Response to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - June 5 Update
Posted June 5, 2020
Today, Baseball Alberta announced a Return To Train model for baseball across the province, set to take effect on June 15 in conjunction with local municipal restrictions. The Return To Train model does not include competition, league games or tournaments, however teams are now able to hit the field for practice sessions provided that their local fields are open.
It is the first positive news for a lot of the baseball associations across the province after seeing the Okotoks Dawgs Academy and Little League Baseball both hit the field over the last couple of weeks. Provinces like Prince Edward Island were already moving into the final phase of their provinces re-launch, which was permitting league games and tournaments. Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia are all set to return to a training model either slightly before Alberta or around the same time.
Prior to this announcement by Baseball Alberta, numerous baseball associations such as the Sherwood Park Minor Baseball Association, Parkland Minor Baseball Association and St Albert Minor Baseball Association had all been discussing plans with their local governments to get on the field in a training capacity. Now, all associations will have guidelines to work with local government to get back to baseball with training.
A Return To Play model, where will we see teams competing against one another, still has no timeline for a return. It is expected that the return to league competition and tournament play won’t occur until potentially Phase 3 of Alberta’s Re-Launch Plan. The date of that plan is yet to be determined and is based on health indicators being met.
June 5th, 2020 UPDATE
We are pleased to release the Baseball Alberta Return to Train Plan. These guidelines are required to be in place and executed in full to start up any organized baseball activities that are sanctioned by Baseball Alberta.Noncompliance can lead to removal of facility access through the municipality in which you offer baseball programming, bylaw fines or even a provincial health officer order to cease activity. This document outlines the requirements and expectations involved in returning to baseball training in a COVID-19 world.
Member Associations will be able to safely resume baseball activities and insurance will only be in place on or after June 15th and once ALL protocols below are completed:
• All players and coaches are registered with Baseball Alberta.
• All registered players, coaches and volunteers have signed the appropriate waiver forms.
• Associations have communicated with their municipality to ensure compliance with all local guidelines in order to book and use fields.
* Please remember that no insurance will be in place until June 15, 2020 nor will any training activities be sanctioned prior to that time.
We ask for our members’ patience and understanding as local baseball association volunteers navigate Phase 1 of the Baseball Alberta Return to Train Plan and work to implement new mandatory steps to make this return as safe, smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Baseball Alberta recognizes that some Member Associations have already had to make the difficult decision to cancel all or part of their baseball operations for 2020. We understand those decisions and support your decision to do so. Please note that Member Associations are not required to operate in person baseball activities until they feel that it is safe and appropriate to do so. We are looking forward to seeing our players and coaches back out on the diamonds soon!
Ron VanKeulen
President, Baseball Alberta
