To Our Members,
 
Baseball NSW would like to take the opportunity to remind our members of the current restrictions/requirements that have been enforced by the NSW Government. We request that all members continue to adhere to the Public Health order.

• For community sporting activities that involve more than 100 participants, the organiser must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for community sporting competitions and full training activities.

 

• Participants include players, people who are training, officials and spectators.

 

• More than one parent may attend community sporting activities if physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres can be maintained between people that are not from the same household.

​

• The maximum number of participants at a community sporting activity must not exceed 3,000 participants, or one person per 2 square metres (whichever is less).

 

• Record keeping for attendees must take place for all community sporting activities of more than 100 people where this is practical.

 

• For indoor areas*, the capacity must not exceed one participant per 4 square metres of publicly accessible space (previously 1 person per 2sqm).

 
*an indoor area includes an area in a building or other structure, whether or not temporary, which has a roof, ceiling or other top covering, but does not include an area with at least 2 sides open to the weather.
 
Mandatory Face Masks
 
From Sunday 3 January, the Public Health Order requires the use of a ‘fitted face-covering’ (face mask) in a range of indoor settings across Greater Sydney.
 
Children aged 12 and under and people that have a physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability, that makes wearing a mask unsuitable (for example, a skin condition, an intellectual disability, autism or trauma) are exempt from wearing masks but are encouraged to wear masks where practicable.
 
Sport and recreation organisations that have retail operations (e.g. equipment stores, Pro shops, uniform shops etc) should note that masks are mandatory in retail premises.
​

NSW Government are aiming to improve the quality and quantity of sport participation for communities across regional NSW by investing in new and existing facility venues with an allocation
of $25 million.

This Fund will ensure there is a network of spaces and places that enable positive sport and active recreation participation and performance at all levels by providing grants between $100,000 and $1 million.
​
The Regional Sport Facility Fund will give priority to proposals that strongly meet the program objectives, aim and focus and address the assessment criteria.

Application must be submitted by 5pm, 26 February 2021
​

Baseball NSW are calling upon players to trial for the combined NSW Country/ACT Opens Women's State Team to compete in the Australian Women's Championships scheduled for April 2-9, 2021 at West Beach Baseball Complex, Adelaide. To be eligible to trial and be eligible for selection, players must be 15 years of age before the commencement of the tournament.
 
Players wishing to register to trial should send an e-mail to BNSW Head of Baseball Operations – jason@baseballnsw.com.au containing the following information:

• Name:
• E-Mail:
• Mobile Number:
• DOB:
• Positions Trialling For: (2 maximum)
• Bats: L, R or Switch
• Throws: L or R
• Height: (cm)
• Weight: (kg)

 
Trials will take place at Blacktown International SportsPark (Field 3), Rooty Hill on the following date at the following time:

• Sunday February 7, 2021 – 10:00am till 1:00pm.

​
Registrations will close at COB Friday, February 05, 2021.
 
Should you have any enquiries, please contact BNSW Head of Baseball Operations, Jason Pospishil at the following e-mail address – jason@baseballnsw.com.au
​

Baseball NSW would like to advise our members that there has been a confirmed COVID-19 case at Mt Druitt Hospital.
 
As a result, NSW Health have set up a pop-up testing clinic in the AFL/Cricket car park at BISP (entry via Gate C).
 
Key points are as follows:
 
From Monday 11 January 2021 to Friday 15 January 2021

• COVID testing will be located in the upper AFL/Cricket car park – see map below.
• Gate C will only be accessible for those seeking a COVID-19 test.
• NSW Heath are anticipating heavy traffic along Eastern Road this week. Please note that there may be delays in accessing the Sportspark.
• Entry into BISP for all visitors other than those seeking COVID testing is via the traffic lights only (Gate A & B).
• If access to the AFL/Cricket precinct is required please proceed through Gate A to the roundabout and turn right through the baseball car park and across the bridge between baseball and oval 2.

​From Saturday 16 January 2021

• The testing clinic will relocate to the lower AFL/Cricket car park - see map below.
• Entry to and exit from the COVID testing station will be via the informal gates on Eastern Road.
• The upper AFL/Cricket car park and Gate C will be accessible to all visitors other than those seeking COVID testing.
• NSW Health anticipate this site could be active for up to 3 months.

