PROSPECT PARK BASEBALL ASSOCIATION COVID-19 POLICY FOR THE 2021 SPRING SEASON

The PPBA and its member organizations follow and adhere to CDC and all relevant state and city
Covid-19 guidelines and laws. For purposes of this policy, the term “Team Gathering” shall
include all practices, games and any other assembly of players, coaches, parents and guests of a
team playing in the PPBA, regardless of size, location or duration. The term “attendee(s)” shall
refer to spectators who are in some way connected to players or coaches on a team playing in
the PPBA; but shall not refer to the team’s players or coaches. The terms “team,” “player(s),”
and “coach(es)” shall only refer to those involved in playing in the PPBA 2021 spring season.

PRE-GAME SELF-EXAMINATION
A self-evaluated wellness screening must be completed prior to a Team Gathering by all players,
coaches and attendees. The self-administered screening is to assure that such people have a
temperature that is below 99 degrees Fahrenheit and no Covid-19 related symptoms, such as
coughing, sneezing or fever.

ATTENDANCE AT PRACTICE, GAME OR OTHER TEAM GATHERING

No player, coach or attendee is permitted to attend a Team Gathering if either:

-they have tested positive for Covid-19 in the immediately preceding 14 days,

-they are awaiting Covid-19 test results,

-they have been in close or proximate contact with a confirmed or suspected Covid-19case in the immediately preceding 14 days, and/or

-they are exhibiting symptoms (such as coughing, sneezing or fever above 99 degrees Fahrenheit in the immediately preceding 14 days.

NOTIFICATION TO LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE & TEAM
If any of the above conditions have been established for any such player, coach or attendee, the
coach of that team shall be immediately notified of the situation by the affected coach, player’s
parent or attendee. The coach shall then, within 24 hours of receiving that information, email
notice of such facts to their organization representative and to the team’s coaches and players’
families. The organization representative shall notify the President of the PPBA of the situation
and what action has or will be taken by that organization as soon as practical.

NON-COACH AND PLAYERS ATTENDEES
No more than two attendees per child shall be permitted to attend all Team Gatherings.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND CONTACT AT ALL TEAM GATHERINGS
Subject to other restrictions listed in this policy, everyone on or related to a team playing in the
PPBA must practice social distancing by maintaining at least a six-foot distance at all Team
Gatherings (except for attendees of the same family and between players in the dugout).

Coaches should assure that players be kept distanced apart in the dugout as best as possible.

Attendees must watch from the outfield or approved seating area provided by the league. No
attendees are permitted in or behind the dugouts or at the backstop. Only four coaches are
allowed in each team’s dugout and they must be in uniform.

The home plate pregame meeting and questions relating to an umpire’s call are limited to the
umpire and the head coach from each team.

There shall be no physical contact between anyone at a Team Gathering other than what is
necessary to the actual playing of the game. For example, high-fives and handshaking are
prohibited. In lieu of postgame handshaking lines, the teams shall line up on their respective
foul line, tip their caps to the opposing team and then to the attendees.

All players, coaches and attendees must leave the ballpark immediately after the completion of
the game or directly to other fields where their children might be playing and remain distanced
from incoming teams.

SANITARY & SAFE CONDUCT AT ALL TEAM GATHERINGS
All attendees, coaches and umpires must at all times during a Team Gathering wear protective
face coverings or masks.

All players must wear a mask at all times during all Team Gatherings, such as when playing or
practicing a defensive position on the field, when batting, when as a baserunner, when warming
up, when in the dugout and when coming to and going from a Team Gathering while in the
ballpark.

There is only one exception to this rule: pitchers while pitching (or warming up to pitch) are permitted NOT to wear a mask for the following divisions only: Cubs, Bantam, Super Bantam Grasshopper, Freshmen and all softball divisions.

Food is not permitted in the dugouts. Sharing of drinks and the use of a team water cooler is also
not permitted.

Spitting, chewing gum or sunflower seeds is strictly prohibited.

Individual teams must use their own balls. The ball at a minimum should be rotated out every
inning in order to be disinfected between innings.

Any equipment that is shared must be sanitized before it is used by another player. We strongly
recommend that players use their own equipment.

All players and coaches must bring their own alcohol-based hand sanitizer and protective face
mask to all Team Gatherings.

The coaches shall use their best efforts to assure that the dugout surfaces are cleaned and
disinfected

All trash and recyclables must be removed from Parks property and disposed of properly.

COMPLIANCE WITH POLICY IS REQUIRED
Each head coach shall be responsible for assuring compliance of these policies by all their players,
coaches and attendees.

If the umpire believes that someone relating to a team is not complying with these policies, the
umpire shall notify the head coach of that team so that the head coach can take corrective action.

If a coach believes that there is a non-compliance with these policies by someone on or related
to the opposing team, the head coach of that team shall inform the umpire. The umpire shall
then inform the other head coach of the situation if, in the opinion of the umpire, corrective
action is required.

If, in either situation, it is the umpire’s opinion that the corrective action is not adequate, the
umpire shall have the power to suspend play until the corrective action is, in the umpire’s
opinion, implemented or terminate the game.

Should a suspension or termination of a game occur for any reason, within twenty-four hours of
either such situation, a written explanation of the circumstances shall be sent to the head umpire
by the umpire and to their respective organization representative by the head coaches.

The organization representatives shall provide a written description of the situation to the
President of the PPBA as soon as practical. Depending on the circumstances, the PPBA shall have
the right to take further action, including, without limitation, the permanent removal of the
offending coach or player or banning the presence of the offending attendee.

All coaches and player-parents must cooperate with all contact tracing efforts set forth by the
state and local authorities.

We reserve the right at any time to update these policies as we deem appropriate. Please return
here regularly to see if these policies have been updated.

For a downloadable version of this file: PPBA Covid Policy 2021