COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for Minnetonka Girls Softball Association (MGSA).

MGSA is committed to providing a safe and healthy place for all our players, parents, and volunteers, as well as visitors from other communities. To ensure we have a safe and healthy sports venue, MGSA has developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coaches and parents are all responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our communities, and that requires full cooperation among our players, parents, volunteers, and visitors. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of all persons on our fields.

The COVID-19 Preparedness Plan is administered by Kelly Wischmeier, who maintains the overall authority and responsibility for the plan. However, management and workers are equally responsible for supporting, implementing, complying with and providing recommendations to further improve all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. MGSA’s coaches and parents have our full support in enforcing the provisions of this plan.

Our players are our most important assets. MGSA is serious about safety and health and protecting our players. Player involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. We have involved our players in this process by: Encouraging parents and coaches reviewing the plan to all players throughout the season, posting signs in the entry to our park, restrooms, concession trailer, etc.

MGSA’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows the industry guidance developed by the state of Minnesota, available at the Stay Safe Minnesota website (https://staysafe.mn.gov), which is based upon Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines for COVID-19, Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) statutes, rules and standards, MN Safe Play Back to the Diamond 2021 Baseball & Softball Covid-19 Safety Guidelines, and Minnesota’s relevant and current executive orders. It addresses:

ensuring sick players and coaches stay home and prompt identification and isolation of sick persons;
social distancing – players and coaches must be at least six-feet apart, or wear facemasks;
player and coach hygiene and source controls, including face coverings;
dugout cleaning and disinfection protocol;
drop-off, pick-up and delivery practices and protocol; and
communications and training practices and protocol.

MGSA has reviewed and incorporated the industry guidance applicable to our business provided by the state of Minnesota for the development of this plan, including the following industry guidance for organized sports. Other conditions and circumstances included in the industry guidance and addressed in the plan that are specific to our organization include:

additional protections and protocols for guests and visitors to Legacy Fields;
additional protections and protocols for face coverings and personal protective equipment (PPE);
additional protections and protocol for access and assignment;
additional protections and protocol for sanitation and hygiene;
additional protections and protocols for work clothes and handwashing;
additional protections and protocol for distancing and barriers;
additional protections and protocols for managing occupancy;
additional protocols to limit face-to-face interaction;
additional protections for receiving or exchanging payment; and
additional protections and protocols for certain types of businesses within an industry.

Ensure sick players, parents and volunteers (PPVs) stay home and prompt identification and isolation of sick persons.

PPVs have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess PPVs’ health status prior to entering Legacy Fields PPV’s to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms: Upon entering Legacy Fields there will be numerous signs to mask up and to turn around if anyone has any symptoms of COVID-19. Any and all doubts will be reported directly to the DIRECTOR of each league, the directors will alert the president, Kelly Wischmeier, and then the process of determining if exposure happened and if teams/games need to shut down.

MGSA has implemented a policy for informing families and opponents if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 at practices or games and requiring them to quarantine for the required amount of time. As stated above, families who have any doubt need to report directly to their perspective directors (MN Whirl – Adrian Wagner, Tonka Slowpitch-Keith Wandrei, Tonka Fastpitch-Kristine Hochbaum). These directors will inform me. Together, we will investigate and consult MDH guidelines to identify any close contacts, inform coaches and parents of certain teams, etc.

MGSA will follow MDH guidelines for required quarantines due to exposure outside or inside of play with MGSA. The MDH guidelines for quarantine times can be found here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/quarguide.pdf.

In addition, a policy has been implemented to protect the privacy of players’ health status and health information. No names will ever be shared; thus parents are asked to contact the directors and not the coaches.

Social distancing – Players, Parents and Volunteers (PPVs) must attempt to stay at least six-feet apart, Policy on masks/face coverings.

Social distancing of at least six feet will be implemented and maintained between players while in the dugout and on the complex while either waiting for a game to start or waiting for a game to end. Our policy will be that no teams are hanging out socially at the complex. If they are not warming up for a game, they are to be leaving the complex, or they are considered a spectator.. Families often stay around for friends’ games, which is fine. However, we will require all to wear facemasks if 6 feet of distance can not be maintained and encourage any social interactions to happen outside the complex. There will be signs of encouragement for the 6 feet of distance between non-family members in the stands. For the volunteers in the concession trailer, we will allow our one main concession trailer worker, Sydnee Wischmeier, along with one volunteer or multiple if from the same household.

