1. No minimum number of players will be required for a game. This is to encourage players and families with any symptoms in their household to NOT attend games. 
2. Players with symptoms, or who have any family member exhibiting symptoms, are NOT allowed to attend any Hopewell Baseball event, NO exceptions. Those found in violation of this could face legal action. You can find currently defined symptoms here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html 

• • Symptoms that may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:
    • Fever
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Chills
    • Repeated shaking with chills
    • Muscle pain
    • Headache
    • Sore throat
    • New loss of taste or smell

• • If you develop any of these for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:
    • Trouble breathing
    • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
    • New confusion or inability to arouse
    • Bluish lips or face

1. Coaches should do their best to maintain social distancing from each other and player’s at all times. 
2. Coaches should congratulate players by clapping their hands, and avoid unneeded contact, including high fives, fist or elbow bumps. They should extend these rules to their players and explain the reasoning and importance of them.
3. Coaches should run practices that encourage, and account for, social distancing measures. Please see practice section of this documentation for additional guidance. Coaches should reach out to the league if they require additional help running a socially distanced practice.

Game Contact Rules

1. Coach pitch catcher will move near the batter on-deck circle for the current batter  and not wear equipment. A second on-deck circle will be added for the batter. The catcher should wear their own batting helmet while playing this position. They can become involved in the play once the ball has been hit into fair territory, or any pop-up in foul territory. A parent catcher will be required in all coach pitch (5U-8U) age groups to field and return ball to the coach pitch pitcher. When playing with 9 or less players, the catcher position will no longer be required in coach pitch age groups.
2. In kid pitch age groups, players who are going to play catcher must have their own catcher’s gear. Community catcher gear will no longer be provided. Quality used gear can be acquired on-line or from Play It Again Sports. Coaches should make parents of catchers aware and ask them to acquire personal gear. Coaches or parents that have problems acquiring equipment should contact the league for assistance.

1. All teams will be provided with a pitcher’s mask in coach pitch age groups. The coach is responsible for disinfecting the pitcher’s mask in between games or players. If the coach has an issue with acquiring disinfectants, they should contact the league for help. For guidance on how to disinfect different surfaces, please use this link provided by the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html.

1. In coach pitch age groups, umpires will mainitain social distancing at all times.

1. Non-family spectators should adhere to social distancing guidelines as outlined by the CDC at all times, 6 feet apart.
2. Adults should consider wearing masks while attending games. Wearing masks helps prevent you from spreading the Coronavirus to others in the event you have it. 
3. Those with symptoms are NOT allowed to attend any event at Bell Memorial Park, NO exceptions. 

• • Symptoms that may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:
    • Fever
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Chills
    • Repeated shaking with chills
    • Muscle pain
    • Headache
    • Sore throat
    • New loss of taste or smell

• • If you develop any of these for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:
    • Trouble breathing
    • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
    • New confusion or inability to arouse
    • Bluish lips or face

1. The elderly and immunocompromised should NOT attend any games or practices at Bell Memorial Park.
   1. High Risk Individuals from CDC website-https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html

• People 65 years and older
• People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

• People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
• People who have serious heart conditions
• People who are immunocompromised
• Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications
  • People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
  • People with diabetes
  • People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
  • People with liver disease

5. Spectators should watch games from the defined spectator areas documented in the social distanced dugouts section of these rules.
6. All players, coache and spectators using the restroom MUST wash their hands before leaving the restroom.

1. The stands will be used for dugouts in all age groups. On fields 4 and 5 for coach pitch ages only, the outfield grass fould territory may be used. If this option si chosen, players must have their own chairs provided and a coach or parent must be standing at the front of the dugout area to protect players at all times.
2. A dugout parent is required for each team to maintain organization within the bleachers. This will be the only parent outside of coaches allowed near the stands for 7U and above games. For teams with more than 3 coaches, one of the coaches should serve this role.
3. Dugout seats will be maintained at the correct social distancing, 6 feet apart. In 6U and below age groups we are going to ask a parent to sit with their player at their assigned dugout station.
4. Coaches will send out a dugout number for each player prior to the game.
5. Players will be required to use hand sanitizer when exiting the field of play between innings.
6. Frequently touched surfaces, such as bleacher railings, should be cleaned between games by the dugout mom/dad from the incoming team
7. Spectators will view games from different allowed spots based on which field the game is being played on.
   1. Field 4-Right field fence past bleachers and outfield hill/fence.
   2. Field 5-Left field fence past stairs to field and outfield fence.
   3. Field 6-Outfield hill/fence
   4. Field 3-Set of bleachers closets to score’s table will be reserved for parents as well as outfield fence.

1. Rather than huddling for post game meetings, the players will return to their SDD for a post-game chat, game balls and passing out of snacks. This should be held to no more than 5 minutes to allow for the next team to take the dugout. Parents should not congregate arround during post-game meetings.
2. Post game snacks and drinks should be taken to go to prevent extensive congregation and allow for the next team to take the dugout.

1. The tee must be sanitized in between games, and at the end of the final game. The umpire crew will be provided cleaning supplies for this task. Only the coach pitch catcher should touch the tee during games.
2. All players and coaches should sanitize their hands using approved hand sanitizer when returning from field to SDD.
3. Parents should wash clothes in warm water, have all players and family members take showers following games, and sanitize all equipment: helmet, bats, gloves, etc. 

1. All shared equipment, including baseballs, tees and catcher’s gear, will be removed from the fields. Coaches will need to bring their own equipment as needed for practices and games. NOTE: Game balls will still be provided. 2 new game balls per coach pitch game and 4 new game balls for kid pitch games. Each team is responsible for their game ball(s) during games. Game balls should not be shared between teams.
2. Cage only practice slots will not be allowed. Coaches will need to book the field and cages together. Only one player should be at the cage at a time, and coaches should pick up all practice balls at the conclusion of a hitting round.
3. Discuss social distancing and the coronavirus with your players. Tell them what it is, and why it is important they social distance.
4. Dugouts are locked and not available for use at any time
5. Players must space bags along the fence no less than 6 feet apart
6. Players should practice social distancing at all times while not involved in active play scenarios. Visual indicators such as cones are encouraged for drills and other scenarios where players may not naturally social distance.
7. No more than one player in a cage at a time, and no more than one player waiting at a cage at a time. Coaches must pick up all baseballs.
8. Players should not share any equipment.
9. Frequent hand sanitation during practice could greatly limit the transmission of the virus within your team. Having players sanitize their hands when they go back to their bags during practices is advised.
10. Eliminate social contact, including high fives, end of practice circles and cheers, hand-shakes, etc.
11. Immediately leave following the end of your practice and ask your team to do the same. Do not congregate in large groups at the conclusion of practices.