SPORT-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR SPRING SPORTS
BASEBALL GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Equipment:
- Batting helmet – Players should use their own batting helmet.
- Baseball bat – When possible, players should use their own baseball/softball bat and not share bats.
- Catching equipment – Players should use their own catching equipment.
- Baseballs need to be sanitized – Coaches must sanitize shared equipment before and after each game.
- In the event that a game ball goes out of play, the defensive team is responsible to retrieve the ball and provide another ball to the catcher for inspection by the plate umpire.
- Maintenance equipment (rakes, bases, paint sprayer, tractor to drag field, etc.) – Daily cleaning and disinfection are recommended.
- Dugouts – No dugouts should be used during practice. Players’ items should be lined up outside and against the fence at least six feet apart. Dugouts should be permitted only during games, and may be extended, by NFHS rule, down the foul lines outside the playing area to allow for social distancing. Additionally, bleachers can be placed directly behind the dugouts for additional seating for team personnel. Players should maintain social distancing unless they are actively participating in the game.
o Daily cleaning and disinfection is recommended.
- What kinds or brands of sanitizer should we be using – The WIAA SMAC recommends referencing and utilizing EPA-registered disinfectants. Balls and equipment may be wiped with listed disinfectants and a damp cloth.
Practice and Game Protocol:
- Practice – Coaches are responsible for ensuring social distancing is maintained between players as much as possible. This means additional spacing between players while playing chatting, changing drills so that players remain spaced out, and no congregating of players while waiting to bat. Workouts should be conducted in ‘pods’ of students, with the same 5-10 students
always working out together. This ensures more limited exposure if someone develops an infection.
- Masks
o Masks must be worn according to the governor’s mandate upon arrival to the venue and until the official warm-ups have started or a player is competing.
o Masks must be appropriately worn at all times, particularly when moving or unable to socially distance. Coaches and officials must wear masks indoors and outdoors.
Spectators must wear masks indoors and outdoors.
- Pitcher licking fingers – If a pitcher touches their mouth, a dead ball is called and the pitcher must sanitize their hands. If they touch the ball after going to their mouth, call a dead ball, remove the ball from play to be sanitized and the pitcher sanitize their hands. Players may have 1 to 2 oz bottles of sanitizer in their baseball/softball pants and a 1 to 2 oz bottle of sanitizer may be left behind the pitchers’ mound near a rosin bag.
- Baseball habits – Coaches should now work to create new habits including staying away from touching their face, not allowing sunflower seeds and not spitting.
- Hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes – Players, coaches, and umpires are encouraged to provide their own hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) and/or sanitizing wipes. The WIAA SMAC recommends using hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) before and after each at bat and when going out to, and coming in from, the field. Additionally, emphasize to all to avoid touching their face.
- Admission or Ticket Selling – Ticket sellers/takers should follow similar guidelines to that of check-out personnel at retail stores. Where possible, stand behind a shield. Wear a mask. Use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) frequently.
Other Hygiene Considerations
- Any equipment that is shared should be cleaned and disinfected prior to and immediately following each use and each meet. Be responsible for your own supplies.
- Each athlete should bring their own hydration/water bottles – no sharing.
- Athletes, coaches, and officials are encouraged to provide their own hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) and/or sanitizing wipes and use frequently – including before going on the competition field and after returning to the sideline.
- Emphasize to avoid touching the face throughout practice and competition.
- Spitting/nose clearing/coughing – All athletes and coaches are prohibited from spitting/nose clearing and must cover coughs.
General Reminders for Athletes
- Personal Items – It is recommended that each athlete bring their own gym bag for personal items.
- Clothing/shoes/helmets – Must not be shared among athletes. Any items that are not currently being worn should be stored inside a personal gym bag.
- Athletes are encouraged to provide their own hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) and use frequently.
- Water bottle – All athletes shall bring their own water bottle. Water bottles must not be shared.
- Towels – Athletes should bring their own towels, if needed.
- Athletes should refrain from the removal of mouthguards while on the playing field. If mouthguards are removed on the sidelines or bench area, the athlete should use hand sanitizer each time after touching the mouthguard.
- Tell coaches immediately when you are not feeling well
COMPETITION CONSIDERATIONS
WIAA Event Accountability
- A tracing sheet and verification form shall be kept of all individuals traveling with the team to the contest verifying that the traveling party has been prescreened that day, before departure.
- When departing for the contest, coaches take their tracing sheet and verification form, signed by the coach athletic director, acknowledging the tracing sheet’s accuracy. If a coach cannot, or does not produce the tracing sheet when verification is requested, it shall be reported to the WIAA office by the opposing coach.
Competition Structure
- Encourage only local, single opponent, single day competitions.
- Teams from the same school (varsity and JV) should remain on the same bench/dugout side.
Social Distancing
- Warm-ups/Stretching – Maintain social distancing between players.
- Congregating of Athletes and/or Coaches – Discourage congregating upon arrival to the field, prior to game warm-ups, and immediately following the game.
- Conferences – Social distancing to be maintained as much as possible when the coach is communicating with the entire team or in smaller groups. All players and coaches should be encouraged to mask during huddles, especially non-active players.