To Our Members,
 
After considerable consultation and feedback from our membership, Baseball NSW is advising that we will be lifting the restriction on those suspended Senior competitions and the scheduled inter-regional programming BNSW were looking to host as noted in the January 7th announcement. This will be effective immediately which will allow games to be played across the Greater Sydney Region and NSW right away. As we hope that you can appreciate, we are in a very unique and dynamic situation where much of the government advice provided has been left open to the discretion of the governing sporting bodies.
 
Although no travel restrictions had been enforced, Baseball NSW initially felt it was important to minimize “non-essential travel” to ensure everyone was doing their best to assist NSW in avoiding potential season ending consequences. Since the January 7th announcement Baseball NSW have been in constant contact with the Office of Sport and the NSW Health Department and are now comfortable that the resumption of community competitions will not result in an elevated risk of an outbreak in the communities across NSW.
 
Our initial decision to suspend competitions was made with the understanding that there were a range of factors that needed to be considered. Such as;

• the significant number of cases throughout the Greater Sydney Basin that were occurring
• the number of people in self-isolation throughout our membership
• the potential impact on teams unable to take the field due to members in 14-day isolation
• the time lag while awaiting test results

 
Consequently, BNSW felt that suspending play in those limited Sydney competitions for one round subject to the upcoming NSW Health Department update due on 18-01-2021 was in the best interests of all Baseball NSW members, players, umpires, scorers, officials, volunteers & spectators.
 
We also wish to clarify that organizations independent of Baseball NSW jurisdiction, such as the Sydney Blue Sox, are a separate entity accountable to the Australian Baseball League. They are not a member of, or affiliated with, BNSW and are therefore not governed by BNSW. The Sydney Blue Sox continue to train at BISP, however, due to border closures are not able to play games at this time either at home or away.
 
To assist BNSW, and the NSW authorities, all Clubs are required to provide an updated COVID safe plan including their Service NSW QR code (https://bddy.me/xxxxxx) in line with the recent NSW Health changes to allow for more consistent and effective contact tracing. 
 
The plans are to be sent to COVID@baseballnsw.com.au no later than Friday 15th January 2021. State League clubs are to provide their updated plans by 12pm tomorrow (13 January 2021) at the latest.
​

Baseball NSW are calling upon players to trial for the NSW Opens Women's State Team to compete in the Australian Women's Championships scheduled for April 2-9, 2021 at West Beach Baseball Complex, Adelaide. To be eligible to trial and be eligible for selection, players must be 15 years of age before the commencement of the tournament.
 
Players wishing to register to trial should send an e-mail to BNSW Head of Baseball Operations – jason@baseballnsw.com.au containing the following information:

• Name:
• E-Mail:
• Mobile Number:
• DOB:
• Positions Trialling For: (2 maximum)
• Bats: L, R or Switch
• Throws: L or R
• Height: (cm)
• Weight: (kg)

 
Trials will take place at Blacktown International SportsPark (Field 3), Rooty Hill on the following dates at the following times:

• Thursday, January 28 – 6:30pm start with 6:00pm registration.
• Tuesday, February 2 – 6:30pm start with 6:00pm registration.
• Thursday, February 4 - 6:30pm start with 6:00pm registration.

 
Pending COVID restrictions, trials will take place on the assigned dates and if necessary, will be revised accordingly.
 
Registrations will close at COB Wednesday, January 27, 2021.

Information about the Country State Tean trials will be announced once dates have been finalized. 
​
Should you have any enquiries, please contact BNSW Head of Baseball Operations, Jason Pospishil at the following e-mail address – jason@baseballnsw.com.au

To Our Members,

Baseball NSW are moving in line with the Government’s recommendation to minimize all non-essential travel. As such, clubs are permitted to hold training sessions within their region (within the Greater Sydney basin), with all BNSW sanctioned events (National Showcase) and competitions (State League, Women’s League, PCBL, Metro, Minor League) being suspended until Monday the 18th of January, where a further update will be provided.

