Green Mountain Baseball League COVID-19 Response 2021
Policies and procedures for the 2021 season is based on the Vermont Department of Heath and the CDC’s guidelines for public safety. The State Department of health has provided guidelines of play for adult recreational sports. The first link is the basis for our guidelines. The second 2 links are general information on the Coronavirus
https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19/about-coronavirus-disease-covid-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Enforcement- Implementation will not be perfect Multiple reminders will be necessary. Manager and player flexibility will be needed. We are looking to severely limit the transmission of virus. The Covid prevention of not only yourself, but of your teammates, and most importantly your family and community is the MOST important.
We will only penalize in extreme defiance and in extreme cases. We have all developed habits through our many years of playing baseball and making some of these changes can be hard. Please be open to reminders from your teammates to follow these rules and please help remind them to follow these rules as well. Criticism and jokes do not help the situation and are insensitive and unempathetic to many of us who know co-workers, friends, community members and family members who have died from this highly contagious disease. It is the expectation that you take social responsibility and follow these rules.
Blatant defiance will not be tolerated. If this is the case, managers are expected to refer cases to the league and dismissal from the league for that player(s) may be possible.
Here are the rules for 2021...
COVID-19 Safety Protocols for GMBL for 2021
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· Masks or face coverings are suggested when on the bench.
If plThere are no quarrantine rules for those players that are considered fully vaccinated. That means that you have had 2 weeks from your covid vaccine (J&J) or 2 weeks from your second vaccine (Moderna + Pfizer). If you have not vaccinated or completed your vaccination, players need to test within 3 days AND receive negative results BEFORE they play in another GMBL game. https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/travel-quarantine
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· There will be no formal contact tracing this year, however it is an expectation that managers have their own phone number contact for all players upon immediate request.
It is It is important for everyone’s safety that a +COVID test is reported to the league in a timely manner.
· Dugouts can be used. However, a blocked-off seating area must be provided by the home team that is designated as "out of play". 6 feet of social distancing is still expected.
· It is recommended that players use their own equipment. Shared equipment can promote exposures and transmission.
· The sharing of equipment is allowed, however proper sanitizing procedures should be followed. That means managers should provide hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes..
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· If a +COVID test, the Player must quarantine for 2 weeks if unvaccinated, OR a negative test result after 1 week.
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· 6-feet distance when possible
· Baseballs can be shared.
· Personal chairs can be used and benches can be shared with 6 feet of distance provided these seats are designated as "out of play"
· Managers must send home players they determine are “sick”
· Players should not show up if “sick”
Rules Adjustments
· Chalk or spray painted boxes approx. twice the length of the dugout, in front of dugout for players. (Dead ball area) NOTE: If there is adequate, dry space that is already out of play, and easy access onto the field such as a gate, a box may not be needed
*Within reason, the league will reimburse teams for disinfectant and sanitizer. Receipts must be submitted by the managers to the league before our October league meeting.
**For a +COVID test to affect the league, that player would have to be in attendance. If the player was on the roster, tested positive but did not play on the team within a week of the positive test, the standard quarantine from the date of test for the individual would apply only.