- Elimination of Team Handshakes – Teams may find other respectful ways to acknowledge each other before or after a competition, while maintaining social distancing. Teams can acknowledge opponent with a tip of hat or a wave, or other appropriate non-contact measures.
- National Anthem – Align team members in a manner that allows them to maintain social distancing guidelines.
- Interaction with Officials – Coaches should maintain social distancing when interacting with an umpire or any other individual on the field. Substitutions and a general rules interpretation conversation can occur at social distance.
- Pre-game – One coach from each team and 2 umpires at home plate may have a meeting with the players remaining in the team dugout. Normal line-up exchange can take place.
- Coin Toss – If used, reduce the number of individuals at the coin toss.
- Starting line-ups/Introductions – Introduce from positions, after players have taken the field, and other athletes are socially distanced in the dugout.
- Playing Field and Dugout area – Allow only essential personnel on the playing field. These are defined as athletes, coaches, medical personnel/trainers, and officials. Encourage facial coverings.
○ All others (i.e. managers, photographers, media, etc.) are considered non-essential personnel and are not to be in the dugout or extended dugout area. Adhere to social distancing guidelines and encourage facial coverings.
○ Players should not leave the dugout to congratulate other players.
- Extended Dugout – Designate “places”, within the dugout, for members of the team to be when they are not on the field. Consider paint and/or tape to help athletes recognize social distancing.
- Substitutions – Designate a safe area for players entering the game. Minimize contact with the umpires and with each other.
- Media – All local social distancing and hygiene guidelines for spectators should be followed by media members planning to attend games. Media members should contact host school administrators prior to arriving at games to plan appropriate entry and available workspace.
- Press box – Local schools shall determine which personnel should be in the press box considering Wisconsin DHS guidelines.
- Departing the Field of Play (post game) – The visiting team should depart the field immediately after the completion of the game, followed by the home team. Every effort should be made to ensure that a log-jam does not occur upon departure of thetwo teams.
Spectators
- Face covering requirements – Event personnel, media, and spectators must wear masks when moving or unable to socially distance.
○ Consider having masks available to purchase or to provide for those who may have forgotten to bring one.
- Ticket sales – If unable to eliminate on-site sales, consider steps to establish social distancing and provide a sanitization station. Ticket sellers/takers should follow similar guidelines to that of check-out personnel at retail stores. Where possible, stand behind a shield. Wear a mask. Use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) frequently.
- Pedestrian flow – Create protocols and signage to address ingress and egress areas and high traffic areas to avoid congestion. Consider using stanchions, tape or paint as a guide, communicate in advance and create signage.
- Seating – Establish a procedure for all indoor and outdoor venues that allows for social distancing guidelines. The number of spectators allowed must be in accordance with state/local regulations for gathering sizes. Limit the use of bleachers for fans. Schools should encourage fans to bring their own chairs or stand. Fans should practice social distancing between different
household units and accept personal responsibility for public health guidelines.
Concessions
- If opening/allowing, post signage at concessions stand for patrons to maintain social distancing of 6’ between parties near food stand.
- Maintain a sanitize solution for wiping cloths during operations and increase cleaning/sanitizing frequency – especially highcontact surfaces such as equipment, utensils and countertops.
- Discontinue self-service operations for the public such as drink stations, condiment trays, cup/napkin/utensil dispensers and other amenities to help maintain infection control.
- Consider the use of fans or open (screened) windows to improve air circulation in smaller indoor stands.
- Use single-use condiment packets and avoid using shared condiment containers if possible.
- Consider barriers such as Plexiglass between employees and customers if practical.
UMPIRES CONSIDERATIONS
Umpires are not responsible for monitoring activities on the sidelines, such as social distancing, hand washing, symptoms of illnesses and other such issues. This monitoring remains with the coaching staff and school personnel.
- Cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged if no governor’s mandate. Plate umpires should wear masks due to their close proximity to catchers.
- Bring personal hand sanitizer and/or wash hands frequently. Gloves are permissible.
- Do not share uniforms, towels, and other apparel/equipment.
- Officials should use their own water bottles.
COACHES CONSIDERATIONS
- Coaches are strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times, especially when unable to maintain social distancing.
- Communicate your guidelines in a clear manner to students and parents. Athlete safety is paramount.
- Communicate expectations regarding minimizing the spread of the virus and the habits that will contribute.
- Remind players to use hand sanitizer when prior to going on the competition field and after returning to the sideline.
- Follow the CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting the competition venue.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Before, during, and after the contest, players, coaches, officials, team personnel and game administration officials should wash and disinfect their hands as often as possible.
- Maintain social distancing at all times while on the sidelines and on the field of play when possible.
- Everyone should have their own beverage bottles that are not shared.
- Cloth coverings are recommended for all coaches and team staff for all game administration.
- Gloves are permissible for all coaches and team staff and for all game administration.
- Try and limit the number of non-essential personnel who are on the field level throughout the contest.
- If possible, dressing facilities for game officials and teams should be large enough for them to use social distancing protocols and should be properly cleaned and disinfected prior to their arrival.
- Covid-19 Resources on WIAA web site: https://www.wiaawi.org/Health/COVID-19-Resources
WIAA Spring Sports Safety Recommendations
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
