COVID-19 UPDATES


UPDATES REGARDING THE TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS BASEBALL PROGRAM DURING THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS SITUATION WILL BE POSTED HERE AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE


UPDATED on March 28, 2021

MESSAGE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: MARCH 28, 2021

MESSAGE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: FEBRUARY 25, 2021

MESSAGE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: JANUARY 19, 2021

MESSAGE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: DECEMBER 25, 2020

MESSAGE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: JULY 17, 2020

Information for Parents regarding the July 2020 TP Parent Survey

July 2020 TP Parent Survey *

* Parents involved with the Toronto Playgrounds Baseball Rep program do not need to participate in the July 2020 TP Parent Survey. TP Rep parents are asked to communicate directly with their respective head coach to tell them what their child’s intentions are for the 2020 season.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS REGARDING JULY 2020 TP BASEBALL PARENT SURVEY: July 17, 2020

Here are some of the important points we’d like to make you aware of before you complete the survey.

  1. The City of Toronto is currently in Stage 2 of the provincial re-opening plan. However, the conditions that the City of Toronto has put in place regarding recreational permits such as the ones we use are stricter than the conditions in place for other jurisdictions in Stage 2. The permits for baseball diamonds that are currently available to us from the City of Toronto allow for a maximum of 10 people on the diamond at one time, including players, coaches and instructors. Other areas in Stage 2 are allowed to have two groups of 10 on a diamond at one time, but the two “cohorts” of 10 cannot join together or switch members between them (including coaches/instructors). We also want to make you aware that we are not complaining about the stricter approach of Toronto Public Health and the City of Toronto permit office…we applaud their caution and diligence in this situation. The only activity permitted on the diamonds at this time is training…basically this is practicing, but again with a 10-person maximum on each diamond. No games or scrimmages are allowed under the current arrangement. So, the activities that would be taking place under the current rules would be restricted to practicing and a “skills and drills” type of program.
  2. We understand that many parts of Ontario will be moving into Stage 3 of the provincial re-opening plan on Friday July 17th, but Toronto and several other areas will not. At this point in time we don’t have a definite date for when Toronto will move into Stage 3. We know that in Stage 3 the provincial plan allows generally for full team practices and allow for games and scrimmages in cohorts of 50 maximum. This means that the total number of players, coaches, and umpires in a loop or cohort can’t exceed 50. So, if there were 3 teams each with 16 total players and coaches, those 3 teams could play games against each other (but not against other teams). However, as was the case when Toronto moved to Stage 2, the conditions put in place by the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Health may be stricter than the general provincial plan. We simply won’t know until the time comes and the
    announcement has been made in detail.
  3. Under the current protocols, only one parent or guardian is permitted to accompany each player to the training/practice sessions, and we will be requiring that parent or guardian to remain at the park (but not at the diamond) during the training/practice session. We will not be using the bleachers or park benches…an area will be organized for parents/guardians to sit in their own chair both a short distance from the diamond and physically distanced from the other parents/guardians. If any player begins to feel unwell during the session or needs to go to the washroom, they will go to join their parent/guardian. If it begins to rain players will again join their
    parent/guardians…the group will not congregate together and we cannot provide indoor space for players that permits appropriate physical distancing. If the rain is heavy enough to stop the training then the session will be cancelled at that point and everyone will leave promptly.
  4. During training we will be strictly following physical distancing requirements and enhanced cleaning and hygiene requirements. This means that all players must maintain two metres of distance between themselves and other players and coaches while at the diamond attending the TP session, even if they are members of another player’s “social circle” away from the diamond. Every 30 minutes there will be a scheduled break for hand-washing. Also, upon arrival (or possibly on-line beforehand) each player will be screened by answering a series of questions regarding their health and any contact they may have had with others who are confirmed to be or possibly are positive for COVID-19. The details of the questions and the screening protocols will be provided to all families who choose to participate in our baseball program for 2020.
  5. Under the current protocols we will not be using the dugouts at the diamonds. Players will not be permitted to share equipment or water bottles or any personal items. Players will need to bring all of their things in a bag that can be placed in a designated space just off the diamond (physically distanced from the bags of other players). Players can also bring a camp (or other) chair that they can set up with their bag for use during breaks. Players and parents/guardians should not arrive at the field until a few moments before their session begins and should pack up their things and depart as quickly as possible afterwards. There is a cleaning program that will need to take place at each diamond between the departure of one group and the arrival of the next group.

