Program Participation Plan

Point Pleasant Beach Little League is preparing this document in response to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) requirement to create a plan regarding the resumption of youth sports activities.   The document will be posted on our website to serve as notice to the entire league as to our plans. 

The entirety of the NJDOH in its original form can be found on their website and here: https://nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/COVID_GuidanceForSportsActivities.pdf

As noted in the document, “This ‘Guidance for Sports Activities’ published by The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is intended to guide organizations that oversee sports activities as they resume operations to ensure the health and safety of staff, participants, and their families.”  The information in this document is not intended or implied to be a substitute for guidelines published by the New Jersey Department of Healthy but rather in addition to those guidelines. All content, including text, link and information, are provided for general informational purposes only. The knowledge and circumstances around COVID-19 are changing constantly and, as such, PPBLL makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this information. Further, you should seek advice from medical professionals and/or public health officials if you have specific questions about your return to practice and competition.

To inform and address each section of the NJDOH we will disclose information below.

In addition to the safety precautions detailed below each player and parent will sign a COVID liability waiver as well as an understanding and agreement to follow these new guidelines.

General Preparations for Overall League and Fields

1)    Signage will be added fields to remind all individuals to remain cognizant of social distancing guidelines.

2)    Athletes, coaches, parents, and spectators should remain 6 feet apart from one another whenever possible.

3)    Coaches will be required to wearcloth or disposable face coverings for the entirety of the practice / game when interacting with players.

4)    Players will be encouraged to wear cloth or disposable face coverings when not engaging in vigorous activity such as being in the dugout.

5)    We will attempt to space games out however if not feasible areas near the dugouts may be restricted from parents

6)    General reminders will be provided by coaches and board members through emails and at games and practices that will include:

a.    Stay home if feeling sick

b.    Telling players to not touch their faces while at practices and games

c.    Telling players to stay separated

d.    Reminding parents to wear masks when in crowded areas of the fields and to attempt to leave as soon as games and practices are completed.

7)    Each player will be asked to bring a bottle of their own hand sanitizer for practices with the league purchasing bottles for teams during the season.

8)    The snack stand will be closed for the year so players will be responsible to bring their own drinks.  No team coolers will be allowed in dugouts.

9)    Players are encouraged to use their own equipment whenever possible.  Spray bottles with a cleaning solution will be with each team to spray down catching equipment and helmets if necessary, to be shared.

10) High – Touch surfaces including benches and bathroom fixtures will be sprayed with the cleaning solution after each game / evening.

Guidelines for Practices

All players, coaches, staff, spectators and other attendees must adhere to specifically required guidelines from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJ DOH Guidance for Sports Activities). Furthermore, because PPBLL utilizes and competes within other towns and counties, additional requirements may be in place based on guidelines set forth by the hosting town or county.

Overall Practice Policies

●     Players and coaches should not come to practice or competition if you or any member of your household are not feeling well or are showing symptoms of COVID-19.

●     Players and coaches should not come to practice or competition if you or any member of your household have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 within the past 14 days.

●     Players and coaches should not come to practice or competition if you are not comfortable with the guidelines set forth by the NJ DOH, USABL or the facility at which you are practicing/competing.

●     Though they will be allowed, adults 65 years and older or people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions are strongly encouraged not to attend practice or competition at this time.

Specific Practice Guidelines

1)    Parents of players will be required to sign a waiver prior to each practice and game representing the player is not sick and other general COVID-19 questions.  Without signing this waiver or submitting through Google docs (directions to be posted) prior to the practice or game, the player will be asked to not participate.

2)    Coaches will scan players head upon arrival to ensure a player does not have a fever above 100.4.

3)    If a player has any symptoms listed on the health waiver, they will not be allowed to participate.

4)    A player must keep their equipment in a separated area down one of the foul lines along the fence and not near another player’s equipment.

5)    After initial warm up catch/throw each player should sanitize their hands.

6)    During drill portion of practices, keep players separated and not in close lines while waiting their turns.

7)    Between drills and batting practice portions of practice each player should sanitize their hands.

8)    Each player should use his or her own bat / helmet if possible

9)    No running it out drills or pickle drills

10) Before and after a player's turn at BP they should use hand sanitizer.

Guidelines for Games

All players, coaches, staff, spectators and other attendees must adhere to specifically required guidelines from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJ DOH Guidance for Sports Activities). Furthermore, because PPBLL utilizes and competes within other towns and counties, additional requirements may be in place based on guidelines set forth by the hosting town or county.

Overall Game Policies

●     Players and coaches should not come to practice or competition if you or any member of your household are not feeling well or are showing symptoms of COVID-19.

●     Players and coaches should not come to practice or competition if you or any member of your household have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 within the past 14 days.

●     Players and coaches should not come to practice or competition if you are not comfortable with the guidelines set forth by the NJ DOH, USABL or the facility at which you are practicing/competing.

●     Though they will be allowed, adults 65 years and older or people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions are strongly encouraged not to attend practice or competition at this time.

Specific Game Policies

1)    Parents of players will be required to sign a waiver prior to each practice and game representing the player is not sick and other general COVID-19 questions.  Without signing this waiver or submitting through Google docs (directions to be posted) prior to the practice or game, the player will be asked to not participate.

2)    Coaches will scan players head upon arrival to ensure a player does not have a fever above 100.4.

3)    If a player has any symptoms listed on the health waiver, they will not be allowed to participate.

4)    Upon arrival a player will place their equipment within the area restricted to players only (dugout and a little further down the foulline).  Equipment should be separated and will stay in that area for the course of the game.

5)    Each player will stay with their equipment while in the dugout in order to stay a safe distance apart.

6)    Coaches will be required to wear cloth or disposable face coverings for the entirety of the practice / game when interacting with players.

7)    Players will be required to wear cloth or disposable face coverings when not engaging in vigorous activity such as being in the dugout.

8)    Umpires will be encouraged to wear face-covering whenever applicable and possible. “Plate” umpires calling pitches will be encouraged to wear surgical masks over the lower half of their standard protective facemask or they will be asked to call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher.

9)    Each player will be required to use hand sanitizer after each inning in the field.

10) Each team should use their own balls while in the field during competition.

11) There will be no handshakes at the end of games

12) There will be no gum chewing or sunflower seed chewing

13) There will be no spitting

As stated, this document is to serve as additional guidance for PPBLL as does not act as a replacement for the NJDOH and/or CDC guidelines.

Each player / parent will abide by the guidelines or they will be asked to leave.  If a player / parent signs the agreement waiver and does not abide by the guidelines they will forfeit their registration fee.

Though different than past years, the game will still be played in the same manner and the restrictions for the most part are off the field of play.  We can still have a great season.