March 20, 2020

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

The impact of COVID-19 has become increasingly disruptive to sport and continues to have an expanding impact locally, nationally and internationally. Baseball Canada has been closely monitoring all available information related to the continued spread of COVID-19. The health and safety of our athletes, coaches, officials, staff and partners as well as upcoming events, is our priority.

After reviewing the relevant positions from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, and the Government of Canada, Baseball Canada has decided to postpone all its upcoming in person events until April 27, 2020 with intent to provide our membership with regular updates on the situation.

The following events in our calendar for April have been cancelled:

-Safe Sport Meeting (April 1-2 in Ottawa)

-Junior National Team Spring Training (April 16-25 in West Palm Beach, Florida)

-Competition-Development Coach Training (April 20-24 in Jupiter, Florida)

-National Umpire Committee Meeting (April 25 in Toronto)

Baseball Canada also recommends that its member provinces consider appropriate action for their respective provincial situations. We invite players, coaches, umpires and scorekeepers to reach out to their respective provincial baseball associations for more information on the provincial activities. Baseball Canada is currently working on a plan for coach and umpire training using technology that will allow for remote accessibility.

Given the dynamic nature of this situation, additional protocols to promote the health and safety of all participants and coaches at upcoming events should be implemented to align with recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

In addition to establishing additional protocols, we encourage all athletes, participants, coaches, officials and scorekeepers, staff, volunteers, spectators, and everyone participating in any events in the upcoming weeks and months to be vigilant with regards to their health and safety.