We will adhere to current MDH & sports guidance found here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/sportsguide.pdf and here: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/00df-2413293/2021_Back_to_the_Diamond_FINALasof4-15-21.pdf#_ga=2.86237340.564313206.1618507735-1080738290.1617645767

All PPVs, are required to wear masks or face coverings when 6 feet of distance can not be maintained.

Player, parent, and volunteer hygiene and source controls

Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at Legacy Fields at all times. PPVs are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, but especially at the beginning and end of their games and practices and after using the restroom. All PPV’s will be encouraged to wash or sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the facility. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) are at entrances and locations in the workplace so they can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled. MGSA’s field maintenance team will place hand sanitizer in each dugout and at the concession trailer. Source controls are being implemented at Legacy Fields at all times.

PPVs and our visitors are being instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and to avoid touching their face, particularly their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. PPVs and our visitors are expected to dispose of tissues in provided trash receptacles and wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be demonstrated on posters and supported by making tissues and trash receptacles available to all workers and other persons entering the workplace. Signage will be a constant reminder for this purpose.

Workplace cleaning and disinfection protocol

Regular practices of cleaning and disinfecting have been implemented, including a schedule for routine cleaning and disinfecting of common surfaces, equipment, tools and machinery, vehicles and areas in the work environment, including restrooms, picnic tables, dugouts, and the concession trailer. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted for high-touch areas.

Appropriate and effective cleaning and disinfecting supplies have been purchased and are available for use in accordance with product labels, safety data sheets and manufacturer specifications, and are being used with required personal protective equipment for the product. Our field maintenance team will have frequent discussion based on the products kept on premise.

Communications and training practices and protocol

This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan was communicated to all PPVs and visitors via email prior to the start of the season, and necessary training was provided. Additional communication and training will be ongoing by frequent emails and discussion with coaches and directors.

Instructions will be communicated to all PPVs and visitors about protections and protocols, including: 1) social distancing protocols and practices; 2) practices for hygiene and respiratory etiquette; 3) requirements regarding the use of face-coverings and/or face-shields by PPVs and our visitors. All PPVs and visitors will also be advised not to enter the facility if they are experiencing symptoms or have contracted COVID-19.

Directors, the president, and coaches are expected to monitor how effective the program has been implemented. All coaches will connect with their directors. Directors will report to the president. All directors and coaches are to take an active role and collaborate in carrying out the various aspects of this plan, and update the protections, protocols, work-practices and training as necessary. This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan has been certified by Minnetonka Girls Softball Association and the plan was posted throughout the facility as well as the website tonksoftball.org and made readily available to all prior to the start of the season. It will be updated as necessary by Kelly Wischmeier.

Additional protections and protocols

Other conditions and circumstances addressed in this plan that are specific to our business include:

All officials must share and follow their protocol, but they must also follow our specific guidelines laid out in this document.
Teams must NOT share balls. Defense uses their own balls, then takes them into the dugout during their time at offense.
Coaches are to spray benches and entry ways of the dugout after their games are finished. Coaches must also require their players to pick up any and all trash.
Shared player equipment excluding balls (catchers gear, bats, etc) will be sanitized between each use.
NO Parents will be allowed in the dugouts at anytime. They may stand outside the dugout to help with dugout organization. This does not include 8UFP, Machine Pitch, or Tball ages.
NO food will be allowed to be consumed in the dugout. Water and other beverages are exempt.

Links:

https://staysafe.mn.gov

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/sportsguide.pdf

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/quarguide.pdf

https://www.minnetonkaschools.org/district/programs/health/coronavirus-response

https://www.mnsoftball.com/news_article/show/1158259

https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/00df-2413293/2021_Back_to_the_Diamond_FINALasof4-15-21.pdf#_ga=2.86237340.564313206.1618507735-1080738290.1617645767

http://dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/COVID_19_preparedness_plan_requirements_outdoor_venues.pdf

Certified by:

Kelly Wischmeier

President of MGSA

president@tonkasoftball.org

4/22/2021