This is an addendum to the 2020 Northborough Baseball and Softball Associations Safety Plan specifically to cover the new protocols for resumption to play post COVID-19.
Safety Responsibilities
NBSA Board Members
The Board Members of Northborough Baseball and Softball Association are responsible for ensuring that the policies and regulations of the Safety Plan are carried out by the entire membership to the best of their abilities.
Coaches, Managers, Team Safety Officers (TSO), Umpires, and Players
In addition to the usual safety plan the Coaches, Managers, Team Safety Officer, Umpires and Players will need to ensure the following policies and precautions detailed in this document are followed at all times.
It is Highly recommended that the manager assign a dedicated parent or coach to monitor social distancing and compliance with protective actions, as well as prompt other staff and athletes about social distancing, hand hygiene, and the use of cloth face coverings. They will also help guide players on where to place their equipment prior to practices and be sure that good social distancing practices are maintained. This individual will report any issues to the NBSA Safety Officer (Darryl Hey: darrylhey@gmail.com ).
Healthy Practices
All players and coaches should practice good general health habits, including maintenance of adequate hydration, consumption of a varied, vitamin-rich diet with sufficient vegetables and fruits, and getting adequate sleep.
Parents/Guardians
Assist Coaches, Managers and Team Safety Officers with explaining the policies and precaution outlined in this document. Parents/guardians should also be ensuring that their child’s hands are properly sanitized before and after practice. Parents/guardians will also be required to sign a waiver for the participant to be able to attend practices and games.
If ANY player, coach, volunteer, fan becomes ill with flu like symptoms OR has been in contact with someone who is sick, they are asked to please remain home and follow the Massachusetts Health Dept guidelines. If tested positive, please contact the league Safety Officer (Darryl Hey:
or 508-245-4926) immediately so all who have been in contact or close range to the individual can be notified; however due to HIPPA, no name will be given. Current list of symptoms is available here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.
Because COVID-19 can be spread from an asymptomatic person, your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated for the safety and health of everyone.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
All managers/coaches, volunteers, umpires, etc., are required to wear PPE whenever applicable per Massachusetts state guidelines, PPE such as cloth face coverings should be worn at all times.
Players are required to wear cloth face coverings when in close contact areas and in places where recommended social distancing is challenging or not feasible, such as in dugouts.
Players, especially at younger divisions, are not required to wear a cloth face covering while on the field during game play.
Players will be permitted to wear a cloth face covering on the field during game play, if physically able to do so, based on any directive of a medical provider or individual determination of the player/parent/guardian.
Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Equipment/Equipment Sanitation
Player equipment should be spaced accordingly (at least 6 feet apart) to prevent direct contact and players should keep all equipment contained to their assigned area.
Measures should be enacted to avoid, or minimize, equipment sharing when feasible.
Individuals disinfecting equipment should use gloves while using disinfectants and follow the manufacturer’s directions for use. All disinfectants should be stored properly, in a safe area, out of reach of children.
Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily and in between all facility uses, including practices and games. This includes tables, doorknobs, fence gates used to enter/exit the field, facility equipment, and dugouts.
If surfaces are visibly soiled or dirty, they should be cleaned with a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Equipment
Baseballs
Baseballs and softballs should be rotated through on a regular basis, at least every two innings, to limit individual contact.
Umpires should limit their contact with the ball, and catchers should retrieve foul balls and passed balls where possible.
Balls used in infield/outfield warm-up should be isolated from a shared ball container.
Foul balls landing outside the field of play should be retrieved by participating players, coaches, and umpires. No spectators should retrieve the ball.
Players Equipment
Players should have their own individual batter’s helmet, glove, bat, catcher’s equipment and batter’s gloves are encouraged.
Players should have their own hand sanitizer to use during practices and games.
Player’s equipment (e.g. bags, helmets, bats, gloves, etc.) should be cleaned and disinfected after each use by a parent/guardian/caretaker.
Shared Equipment
Some critical equipment may not be able to be obtained by every individual. When it is necessary to share critical or limited equipment, all surfaces of each piece of shared equipment must be cleaned first and then disinfected with an EPA-approved disinfectant against COVID-19 and allowed sufficient time to dry before used by a new player. Increased attention should be paid to detailed cleaning of all equipment directly contacting the head and face (e.g. catcher’s mask, helmets).
Personal Contact/Hygiene
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or about the time it takes to recite the Little League Pledge twice, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Players are required to bring their own hand sanitizer for personal use (the league will also have hand sanitizer available for players and coaches for all league activities).
Sunflower seeds, gum, etc., should not be allowed in dugouts or on the playing field.
