Pacific Grove PONY Baseball Health and Safety Guidelines
2021 Spring Season
The following document outlines our league’s
adopted policies regarding the additional health and safety guidelines
for participation in the 2021 PG PONY Baseball and Softball Spring
Season. These rules are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and
the California Department of Public Health’s best practices for the
administration of youth sports.
We understand that things are changing rapidly
within Monterey County, the City of Pacific Grove and Pacific Grove
Unified School District. However, as a non-profit organization with
volunteer Board of Directors, Managers and Coaches, it is in all of our
best interest to operate as safely as possible and to follow the rules
and guidelines set at the beginning of the season.
Although other administrative body’s rules may
change, we will follow these rules through the end of the 2021 Spring
Season to make everyone’s participation as fun, safe and routine as
possible.
Practice and Game Day Procedures
- Team practice and game times will be spaced apart to allow for minimal interaction between arriving and departing groups.
- Benches and routinely touched areas will be disinfected before and after use.
- New baseballs and softballs will be provided for each game.
- Bathrooms and porta potties will be locked when not in use and
will be disinfected to the extent possible between practice or games.
- Hand washing stations will be provided at all game sites.
- Players and coaches will be required to utilize hand sanitizer as frequently as possible.
- When signs of illness are present:
- Parent will immediately be contacted for immediate pick up.
- Player will be asked to immediately put a mask on and gather belongings to wait in designated area.
- Coach will wait with player, at a distance of 6 feet, with mask on, until parent picks up player.
- Parent will be instructed to keep player
at home until no signs or symptoms of illness for at least 24 hours
without over-the-counter medication.
- Parent should contact healthcare provider if illness symptoms persist at least 2 days beyond symptom onset.
- All equipment and seating areas will be sanitized.
- Screening Daily Site Screening
- The player should stand in a shaded
area, away from direct sunlight. Point thermometer directly to the
center of forehead about 1-3 inches away from person.
- The temperature reading should be interpreted as it appears on the backlight screen:
- If the screen is green, the temperature is within normal range.
- If the screen is yellow, the temperature is in the low-grade fever range (99.0 - 100.4)
- If the screen is red, the temperature is 100.4 or higher.
- Temperature Interpretation:
- Green Screen: Temperature is within normal range. Proceed to Student Symptoms Check below.
- Yellow Screen: Re-take temperature 3
separate times about 10-15 seconds apart with the student in a shaded
area and with any head covering removed if applicable. If the screen is
still yellow for at least 2 of the 3 total temperature checks, do
Student Symptoms Check below. Consider having parent take student home
if in question of illness symptoms, especially if student had recent
illness and is still recovering.
- Red Screen: Re-take temperature 3
separate times about 10-15 seconds apart with student in a shaded area
and any head covering removed if applicable. If the screen is still red
for at least 2 of the 3 total temperature checks, the student should go
home regardless of whether they have other illness symptoms. Parent
follow-up with child’s healthcare provider recommended.
- Visual check and student feedback regarding illness symptoms:
- No new: Headache, chills, cough,
sore throat, congestion (not related to allergy or asthma), new loss of
taste or smell, difficulty breathing (not related to asthma), muscle or
body aches, stomachache, diarrhea, or fa1gue.
- If any symptom or child appears
unwell, send home with parent/guardian. • If student’s temperature is
within normal range (green backlight on thermometer) and they do not
have the above symptoms, they may proceed to the practice or game.
- Upon entering the site players must wash or sanitize their hands.
- Parents or caregivers should be strongly encouraged to monitor their children for signs of infectious illness every day.
- Students who are sick should not attend school in-person.
Masks:
- Masks should be multiple layers and fit properly over the entire nose and mouth.
- Single layers buffs or gaiters are not permitted. It must be a mask.
- If a player forgets his or her mask, one will be provided for them.
- Masks do not have to be worn during competition, but it is strongly recommended.
- Masks must be worn when not participating in the activity (e.g., on the sidelines and coming to and from an activity).
- Masks to be worn by coaches, support staff and observers at all times, and in compliance with the CDPH Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings.
Equipment
- No sharing of drink bottles and other personal items and equipment.
- PG PONY will require each player to have his or her own helmet,
glove, and bat. If the player does not have one or more of these items,
the league will check out these items for individual use during the
season to the extent possible. The league will be providing additional
information on discounts through our partner Dick’s Sporting Goods in
the near future.
Catching Equipment: The league will provide one or two sets of
catching equipment per team. If your player is a catcher, we strongly
encourage the purchase of your own equipment. Catching equipment will
not be shared to the extent possible. If sharing does need to occur for
player safety, the equipment will be completely disinfected prior to use
by the next player. All team equipment will be sanitized before and
after use by the team.
Team Activities
- Mixing with other households prior to and post any practice or
competition must strictly adhere to current gathering guidance. However,
all teams must leave the facility immediately following the event.
Gathering in the parking lot or outside the fields is prohibited.
- Limit indoor sports activities (practice, conditioning) to
comply with capacity limits (which shall include all athletes, coaches,
and observers) indicated in current CDPH Gym & Fitness Center Guidance Capacity.
- Associated indoor activities for the team (e.g.,
dinners, film study, batting cages) are prohibited given evidence that
transmission is more likely to occur in these indoor higher risk
settings. Individual families may participate in these activities
outside of the team structure at their own risk.
- Teams must not participate in out-of-state games and
tournaments; several multistate outbreaks have been reported around the
nation, including California residents.
