After much thought and discussion, the CYA LL Board of Directors has come up with a plan for the fall. Even with a plan, we remain cautiously optimistic that we'll even get to execute it as many factors can change and upend the plan. There is a lot of uncertainty right now and we expect it to continue into mid-August.
We felt it was important to not open registration blindly without setting expectations of what the season may consist of first. We do not believe it is fair for you to register - assuming a regular season, and then turn it into something far different or less than you expected. We were blindsided in the spring - we need to be far more cautious entering fall.
The plan sets in place protocols that will demand the cooperation of participants, coaches, and parents. All parents, players, and coaches will have to acknowledge the risks and their understanding of the protocols as well as adhere to the protocols to enable participation. These protocols will be formally documented and published shortly.
Our plan is also heavily dependent on volunteers - even more so than in "non-pandemic" times. We insist that everyone follow the protocols and support them. If you do not agree with or support the protocols, we will not argue with you, but your player won't be allowed to participate if you or your player won't comply. We cannot execute a plan without an adequate number of committed volunteers who will have to be cognizant of a lot more "rules".
While we have struggled with how to move forward, minimize risks, and employ reasonable protocols based on guidance from the CDC and Governor Northam's office, we see the following challenges to conducting a fall baseball season:
1) Ability to enforce social distance between players as well as between coaches and players
2) Having enough adults on field to enforce the protocols inherently increases asymptomatic and transmission risks due to greater numbers
3) The more additional rules (spreading out, no high fives, limited spectators etc.), the more the level of fun goes down. Players of almost every age don’t want to only work on individual skill development, they want to play ball and socialize.
Due to broad restrictions required by COVID-19 guidelines, and the difficulty of enforcing those restrictions with our youngest players, we are unfortunately unable to offer Tee Ball & Coach Pitch divisions for Fall 2020. Given the amount of interaction between players, coaches and families/spectators, we don’t believe we can offer a satisfactory and safe environment while still providing a fun experience at the youngest levels. We strongly considered a number of different options, including increasing adult participation on-field but that would conversely raise the overall transmission risk. The Commonwealth of Virginia insists on 10' distancing and that's impossible to conduct tee ball and coach pitch practices and games. While consistent with the conclusion that the majority of our local Little Leagues have reached in not offering a fall program, we are very disappointed to defer our Tee Ball & Coach Pitch division until next season. We look forward to delivering our usual Tee Ball and Coach pitch programs in Spring 2021. This is a truly heartbreaking decision for us as we really want to provide some sense of normalcy for our young players. If by some miracle things change for the positive in the coming weeks, we will see if there's anything we can offer our youngest players.
We will attempt to offer a fall program for players age 7-12. Number and size of teams will be dependent on the number of players that sign up as well as the number of adult volunteers. Protocols will be very clear for how each division will operate.
This will not be a normal baseball season. The 2020 League Age chart will be utilized and strictly enforced. We will start the season with a weekday practice and a Saturday practice for at least a couple of weeks (or longer) and then hopefully transition to a weekday practice and Saturday game each week for each team.
Age | Division
7-8 | Machine Pitch
9 | Introductory Player Pitch
10 - 11 | Intermediate Player Pitch
10-12 | Advanced Player Pitch
A summary of the protocols (to be formalized)
All families will submit signed waivers acknowledging and accepting the risk or participating and that they understand the required protocols.
Each player will be submitting a pre-screen form (likely electronic) prior to each event attesting to their health.
Each team will need at least one "COVID Coach" responsible for observing, reminding, and enforcing the established protocols (although all coshes and parents are expecte dto chip in when see something that needs attention)
Teams sizes may be reduced from the normal roster size of 12
Players will be assigned locations - appropriately distanced - off the field for their equipment and where they will remain during the game when not on the field.
Players will be positioned in the field at designated areas for drills
Unrelated (by family) spectators must be distanced at least 10' apart.
Schedules will allow for teams to be gone before next teams arrive
We'll be managing game balls and disinfecting
An umpire will be positioned behind the pitcher to call balls and strikes and field plays
No high fives, spitting, or sharing of equipment (other than a bat as long as it is wiped with sanitizer).
Some Machine Pitch Specifics
- Teams will have no more than 7 players.
- If/when games - no catcher and no "pitcher". A coach from defensive teams will collect balls into a bucket.
- Pitching machine will be wiped before each half inning.
- Defensive team will provide balls and take them to the dugout at end of their inning.
In addition to much concern over providing a safe baseball environment for all, we have been very cautious about rolling out registration without protection of your registration fees. One thing we have decided to do because of the protocols everyone will have to follow and reducing activities to cut the fall registration by $35 to help make up for what you may have lost this spring.
We are still not entirely uncomfortable not knowing what might change at the state and county level, but we appreciate your patience as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters. We hope to open a pre-registration by Monday 27 July in which we will not be asking for payment yet. We just need to gauge the number of potential participants and volunteers to plan logistics. W3e don't anticipate beginning anything until possibly the 3rd week in August, if circumstances allow.