Green light for Saturday practices in Ontario

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

As such, Baseball Ontario will lift the suspension of in-person 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 players.

As per the Baseball Ontario Return to Sport Protocols, two events are permitted on one diamond. This means that two different groups, of not more than 10 each, can participate in separate practices on the same field.

One team could split into two 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 feet down the left/right field lines and 350 to 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 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:

Pre screening 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. We are meeting with the ministry on Wednesday, and hope to get clarification on what will be allowed in Step 2 and Step 3. We will provide another update in the regular edition of the Inside Pitch on Wednesday!

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