The Pandemic - your area

[Tru_in_Blu]

Obviously, major decisions are being made relative to the spread of the Coronavirus. Has it directly affected your area yet?

In nearby Boston several colleges/universities have moved to online classes. Some schools have told students they need to move out of their dorms, while a few are allowing students to remain in their dorms.

Several high schools in both MA & NH have closed for either a few days or a couple of weeks.

Our HS softball season in NH is scheduled to start the second week in April. I think MA might start a week ahead of NH.

So far, we've not heard anything about the spring sports season. But can it be too long before schools start taking the cue from the major sports leagues and major events?

I wouldn't be surprised if high school sports were suspended or outright cancelled. Our softball season is only about 7 weeks long (followed by playoff games).

What's happening in your area?

[3afan]

High schools in N TX are beginning to postpone games for (mostly) 2 weeks. But I assume thats just the beginning.

[DaveASA/FED]

Well here in Indiana most high schools are out till after their spring breaks (returning first week in April) so slowly those games are being cancelled and I am sure it will roll into more of the April games.

As of now they are still having basketball finals, but limited attendance. I think they said there will be 75 "approved" individuals from each school allowed so family basically.

As you stated most colleges have cancelled in person classes and are limiting other group meetings to certain sizes.

Crazy times we are living through right now.

[DRJ1960]

NC & VA have shut all athletics down for at least several weeks....

[SE Minnestoa Re]

Minnesota just this afternoon cancelled all state tournaments and ordered no spring games or scrimmages be played until April 6 at the earliest.

[Stat-Man]

The NAIA conference that the majority of NAIA schools in my state belong to canceled all spring sports activities, so the spring season is officially over for all of its spring sports teams.

My alma mater is switching to off-campus instruction (I wonder how science labs will be handled) and final exams. As part of the aforementioned end of spring sports activities and the move to keep as many people off campus, the all-sport athletic banquet scheduled for the end of April has been apparently been canceled as well along with commencement.

As mentioned in another post, our state high school association ceased all activities in conjunction with the directive to close schools for three weeks. We had the winter post-season, tryouts for spring sports, and fall sport off-season activities all going on right now, so it affected pretty much every sport.

Also, all spring high school games prior to April 6 have been canceled. At present, it's anyone's guess as to whether we have a spring season or if the state will adjust the post-season dates to allow schools to play as many of their originally-scheduled spring games as possible without overloading their calendars and ensuring the games can be adequately covered with our limited number of spring sport officials.

[chapmaja]

in Michigan they have "postponed" all winter championships which have not been completed (gymnastics, boys swimming, basketball, and ice hockey).

Additionally, all K-12 schools have been ordered closed by the governor and as a result the MHSAA has ordered that no practices or team events of any kind may be held during this time period. Additionally, the officials were informed that no officials association meetings/clinics are to be held over this time frame.

The closure will extend until at least the end of the day April 5th. Given that most sports have 1 minimum one week practice requirement before competition, I don't see any events being held until at least the second week of April. I have already had one school tell me they will not compete until at least April 20th, because they are on Spring Break from the 6th to the 13th, and they are requiring a week practice period before any contests.

I know personally I have already lost well over $1,000 in income from cancellations of events scheduled the next few weeks.

[agr8zebra]

Utah, On hold

[Jake26]

KS as of 13 March:

The KSHSAA has made no alterations to the spring sports season at this time. Local school leaders are empowered to make the best decisions for their respective student-athletes and school communities for regular season athletic practices and competitions.

Further note: Most of the schools are on Spring Break during the coming week.

[Jake26]

Originally Posted by Jake26

KS as of 13 March:

The KSHSAA has made no alterations to the spring sports season at this time. Local school leaders are empowered to make the best decisions for their respective student-athletes and school communities for regular season athletic practices and competitions.

Further note: Most of the schools are on Spring Break during the coming week.

With a notice issued late on 18 March, Kansas has canceled all spring activities. The governor has previously banned all in-person instruction in Kansas schools, so this decision was just a matter of time.

[CecilOne]

Why are so many opening, starting or planning activities based on release from rules and restrictions; rather than concern for risk, safety and health?
Isn't it just about money?

[Tru_in_Blu]

If you will it, they will come...

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/h...d-19-pandemic/

Any umps from Iowa? What's your thoughts?

[CecilOne]

OK, games and tournaments might be played soon. As of now, we have possibilities NEXT WEEK, June 12 -14.

My question is about precautions and procedures.
How will umpires be protected from COVID 19 contact during tournaments? What do you know so far?

[Jake26]

Worked a few games at a USSSA tournament in Kansas this past Saturday, their first weekend to play.

Only the two umpires and the two head coaches were at the pre-game meeting.

Umpires were not to touch the bats and were not to touch the game balls. Each team had two game balls. They took one out to the circle and brought it back to the dugout after the half-inning. In theory, all the touches on a game ball were by members of one team. Not perfect, but pretty close.

Other than that, no changes in mechanics or general practices for the umpires - still called the zone from behind the catcher. No requirement for a COVID-mask.

There seemed to be more fans in their lawn chairs around the outfield fence and fewer in the stands, but other than that, just a tournament like last summer.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Some things being discussed in NH (USA Softball related) include:

No out of state umpires will be used in any tournaments.
NH umpires not permitted to work games outside of NH.
If any travel team plays in a tournament outside of NH, their entire program will be un-sanctioned for NH play. (USA Softball National Tournaments is an exception.)
All tournaments will permit in state teams only; no out of state teams permitted.
Prior to tournament games, all team personnel must have their temperature taken. Umpires will also need this.
Umpires will be required to wear Covid masks on the field.
Plate conference will include 1 coach from each team & the umpires. Line up cards will be handed over from coach to PU and not returned for a check. Verbal confirmation shall suffice.
Each team will have 2 game balls that they will use. At the end of an inning, the ball(s) will be taken to dugout by the defensive team.
Balls that go out of play and retrieved will need to be sanitized prior to being put back into play.
Umpires will not have any balls in their ball bag(s) which should only now be used for line up cards, brush, pen/pencil, flip coin.
Teams on offense must still “social distance” in dugouts, which likely means on many fields that they will have to be outside the fenced in area of the field.
Equipment checks may require umpires to wear gloves or equipment will need to be “re-sanitized”.
Some game rules may be relaxed if players are uncomfortable coming to bat. Outs would not be taken in those instances.
Waivers would need to be signed by everybody.
All trash would have to be removed by the teams. There may be no trash cans for disposal of trash as a result. “You bring it, you take it back.”
Game schedules will likely be more spread out to allow for teams to vacate a field prior to the next teams coming in. In turn, this may affect the timed games’ length.

There may be other things that will be required. And perhaps some things will be relaxed over time.