Baseball NSW Covid-19 – May Update

To Our Members,
 
I hope you all have been managing to stay safe in these trying times and hopefully have not been impacted too adversely and your families are healthy and not too bored.
 
Baseball NSW have been keeping apprised as to the many, many opinions and advice being offered out there in the general community. I know how confusing this all may seem to many and how desperately we all want to return to playing our wonderful game. It just needs to be understood that we are all subject to State Government’s and the respective State Health authority’s instruction. At present there is no discretionary interpretation of when and how our sport can return to action.
 
Given our initial lockdown period ended yesterday, April 30th, Baseball NSW are now reassessing our position on future participation expectations. Considering the NSW State Government’s current Public Health Order (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement), which does not expire until the 29th June 2020, it is our recommendation that any ‘Return to Activity’ in NSW, in as far as baseball is concerned, be delayed until Wednesday the 1st of July 2020.
 
In determining this date, Baseball NSW has taken into consideration the current Government restrictions, as well as the dates of the NSW July school holidays. This would allow a potential return to training on 1st of July 2020 subject to the status of public health restrictions and advice at that time. However, Baseball NSW will continue to monitor  State Government updates should there be any earlier amendments to the existing position that may allow an earlier ‘Return to Activity’.
 
The opportunity for any kind of Winter competition will be impacted by whatever ‘Return to Activity’ date we ultimately land on. Baseball NSW are prepared to provide a reduced capitation for any Winter Competition that may commence for an extended period as well as offering a Tournament Category for any modified weekend events.
 
A July 1st ‘Return to Activity’ date allows us to prepare effectively for our 2020/2021 Summer Season in an as close to normal environment as possible.
 
Baseball NSW staff are now focusing on what a ‘Return to Activity’ scenario may look like with our Development programs and respective Educational offerings. Our associations will face their own challenges which Baseball NSW are available to lend support.
 
With the recent announcement of the Little League World Series being cancelled there is now no need to expedite any qualifying criteria for our State or National junior Titles. This provides us an opportunity to create a competition that can be delivered on our own timelines and suitable to the needs of our members. There will be a more extensive statement to follow.
 
I would also like to thank the many volunteers that have worked tirelessly in keeping your clubs and associations informed and functional. I have been in conversations with many of you and it never ceases to amaze me how committed our members are, you are all the lifeblood of our sport.
 
In closing I would just like to add that we are far from containing this Pandemic and I would ask that we all remain vigilant. No doubt we will get back on the field soon and be much the wiser for it.
 
Stay safe,

Mark Marino
CEO – Baseball NSW
 
P.S. The Federal Government has created an Application to assist the population in navigating through this crisis so please consider downloading the app to help save lives, protect the community and get baseball back as soon as possible:  https://www.health.gov.au/reso…/apps-and-tools/covidsafe-app
 
#returntoactivity
#safebaseball
 
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