Regarding: Return to our sport with respect to COVID-19
Dear VBA Family –
As British Columbia public health authorities develop guidelines to lift some restrictions on gathering in a responsible way, Vernon Baseball Association has been working with viaSport, Baseball BC, BC Minor Baseball and the Province of British Columbia to understand the recommendations our Chief Provincial Health Officer and how they best apply within sport.
On May 28th viaSport released the Return to Sport Guidelines for BC outlining the path forward to opening sport back up in British Columbia. On June 7th Baseball BC communicated the Return to Play Guidelines specific to baseball. While there is quite a bit of work required and formal approvals to gain, we do have a path forward to opening baseball here in Vernon.
While we remain optimistic on our path forward the experience and the logistics of baseball will adjust and continue to adjust as time passes and we learn more. What we start with later in June may not be what we end with. Our goal has been and remains to put together a minimum of 8 week seasons for all of our levels of ball. I will share more on what that looks like and when in upcoming updates.
The Return to Sport Plan has been developed for our sport in order to ensure:
- health and safety of all individuals is a priority
- activities are in alignment with provincial health recommendations
- modifications to activities are in place in order to reduce the risks to each sport organization and its participants
- our sport is united and aligned on a plan to reopen throughout the province
While we do hope things will return to normal in the not too distant future, currently this Return to Sport Plan will be what is required for us to safely offer baseball to our kids until we are advised otherwise by public health authorities.
If you choose to participate, you must follow these rules:
- If you dont feel well or are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, you must stay home.
- If you have traveled outside of Canada, you are not permitted at the facility until you have self- isolated for a minimum of 14 days.
- If you live in a household with someone who has COVID-19 or is showing symptoms of COVID- 19, please stay home.
- Wash your hands before participating
- Bring your own equipment, water bottle and hand sanitizer
- Comply with physical distancing measures at all time
- Avoid physical contact with others, including shaking hands, high fives, etc.
- Leave the field of play as quickly as possible after you finish
Our Return to Sport Plan is based on current public health guidance. While we are all doing our best to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19, while the virus circulates in our communities it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk. Each participant must make their own decision as to whether it is in their best interest to resume participation at this time. You must take into account your own circumstances and make the decision that is right for you. Should you choose to join us, we require your full cooperation with our Return to Sport Plan.
More and more of this plan will develop over the coming days. You can expect more communication from me no later than next week on what some of the next steps look like. Until then, get those arms warmed up and ready, soon enough we will hear what we have all been waiting for Play Ball.
Sincerely,
Michael Sanfilippo
VBA – President