REGISTRATION FOR THE SPRING SEASON WILL OPEN JANUARY 1, 2021.

DYB Fall Guidelines- 9/11/20

Phase 3 – In-Season Play (inclusive of guidance amended August 13, 2020)

Subject to any changes or guidance issued by the MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, Duxbury Youth Baseball will endeavor to institute the following guidelines for In-Season Play:

• General
• 1. Any players, coaches, volunteers, or spectators that are not feeling well or have any CDC identified COVID-19 symptoms (e.g. fever, loss of taste or smell, headache, sore throat, cough) are not allowed to attend practices or games until symptom-free for a minimum of 24 hours or until a negative COVID test result can be provided to the DYB Board.
• 2. All participants will: (1) wear face coverings, (2) practice proper social distancing (maintain at least 6 feet separation), and (3) maintain proper hand hygiene.
• 3. Umpires will wear a face covering at all times and will maintain social distancing (6 feet) from all players, coaches, volunteers, and spectators.
• 4. No more than 25 players can be on any surface or playing area at any one time.
• 5. No more than 50 people, excluding players, coaches, team volunteers, umpires, and staff can be on any surface or playing area at any one time.
• 6. Participants should not congregate on or near the field of play or in the parking areas following practices and games.
• 7. Temporary fences will be erected where necessary so that players can remain socially distant, but safe, outside the dugout

• Players
• 1. All players must wear a face covering (mask or gaiter) with the only exception being if it hinders the safety of the player.
• 2. Players should refrain from the following: (1) team huddles, (2) high fives, (3) fist or elbow bumps, or (4) any other type of physical celebration contact. Teams are encouraged to develop other ways of congratulating each other and the opposing team(s).
• 3. Players should have their own bottle of hand sanitizer at all practices and games and should sanitize hands when returning to the dugout or bench from the field or play.
• 4. Players are not allowed to share any food or drink during practices or games.
• 5. Players are not allowed to consume items with seeds, gum or any other food that encourages spitting or sharing.
• 6. Players are only allowed in dugouts when they are on deck or double deck, or are the pitcher or catcher at coach’s discretion.
• 7. Players should arrive at field ready to play. This means in uniform with jerseys tucked in, cleats tied, and hair pulled back.
• 8. No team water or food/beverage (players permitted to bring their own water, which will always remain inside their bag and labeled with their name, or with a parent)

• Coaches & Volunteers
• 1. Coaches and other adult team volunteers must wear face coverings at all times.
• 2. A maximum of one coach is allowed to visit the pitcher at a time. When that coach visits the pitcher, all other players should stay outside the pitching circle and maintain a six (6) foot distance from each other.
• 3. Coaches should ensure that players remain at least six (6) feet away from all other players and adults at all times. This includes during practices, pre-game warm-ups, breaks during practices or games and times following practices or games.
• 4. Only one coach from each team is allowed at the pre-game plate meeting and social distancing measures should be followed.
• 5. When a team is on defense, one coach will handle the extra game ball(s) (see equipment section below) and will be responsible for providing it to the pitcher when necessary.

• Equipment
• 1. Players are required to bring their own equipment (helmet, bat, glove, etc.) to practices and games. At no time will a player be allowed to share their equipment with another player.
• 2. All equipment bags should be spaced outside the dugout to prevent direct contact.
• 3. For games, each team will have two baseballs to be used during the game. When each team is on defense, the associated coach or team volunteer should clean and sanitize their two baseballs. Offensive teams (coach, team volunteer, or players) are responsible for retrieving any passed or foul balls. Spectators are asked not to retrieve any foul balls.
• 4. Catchers equipment will be disinfected if in use and transferred to a new player within the game or at the conclusion of each game.  Two sets of catcher’s equipment will be provided per team to help expedite this.
• 5. Benches will be disinfected before and after each practice / game.

• Spectators

• 1. Please limit the number of spectators per player at games. Parents are asked to drop off or stay in car for practices.
• 2. Spectators must maintain proper social distancing (6 feet separation) and wear face coverings at all times.
• 3. ALL SPECTATORS MUST WEAR FACE COVERINGS AT ALL TIMES.
• 4. Spectators must remain outside of all team areas at all times.

• Parent responsibilities
• 1.Read rules and sign liability release online during registration period.
• 2.Confirm your child is game ready (see below) before all league activities.