Competitions within the country regions are not affected at this time.

Members participating in any non-sanctioned BNSW (third-party) programs or any other baseball-related activity do so at their own risk. If they do so choose to participate in any such event then;

• Members are not covered  by the Baseball NSW Member insurance policy;
  • As such, Members are not covered by any third-party general liability;
• Third-party providers need to ensure that their COVID Safety Plan is up-to-date and available should it be requested by Members or NSW authorities;
• That the provider should give suitable insurance coverage for their program;

 
We will continue to monitor the Government recommendations and make changes if required. Should you have any questions, please contact Baseball NSW via admin@baseballnsw.com.au
​

To Our Members,

As we draw to an end this extraordinary year I wanted to wish you all a Merry and safe Christmas and Happy New Year. Hopefully you will be able to enjoy much needed quality time with family and friends and next year sees a much more stable and event free time compared to this last year.

I also want to thank all of you that have fought so hard to keep our sport on the field with the tireless commitment you have shown. We are all so very grateful for what you do and I look forward to a brighter new year.

Wishing you a merry festive season.

Mark Marino
CEO Baseball NSW

Baseball NSW would like to update our members on the current COVID -19 status given the recent notifications specific to the Sydney Northern Beaches and various other Sydney Metropolitan locations. Baseball NSW would hereby like to advise the following notifications for our local competitions;

• Sydney Cup will be suspended, and the Premiers will be determined by the current ladder leaders.
  • We are unable to reschedule any games to a later date due to our commitments to Little League International restricting us from running this event beyond December of this year.
• The Sydney State League will be suspended until the originally scheduled resumption on January 13th, 2021.
  • If necessary, for playoff purposes we will look to reschedule the First Grade games
• The Women's League will also break after this weekend with the Manly Women’s 2nd  Grade and Baulkham Hills club suspending their scheduled round game.
  • The season will recommence January 15th, 2021.
• All Junior baseball will be suspended until the scheduled resumption in January for the respective associations, excepting;
  • All Manly Warringah District Baseball Association Junior competitions have been suspended until the natural resumption of their season next year.

Baseball NSW also requires that any players or members who reside or have visited the Northern Beaches Local Government Area not attend or participate in any Baseball NSW sanctioned events until such time as they have satisfied the NSW Government required directives. It is recommended that any Baseball NSW members planning on visiting the Sydney Northern Beaches seriously consider making alternative plans.
​
Baseball NSW will keep our members updated as more information becomes available and please refer to the various links below for up to date notifications.

​John Mossop from Georgetown last night received a Distinguished Long Service Award at the 2020 NSW Community Sports Awards for his contribution to Baseball.
 
The Awards recognised outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport in NSW which is largely carried out by a volunteer workforce.
 
Mossop was one of 21 recipients from a wide cross-section of sports to receive an Award.
 
Mossop has been involved with the Mayfield Boomerangs for almost 45 years and has been instrumental in training and developing hundreds of players within the club. He has coached at all levels within the club from T-Ball through to First Grade.
 
As club President, Mossop has a calm, confident manner and was also a member of Newcastle Baseball Association’s Executive Committee for approximately 15 years.
 
Sport NSW Chairperson, Carolyn Campbell said Mossop was a worthy Award recipient.
 
“Sport in NSW relies on people such as John who have voluntarily dedicated their time over many decades. Put simply, sport would not exist without them. It is fitting these Distinguished Long Service Award recipients are recognised and honoured,” said Ms Campbell.
 
“Without these hard-working, selfless volunteers, tens of thousands of boys and girls, men and women, would not be able to enjoy the health, social and community benefits sport provides. Sport remains at the heart of communities across NSW and has the unique ability to bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together,” added Ms Campbell.
 
The Awards also celebrated volunteers across 10 categories for their outstanding achievements and excellence to sport in NSW over the past year.
The categories were Community Official of the Year, Young Official of the Year, Community Coach of the Year, Young Coach of the Year, Community Sports Administrator of the Year, Volunteer Director of the Year, Community Team of the Year, Community Club of the Year, Local Council of the Year and Community Event of the Year.