Limitations on Observers
- Limit observation of youth sports (age 18 years and under) to
immediate household members, and for the strict purpose of
age-appropriate supervision. This includes observation of practice and
competition. Limit number of observers to ensure physical distance can
be maintained, reduce potential crowding, and maintain indoor and
outdoor capacity limits.
- Observers maintain at least 6 feet from non-household members.
- To the extent possible, parents in the upper divisions are
encouraged to drop off players at practice and then return to pick up
the player without leaving their vehicle.
Limitations for Inter-Team Competitions and Tournaments
Physical Distancing
- Participants will maintain at least six feet of distance between
sport participants and others to the maximum extent possible, including
when on the sidelines.
- Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between coaches and
participants and facilitate physical distancing between participants to
the maximum extent possible. League will provide appropriate indicators
to assist players with where to sit.
Informed Consent
• Due to the nature and risk of
transmission while participating in Outdoor High-Contact and
Moderate-Contact sports, information regarding risk has been provided to
all parents/guardians of minors participating in PG PONY, and parents
have signed an informed consent indicating their understanding and
acknowledgement of the risks indicated herein in order to participate.
Screening
Testing and Travel
- As a moderate contact sport, testing is not required to
participate, however, parents and players should get a PCR test if they
are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
- We understand that recreational travel is the right of everyone.
Our league asks, however, that if a family is planning to, or has
traveled outside of the county or state, that they inform their coach
and follow the CDPH’s guidelines for testing and quarantining before
returning to their team.
Hygiene and Equipment Sanitation
• When equipment is shared
during an activity, participants perform hand hygiene (wash hands with
soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) before play,
during breaks, at half time, and after the conclusion of the activity. o Balls
or other objects or equipment can be touched by multiple players during
practice and play if the above hand hygiene practices are followed.
Limitations on Mixing by Participants
- PG PONY understands that players will be participating in other
extra-curricular activities and groups. As an organization, we cannot
prevent that. However, we are strongly encouraging the participation by
athletes and coaches during practice and competition to one team within
the same sport - For example, your player may be part of a soccer or
dance program and our PONY program. That is acceptable. However, we ask,
as has been the standard pre-pandemic practice, that players not
participate on two baseball or softball teams while in season. This
season, participating on multiple baseball or softball teams during the
Spring 2021 season is not allowed.
- For larger teams, we will limit exposure by forming smaller training groups during practices for drills and conditioning.
Travel Considerations
- Carpooling for members of a team may pose a greater risk. To
mitigate COVID-19 transmission risk during group travel, employ
universal masking, physical distancing, and windows to remain open the
full duration of the trip when feasible.
- Plan for proper communication of all travel rules, protocols,
and expectations to everyone in the travel party. When feasible, teams
should aim to travel and play the same day to avoid overnight stays.
- Travel by private car limited to only those within the immediate household.
Should a Player or Family member be diagnosed with COVID-19
- If a player or immediate family member is diagnosed with
COVID-19, it is the responsibility of that family to immediately contact
your team’s coach to alert them of the positive test. This information
will be kept confidential, however, the fact of the positive test, but
not the individual testing positive, will be used to alert the rest of
the team in accordance with CDPH and Monterey County Health Department
directives.
- Team members exposed should follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 exposure.
- Should more than one member of a team test positive, activities
for that team will be suspended until all members of the team have
followed CDC and CDPH guidelines regarding multiple positive tests
within a group.
- PG PONY will utilize Monterey County heath directives regarding contact tracing should the need arise.
- Our league will adhere to the current 14-day quarantine rule
with Medical Professional’s note allowing return to group activities for
the player or coach to be allowed to participate in league activities.
- Additionally, should a member of the player’s family test
positive, the player will be required to quarantine and return with a
doctor’s note that includes the negative test series and doctor’s
permission.
Returning to Sports After Infection
- No one with symptoms of COVID-19 or who is in isolation or
quarantine for COVID-19 is permitted to attend practices or
competitions.
- Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should consult their physician
for testing and notify their coach, athletic trainer and/or school
administrator of their symptoms and test results.
- Youths recovering from COVID-19 will have different paths to return to sports based on the severity of their illness. See the American Academy of Pediatrics Interim Guidance on Return to Sports [1] for additional guidance for more serious infections.
Vaccination of Eligible Households
- Sports participants, including coaches and support staff, are
strongly encouraged to be vaccinated once eligible, as vaccines will
protect residents and reduce the likelihood of transmission from
infected persons to others.
Are We Allowed to Play: YES!
Table: Youth and Adult Recreational Sports* Permitted by Current Tier of County**
Substantial Tier (Red)
2
Outdoor moderate-contact
sports
• Badminton (doubles)
• Baseball
• Cheerleading
• Dodgeball
• Field hockey
• Gymnastics
• Kickball
• Lacrosse (girls/women)
• Pickleball (doubles)
• Softball
• Tennis (doubles)
• Volleyball
*Play in Less Restrictive Tiers: Outdoor Moderate-Contact Sports
Outdoor moderate-contact sports (red tier) can be played in the
purple tier with an adjusted case rate equal to or less than 14 per
100,000 under the following conditions:
Implement and strictly adhere to the following additional general guidance:
- Informed Consent
Additional general guidance that should be implemented to the greatest extent possible and are required or strongly encouraged.
- Face Coverings (during play)
- Physical Distancing (during play)
- Hygiene and Sanitation
- Limitations on mixing by participants
- Travel Considerations