In addition to the CDC and State guidelines, DYB will also require and implement the following safety measure:

• All parents/guardians required to sign/acknowledge a waiver of liability (during registration period)

• “Hit-For-The-Cycle Questionnaire” for parents/guardians
  • Single – I took my child’s temperature less than 2 hours before their practice or game and it was less than 100.4 degrees
  • Double – My child has not experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle ache or pain, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell)
  • Triple – My child has not tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Home Run – My child has not knowingly been in contact with anyone that has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days

DUXBURY YOUTH BASEBALL-6/7/2020

Under the current COVID-19 pandemic phased reopening plan by Governor Baker and the State of Massachusetts, phase 2 allows for limited return of youth activities (practice), while phase 3 would open additional activities, including games. DYB recognizes that the phased approach is subject to the Town of Duxbury’s guidance in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Below, we outline several guidelines that we will endeavor to institute league-wide for our modified 2020 DYB Season.

Phase 2 - Practices

• Follow all guidelines laid out by the MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS on June 3, 2020.Including, but not limited to:

• All persons (players, coaches, etc.) should remain at least six feet apart whenever possible.

• Require face coverings or masks for all Players, Coaches, and Spectators

  • Participants may remove face coverings while participating in practice and drills, provided they are able to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from all other persons present.

  • Face coverings should otherwise be worn by coaches, volunteers, other staff, officials, youth chaperones, and spectators in accordance with MA guidelines to prevent against the transmission of COVID-19 throughout the duration of the activity.

• Ensure frequent sanitizing by Players and Coaches

• Practices must separate participants into groups of no more than 10, including coaches and players. Larger playing areas and surfaces, such as athletic fields, may be used by more than one group of 10 at one time, provided that adequate social distance and group separation can be maintained. To ensure group separation, groups must be spaced at least 20 feet apart while sharing a playing surface or field.

• Scrimmages, organized games and tournaments are not allowed for contact sports in Phase II and activities must be limited to no-contact drills and training exercises.

• Access to equipment storage areas will be limited to coaches only.

• Organizers should ensure that athletes arrive dressed for practice and leave immediately after practice: no recreational play or loitering is allowed.

Phase 3 – In-Season Play

Subject to any changes or guidance issued by the MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, Duxbury Youth Baseball will endeavor to institute the following guidelines for In-Season Play:

• Temporary fences erected where necessary so that players can remain socially distant, but safe, outside the dugout

• Players will remain behind the fence outside of the dugout except for the on-deck batter and batter “in the hole” (after the on-deck batter), these players will be socially distant

• No sharing of equipment  unless items are disinfected n accordance with State Guidelines (bats, helmets, gloves, etc.)

• No high fives or handshakes, pre, post, or during game (DYB will encourage alternate ways to celebrate using social distancing)

• No team water or food/beverage (players permitted to bring their own water, which will always remain inside their bag, or with a parent)

• No gum, sunflower seeds, or alternate items allowed in the dugout or on the field

• One umpire for games, situated six feet behind the mound rather than the traditional position behind the catcher

• Teams will disinfect game balls each inning they are in the field (or prior to and at the end of each practice) and be responsible to provide team only baseballs for games/practices

• Catchers equipment will be disinfected if in use and transferred to a new player within the game or at the conclusion of each game.Two sets of equipment will be provided per team to help expedite this

• Benches will be disinfected after each practice / game

• No portable restrooms at any fields

• Parents are strongly encouraged to provide their own transportation for their child, stay at the field during the game, and all players must leave the field in an orderly manner immediately following the conclusion of the game.

In addition to the CDC and State guidelines, DYB will also require and implement the following safety measure:

• All parents/guardians required to sign/acknowledge a waiver of liability during the online registration period.

•  

• ***PARENTAL "Hit-For-The-Cycle Questionnaire"***

• Single – I took my child’s temperature less than 2 hours before their practice or game and it was less than 100.4 degrees

• Double – My child has not experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle ache or pain, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell)

• Triple – My child has not tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days

• Home Run – My child has not knowingly been in contact with anyone that has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days

Duxbury Youth Baseball Mission Statement:

The mission of Duxbury Youth Baseball (DYB) is to provide a safe environment for the children of Duxbury to enjoy and learn the game of baseball. Our goal as an organization is to enhance every child’s enjoyment of the game through personal instruction, group clinics and organized games so that baseball becomes a source of lifetime enjoyment. DYB especially tries to promote baseball’s fundamental principles of sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork that can be used throughout life to become better citizens.

Declarations:

1. DYB is an all-volunteer organization.

    

2. DYB is about having fun while learning the game of baseball.

    

3. DYB is about providing an opportunity for players of all abilities to enjoy the game.

    

4. DYB is about positive reinforcement.

    

5. DYB is about sportsmanship and fair play.