As you are aware, the recent COVID-19 restrictions have been eased as per the NSW Office of Sport June 13th announcement. Baseball NSW can now advise that members are now able to return to full competition as of the 1st of July 2020. However, all members will still be required to comply with the existing social distancing and hygiene requirements until June 30th.
 
Baseball NSW will also be providing a revised ‘Return to Competition Plan’ for Clubs and Associations to use as a guide for local council requirements.
 
REQUIREMENTS UP UNTIL JUNE 30th
It is acceptable for groups to gather on baseball fields as long as they adhere to the June 13th NSW Health Department Public Order Guidelines;

• Do not attend any sport if you are unwell and experiencing symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, fever, fatigue, or shortness of breath
• Do not attend sport if, in the last 14 days, you have been unwell or had close contact with a known or suspected case of COVID-19
• Anyone unwell should see a doctor per NSW Public Health Authority guidelines

 
Gatherings at venues may be as follows;

• A total of twenty (20) people may gather as per the Baseball NSW prescribed Activity Zones
• Coaches, referees and spectators are included with participants in the total number attending (i.e. a maximum total of 20 people);
• The maximum capacity in any single venue at one time is the responsibility of the venue owner or council
• Physical distancing must be maintained at all times (i.e. 1.5m apart or 1 person per 4sqm)
• Change rooms to remain closed – toilets may be available for use. If a toilet is accessed via a change room, the toilet may be used, the change room may not
• A nominated person from each gathering must complete the ‘Baseball NSW Return to Activity Checklist’
  • This can be accessed here or you can fill out the online form here

 
It is still strongly suggested that all participants:

• Prepare or dress for sport at home;
• Shower at home before and after sport;
• Bring hand wash or sanitiser to wash/sanitise your hands before and after sport;
• Bring their own drink bottle, towel etc.;
• Avoid unnecessary contact (i.e. shaking hands, ‘high fives’ etc.);
• If required, changing or putting on gear before and/or after sport should be done in, or near to, your own vehicle – or elsewhere away from the playing area;
• All equipment (particularly if touched by hands) should be wiped clean afterwards (e.g. balls, temporary goals etc.);

 
REQUIREMENTS AFTER JULY 1st
 
At a minimum there shall be adherence as per the above referred NSW Department of Health Public Order Guidelines;

• Please refer to revised ‘BNSW Return to Competition Plan’
• No restriction on how many registered members may gather
• Clubs and Associations are still required to retain an attendance Checklist of all registered members present at any facility
  • This does not apply to spectators
• There will be NO restricted Activity Zones
• Change rooms and toilets will be available for use

 
Baseball NSW wish to further remind our members to continue to adhere to the current Public Health Order and follow the prescribed procedures which include social distancing, practicing good personal hygiene, and continuing to complete the attendance checklists at all training sessions.
 
NSW Office of Sport
https://sport.nsw.gov.au/novel-coronavirus-covid-19
 
NSW Government
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/changes
 
Sport NSW
A Return to Sport for All from 1 July 2020
 
NSW Government
Community sporting competitions and full training activities

Date: Tuesday 23rd June 2020
Time: 8pm – 9pm
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3463382276?pwd=eTU3dlV5TmJDemhOeDFrM0duRTRaQT09
For more information email reseilicne@theoptimisationhub.com

Our Coaches, Our forgotten Athletes
Research has shown that the social psychology involved in coaching is multi-dimensional and should be a part of coach development, especially as coaches’ step more and more into the realm of being recognized educators.
 
2020 has seen huge changes in sport, the likes of which has never been experienced and as we return to a new normality, building the recognition of coaches as educators have turned to action. It is our moment as coaches to take the stronghold of education and take sport and ourselves forward into new limelight.
 
Coach Resilience and Role as Educators of Resilience
Self-drive motivates leadership and coaching is a key facet of that drive, sports management is a field of study that draws from numerous disciplines.

Developing the skills of preparing the pathway for what could happen and often does, helps set the trajectory both for the coach and the athletes altering identities and self-concept.
 
In our new post-COVID sports world we have an opportunity to better ourselves in an area that’s been vastly neglected. Our resilience, our mental health of ourselves and our athletes has never been more important, nor has our role in this.