MESSAGE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES REGARDING THE CANCELLATION OF THE 2020 SUMMER BASEBALL CAMP PROGRAM: JUNE 21, 2020

MESSAGE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: JUNE 13, 2020

Baseball Ontario Return to Baseball COVID-19 Guidelines Summary

Baseball Ontario Return to Baseball COVID?19 Guidelines

BASEBALL ONTARIO RETURN TO BASEBALL COVID-19 GUIDELINES SUMMARY: June 13, 2020

The following are points from the Guidelines that we feel are important for parents to be aware of since Toronto Playgrounds Baseball, as a member organization of Baseball Ontario, would be adhering to the requirements set by Baseball Ontario.

> In terms of the number of people in attendance at an “event” (game or practice), youth baseball will obviously be following the requirements set by Public Health officials. The Baseball Ontario draft guideline states “As long as the maximum number of persons permitted to gather by the Province of Ontario and the relevant municipality and public health authority is less than or equal to 100, the maximum number of non?participants attending any event is limited to 1 per player.” So, in other words, until more than 100 people are permitted to gather, only one parent/guardian for each player would be allowed to attend.

> The guidelines document also states that “Ride sharing/carpooling should be avoided. Where unavoidable, maintain set groups whenever possible.”

> Regarding participation at games and practices, the draft guideline states that “Self?screening through https://covid?19.ontario.ca/self?assessment/ is required by all participants, volunteers and spectators prior to attending any game, practice, meeting or other in?person team activity and any individual shall not attend if they fail the screening protocol.

> Furthermore, “A person, who is identified as part of an at?risk group, but otherwise passes the screening questions is discouraged from participating in in?person baseball activities, but they are not considered to have failed the screening protocol.“

> “Any participant, volunteer or spectator diagnosed with COVID?19 or who has been in contact with any person having COVID?19 in the previous 14 days MUST not attend any game, practice, meeting or other in?person team activity and MUST notify their local public health authority.”

> “Any participant, volunteer or spectator diagnosed with COVID?19 must be cleared by appropriate medical authorities prior to attending any in?person baseball activity. Evidence of the clearance (a negative test result) needs to be provided to the Member Organization.

> Toronto Playgrounds will be setting up hand washing/sanitizing stations at each diamond. Players and spectators would need to wash/sanitize their hands upon arrival and at regular intervals during the game or practice. During practices/training sessions there will be a hand-cleaning break every 30 minutes. During games (if and when things move to that point) there will be a designated handcleaning time after each half-inning. If parents choose to bring their own hand sanitizer and have their children clean their hands with it that will be fine.

> As physical distancing of 2 metres will still be required whenever possible, we will not be using the dugouts at the diamonds for the players during games and practices. When not playing in the fielding, batting, or running on base players should sit with their parent/guardian or on their own two metres from others. Spectators will also be required to maintain physical distancing of 2 metres.

> We will need to be scheduling 45 minutes between the completion of one “event” (game or practice) and the subsequent “event” in order to allow for the cleaning/sanitizing of any shared surfaces and equipment. This means that we will need to be starting the first games and practices earlier each day and that the final games and practices will be ending somewhat later than has been the case in past seasons. It will also mean that players and parents/guardians arriving for the second game or practice will need to wait in a designated area before going to the diamond until the 45-minute cleaning has been completed.

> When attending games and practices, the guidelines state that “Spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs for personal use or bring disinfectant wipes to clean the area where they sit. Municipalities and/or facility owners may or may not be cleaning bleachers on a regular basis.“

> Due to the problems that may arise from sharing equipment between players, we will be requiring players to have helmets which only they will use. Families for whom this poses a problem can contact us at info@tpbaseball and we will make arrangements to provide a helmet.

> Sunflower seeds and chewing gum will not be allowed at the diamonds during games and practices. under the current conditions.

> No sharing of coolers, water bottles, or food will be permitted at the diamonds during games and practices.

> As social distancing must be maintained whenever possible there will be no handshakes, fist or chest bumps, or high fives.

> The Baseball Ontario Return to Play Guidelines stipulate that if games are able to be played in 2020 no leadoffs will be allowed in games for children and youth 18 years of age and younger.

> The umpire calling balls and strikes in games in 2020 will be working from 2 metres behind the pitcher rather than from behind home plate.

MESSAGE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: MAY 24, 2020

UPDATE TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: APRIL 17, 2020

LETTER TO OUR TP BASEBALL FAMILIES: APRIL 3, 2020