Good news we have been given the all clear to return to baseball activity. While this is undoubtedly good news, there are some protocols and procedures we have to adhere to. Those protocols and procedures are outlined below.

You must complete the RETURN TO ACTIVITY REGISTRATION below. NO ONE will be allowed to set foot on the field without registering.

Once you have registered please use the following link to book a group at training. Places, numbers and times are STRICTLY limited so please keep to the time you have signed up to.

If you sign up and for whatever reason cant make that session, please remove your name from the list.

I cant stress this enough that places are limited so for the sake of everyone involved please keep the sign up sheet up to date.

Arrival

• All equipment and protocols must be set up and ready prior to player’s arrival
• Players are to enter through the gate next to the home dugout
• Players are to form a social distancing line and adhere to all COVID-19 health directives while in line, including not touching any fences or structures
• Before going through the gate, everyone is to wash their hands using their sleeve to push down dispenser at a “Pre-Entry” station.
• Only one person at a time is to go through the gate.

Sanitising station
Inside the gate, a sanitary station will be set up and each player will come to the station in turn.

A Coach or club official will be at the table, and will be wearing gloves.

Each player will be asked the following questions, which will be recorded:

• Have you been diagnosed with COVID-19?
• Have you been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed or who has symptoms of COVID-19?
• Have you recently returned from overseas?
• Have you been in recent contact with anyone who has been overseas?
• Do you have any of the following, sore throat, persistent cough, shortness of breath, runny nose?

The player’ s temperature is taken with digital thermometer and recorded.

If any significant symptoms are present at this point, the player will be asked to leave training and return home. It will be strongly suggested that they self-isolate until they can be medically reviewed.

The players details are then written on the Baseball Victoria Return to activity form and forwarded to Baseball Victoria.

The player then washes their hands again, using sleeve to push down dispenser, or official at the station assists. Player then moves into their allocated group.

Extra bats
If a player does not have their own bat, they will be supplied with one. All such bats will have a disposable tape applied to the handle, which will be removed at the end of training during “clean up.”

Helmets
If a player does not have their own helmet, one will be supplied for the duration of the session. At the end of the session, players are to return the borrowed helmet to their player station.

Balls
All balls except those used in shared activity will be collected into containers and stored without being cleaned, as they will only have been handled by players with gloves on.
During this process, gloves are to be worn.

Equipment
All bases, pitching machines, helmets and nets can be collected, cleaned and stored away by persons wearing gloves.

Drink bottles
Players will need to clearly mark their own drink bottle and will be advised not to share under any circumstances. The club will not provide drink bottles.

Bins
A number of bins and buckets will be distributed throughout the training area. Used tissues and gloves can be put into them.

When training is finished
After cleaning up their area and putting rubbish in the bin, they leave training through the gate near the visitors’ dugout

Clean up

Suggest that the clean up is performed by minimal staff, perhaps two. They must wear gloves.

• Collect and store all equipment including, balls, nets, pitching machines, bases and any training aids
• Clean any helmets left by players and store for next session
• Clean any bats left by players and replace handle tapes
• Clean and store balls shared by players
• Empty all bins and buckets, clean buckets and store for next session
• Clean and pack up Sanitary Stations
• Turn off lights and lock up all gates and sheds
• Remove gloves and discard, wash hands
• Leave venue through the gate near the visitors’ dugout.

Follow up process if any player was sent home for isolation
If a player has been sent home from training, a screening form for the event must be completed.

• A follow up call to the player should be made on the same day to determine that they have followed self-isolation advice and intend to have a medical review.
• The club official should then notify the player that the Club will need to notify the relevant government authority, and they should not attend training again, until they have documented medical clearance.
• The club official will initiate a plan to provide support for the player with follow up calls over the next week to assist with their mental health.