All players and coaches are to refrain from spitting at all times, including in dugout areas and on the playing field.
Players
Players and coaches should take measures to prevent all but the essential contact necessary to play the game. This should include refraining from handshakes, high fives, fist/elbow bumps, chest bumps, group celebrations, etc. Teams are encouraged to line up outside the dugout and tip caps to the opposing team as a sign of good sportsmanship after a game.
Stay six feet away from individuals outside their household
Wear a cloth face covering
Avoid direct hand or other contact with players/managers/coaches during play.
Spectators should bring their own seating or portable chairs when possible.
A spectator with any of the symptoms outlined by the CDC in the Symptoms of Coronavirus (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html) of have had known contact with an individual testing positive for COVID-19 should not attend a practice or game until evaluated by a medical provider and given clearance to do so.
Those at higher risk for severe disease should consider consultation with their medical provider before attending a game and should ensure the strictest adherence to guidelines regarding face coverings, distancing, and handwashing. A list of high-risk categories is available here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html
Concession
The concession stand will stay closed for the remainder of the season.
Athletes, managers/coaches, and umpires should bring their own personal drinks to all team activities. Drinks should be labeled with the person’s name.
Individuals should take their own drink containers home each night for cleaning and sanitation or use single-use bottles.
There should be no use of shared or team beverages.
Teams should not share any snacks or food. Players should bring individual, pre-packaged food, if needed.
Field Preparation and Maintenance
Fields should be mowed, raked, and lined prior to teams and spectators arriving at the complex and after they depart. It is encouraged that volunteers already participating in the game (managers/coaches, umpires, and league administrator) perform these tasks to limit individuals at the site.
It is recommended that any shared field preparation equipment be sprayed or wiped with cleaner and disinfectant before and after each use.
League administrators will schedule sufficient time between practices and games to facilitate the complete evacuation of individuals from a previous practice or game from the premises before the next group enters.
Players/families/spectators are instructed not to show up to fields more than 40 minutes before game time.
Arrivals to the complex will be scheduled to help ensure a large number of individuals are not arriving at the same time.
If there is a game or practice prior to your event, families and spectators are encouraged to stay in their vehicles or at recommended social distances until the start of their game play to prevent overcrowding of spectator spaces and walkways.
On-field warm-up should be limited as much as is reasonably possible and no more than 30 minutes.
Porta-Potties
Porta-Potties will be cleaned and disinfected as often as possible
Practices
All Practices MUST be scheduled through the league website so proper time between teams can be kept, and there is also a record of when teams are practicing. If you are not on the schedule DO NOT show up to practice.
Per the Massachusetts COVID-19 Order No. 35 issued on June 1st 2020, there are to be no more than 10 participants in a group at a practice, this includes coaches and staff, each group should be a minimum of 20 ft. apart.
Participants and coaches must be kept in the same small group (cohorts) with dedicated coaches or other staff throughout each practice.
Practices can begin in Phase II or whenever guidance from the State and Town of Northborough determine it safe to return to play.
Spectators of youth sports should be limited to one adult chaperone per athlete. If social distancing is not possible in the athletic facility spectators may be asked to wait outside the facility until practice is completed. All spectators must wear face coverings.
Games
Per the Massachusetts COVID-19 Order No. 43 issued on July 6th 2020, games and tournaments can now begin as of July 6th 2020
No more than 25 players or participants can be on a single playing area at any one time.
The number of coaches and staff should be limited.
Face coverings and social distancing of six feet is required when participants are not actively engaged in an activity (e.g., on bench, huddles, breaks, pre/post practice).
Dugouts, benches & bleachers are allowed to open only if they can be thoroughly cleaned before and after every use and six feet of distance can be maintained.
Facial coverings must be worn where intermittent contact might occur and it is safe to do so. i.e. when up at bat or on the bases.
Coaches, volunteers, umpires and other officials are required to wear facial coverings and maintain social distancing of 6 feet from players, coaches, spectators, and other persons at all times.
No more than 100 people including participants, players, coaches, volunteers, spectators in the aggregate in, on, or surrounding any surface/playing area at any one time, provided that there is adequate space for all participants, players, coaches, volunteers and spectators to maintain at least six feet social distancing, recognizing that for some moderate risk sports intermittent contact may occur for players.
Spectators must wear facial coverings and maintain distance of at least 6 feet between spectators groups at all times.
Spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs. Outfield areas away from players are designated for spectators at Casey Field and the area behind home plate is designated for spectators at Memorial Field. Outfield areas at Zeh school are designated for spectors
No spectators allowed for sports and activities played by individuals 18 years and older.
Links for more information about returning to play