Coaching the benefits and Relationships outside of sport
The benefits to the athletes and the coach reach into the spirit of a community and beyond sport, as sport is widely acknowledged as a community builder. To this extent any skills that a coach acquires by their role within a community easily transfer back into the coaching life environment.

Coaching is multi-dimensional and for decades corporations and government have taught 'coaching for staff’, but in sport we have neglected teaching coaching 'soft skills', stakeholder management, coach language, negotiation and conflict prevention skills, core coach conversations and the psychology of team cohesions skills.
 
The power to both affects our most vulnerable positively and our community is the great advantage of coaching soft skills, these skills have not previously been invested in for community-based and national coaches to any great extent. The post COVID pivot not only highlights this but also creates a vast opportunity for us to become major players in both sport and our community in a much better-equipped way.
 
To be part of the discussion with Optimisation Hub CEO, Graziella Thake, former Olympians, Mel Roche (softball) and Ben Gollings (Rugby 7’s), and our own Jason Pospishil, click on the Zoom link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3463382276?pwd=eTU3dlV5TmJDemhOeDFrM0duRTRaQT09

For more information email reseilicne@theoptimisationhub.com

Baseball NSW has a very rich and successful history competing at the National Championship level and this is your opportunity to lead our teams to National Championship. We are taking Expressions of Interests for the 2021 AYC Coaching Staff. The voluntary positions for both NSW Metro and Country include:

• Manager (Head Coach)
• Assistant Coach 
• Pitching Coach
• Development Coach
• Executive Officer

For more information including how to register, duty statements for all positions and the full EOI document please click the below link for Metro or Country respectively.

Applications close COB Friday August 14, 2020.

In the interests of further developing our volunteer coaches, Baseball NSW will be using our range of Player Development programs as an avenue to undertake our Coach Development Program in 2020. Coaches having the ability to observe and take a hands-on role with more advanced coaches is a fantastic way to enhance your knowledge and practical capabilities.

Baseball NSW are now taking Expressions of Interest from those coaches who wish to take part in our 2020 Coach Development Program. Participating coaches will be given the chance to take part in four (4) possible Player Development Programs during the 2020 Player Development block which include:

• Performance Pathway Program (U18 + Female National Identified Players)
• Developing Pathway Program (U16 age group)
• Emerging Pathway Program (3 venues – North, South and West)
• Womens Developing Pathway Program

 
The time frame of the programs is an 8-week block between July 20 and September 10, 2020, which consists of 2 practice sessions per week at different venues around the Sydney Metropolitan area. Coaches will be divided evenly amongst the programs based on volume and current skill set.
​
Please be aware that these positions are voluntary positions and coaches will not be remunerated for their time.
If you are interested in participating in the Coach Development Program, please send your application including the following information:

• Current Level of Accreditation
• Current Level of Coaching – Club, Representative or National
• Brief overview of Coaching Experience
• Specific Program you wish to participate in

 
Applications including the information above (No longer than 1 page) should be sent via email to State Operations Manager Jason Pospishil – jason@baseballnsw.com.au
Please place “2020 Coach Development Program Application” in the subject line.

Applications close Sunday July 12, 2020.

A Message from Baseball New South Wales Regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
 
Dear Baseball NSW Members,
 In a recent announcement made by Acting Minister of Sport, Dr Geoff Lee, it was confirmed that community sports competitions may restart for ALL AGES from July 1st, 2020.

​The announcement came as the NSW Government lifts more COVID-19 restrictions for sporting participation around the state. Until the most recent changes come into effect, Baseball NSW continues to request that all participants adhere to the current Public Health Order and follow the prescribed procedures from our 22nd of May update – Return to Sport in NSW (click here for the announcement).

Upon return to competition, participants are to take note of the following:

• Current spacing zone requirements will no longer be applicable.
• Participants may have full use of the fields.
• The ‘one person per four-square meter’ rule must be applied at all times.

​We encourage our members to follow the recommended physical distancing measures of 1.5 meters, whilst continuing to practice good hygiene. Baseball NSW will continue to work closely with the Office of Sport and other authorities to provide our members with the necessary guidelines to ensure a safe return to sport.

Sport NSW
A Return to Sport for All from 1 July 2020
 
NSW Office of Sport
https://sport.nsw.gov.au/novel-coronavirus-covid-19
 
NSW Government
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/changes