Baseball On Pause, Again

Keeping up with the changes to the Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions as well as intrepeting them is overwhelming at times. On April 30, five days ago, Baseball Alberta had released an updated version of their guidelines in response to the Alberta Government's Strong Public Health Measures update. Well it is time to change them again and it is not for the better. 

On Tuesday May 4, the Alberta Government announced a wave of new restrictions to try and drive down the spike of Covid-19 cases across the province. The big one will be all K - 12 students will be sent home for online learning as will post secondary students in the province. Outdoor social gatherings have been reduced to five people, restaurants will have patios closed, places of worship are restricted to fifteen people however a funeral is restricted even further at ten people and retailers will be restrictoed to 10% of their fire code capacity. 

Effecting the Powerline Baseball League, other baseball leagues/associations as well as other outdoor sports, are new restrictions on outdoor gatherings/activity which will start on May 9 at 11:59pm across the province. 

Indoor activities

• All indoor sport, performance and recreation activities for youth and adults are prohibited.
• Indoor fitness and recreation facilities must close, including for 1-on-1 training.

Outdoor activities

• All outdoor sports and recreation activities are prohibited, except with members of your household, or your two close contacts if you live alone. This includes:
  • all group physical activities, such as team sports, fitness classes, training sessions
  • all one-on-one lessons and training activities
  • all practices, training and games
• Outdoor recreation facilities can remain open unless specifically closed by public health order.

From May 10 until Tuesday May 25, baseball teams will not be permitted to come together and practice. The only option for players will be to meet with family members or their two designated close contacts to do some sort of outdoor baseball activity. 

There really isn't much else to say. No chance at baseball until May 25th at the earliest and even then, the province will likely need to see a massive drop in Covid-19 cases in order to see restrictions lifted to even get back to just practicing in groups of 10 let along playing games. 

Baseball Alberta has yet to respond to the most recent restrictions.

*Professional sport organizations that have received an exemption will still be permitted to operate. So at least we have that happening. 

It is a tough time right now. It appeared as if there was light at the end of the tunnel but it has been a struggle to try and get there. Stay safe everyone.