  Catchers gear, batting helmets and other shared equipment should be sanitized (Lysol spray seems to work well) and allowed to ‘rest’ for 24 hours after use.  **** The ESFPL board realizes that shared equipment is a potential barrier for many organizations to return to play.  Please contact a board member if you are in need of catchers gear, extra bats, etc.  We will assist if possible.
• Players are NOT to attend practice or games if:
Player or immediate family member has fever > 100.4F
Player or immediate family member has known exposure to a COVID positive individual within the last 14 days
Player or immediate family member has a pending COVID test
Player or immediate family member has traveled within the last 14 days to a state on the PA Department of Health’s advisory list – find the up to date list at https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Travelers.aspx

2.Spectators

• 2 spectator limit per player, no more than 90 people present at a field
• All adults to be masked at all times, this includes coaches on the field
• Family groups must separate from each other by at least 6 feet and adult spectators must wear masks
• No non-coach parents on the field at any time

3.Dugouts

• Dugouts to be wiped down by an adult with sanitizing towelettes (Clorox wipes or similar) prior to use by players, and after use as well.  30 minute interval between back to back games is recommended.
• Dugouts to have 6ft intervals clearly marked.  Little League baseball has been placing colorful tape along the fencing at 6ft increments.  Consider bean bags or buckets so the players know where to place themselves.  
• 6 foot distancing to be maintained by players and coaches not on the field.
• Strongly suggest that each team have a “COVID bucket” with Clorox wipes (or similar) as well as extra hand sanitizer and other needed cleaning supplies and extra masks.
• No common water coolers to be used.  Each player should bring their own drink and have it CLEARLY marked so there is no sharing of drinks.
• No spitting or sunflower seeds.

4.Conduct of the game

• Home plate meeting done at 6 foot distance and to involve only the coaches and umpire
• Rosters MUST be exchanged by text message (photograph on cell phone) and retained by each coach for 14 days following the game.  
• Mound meetings at 6 foot spacing
• No postgame handshake.  Teams lineup on foul lines and wave.
• Umpire’s discretion to position behind the catcher or behind the pitcher.  Umpires to mask.
• Each team provides two game balls (good quality).  Balls should be marked with teams initials or other identifier (WH, LS, Her, etc).  Team uses their OWN balls on defense.  This minimizes touching of ball and sharing between teams.  

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