SBBA 2021 Safety Plan

Venue Mandatory
- All participants, spectators, and employees must adhere to six-foot physical distancing while at the venue
- Must conduct daily symptoms assessments by coaches and players (self-evaluations)
- Anyone experiencing symptoms, must stay home - No team water coolers or shared drinking stations
- Compliant game balls must be designated to each team for use while that team is playing defense
- Sanitize your team defensive balls while on offense
- These requirements must be shared prior to the event with all players, coaches, spectators and officials prior to their arrival to the venue
- Portable Bathrooms will be cleaned and provided by the City of Buffalo on a daily basis
- Specific Venue requirements may include additional restrictions that need to be followed
- Into account when finding an area to warm up. Where a designated area is not possible, teams must wait in their cars until the prior teams have exited the field area
- Teams are required to thoroughly clean their dugout of all trash and other items after each game

Venue recommended
- Digital check-in and registration for all events
- Lineups should be entered online or by spoken word and recorded by officials/ umpires without exchanging any physical documents with coaches or players
- Athletes are strongly recommended to travel to the venue alone or with a member of their immediate household
- Where possible by venue layout – spectators are required to stay on their teams designated side of the field

Practice Mandatory
-Coaches and players must adhere to physical six-foot distancing except when the ball is in play
- Coaches must wear face coverings at all times
- Athletes must wear face coverings at all times while not actively participating in the field of play
- Must conduct daily symptom assessments by coaches and players (self-evaluation)
- Anyone experiencing symptoms must stay home
- No team water coolers or shared snacks or drinking station
- Athletes should bring individual water containers
- Practice stations should be limited in number of participants to ensure social distancing practices are followed
- No group huddles. Socially distant circles maintaining six-foot separation are required
- Whenever possible, equipment and personal items should have proper separation and should not be shared. If equipment must be shared, proper sanitation should be administered between users

Practice Recommended
- Face coverings are strongly recommended for any spectators
- No more than two spectator per participant for practices
- Virtual meetings should be considered when possible
- Athletes are strongly recommended to travel to the venue alone or with a member(s) of their immediate household, if possible
- Face coverings are strongly recommended for individuals traveling to and from the venue

Athlete Mandatory
- Must adhere to six-foot social distancing practices off the field of play
- Must wear face coverings at all times when not actively participating in the field of play
- Must conduct daily symptom assessments by coaches and players (self-evaluation).
- Anyone experiencing symptoms must stay home
- Must not share water or equipment. Belongings should be used only by the individual owner or operator including, but not limited to water bottles, gloves, bats, hats and other on-and-off field gear
- No touch rule – players should refrain from high fives, handshake lines, and other physical contact with teammates, opposing players, coaches, umpires, and fans
- No spitting or eating seeds, gum, other similar products
- No hands to the mouth or blowing on hands
- Players are be responsible for picking up their own bats from the playing field.  Where, due to safety issues, someone else needs to retrieve it (coach/umpire/on deck-batter), do not pick up by the bat handle
- Dugouts restricted to official team coaches and upcoming batters only
- Remaining team is spread out behind the dugout or down the line toward the backstop. This area as well as the dugout reserved for players and official coaches only. No spectators, siblings, bat boys/girls, etc.
- Whenever possible, equipment and personal items should have proper separation and should not be shared. If equipment must be shared, proper sanitation’s should be administered between users

Athlete Recommended
- Hand washing or hand sanitizing after each defensive inning, in the absence of soap water, are strongly recommended for athletes during the games

Spectator Mandatory
- Must adhere to six-foot social distancing practices for anyone not living in the same household
- Bleachers will be closed - Must conduct daily symptom assessments (self-evaluation). Anyone experiencing symptoms must stay home
- Must not enter player areas (on the field of play or bench areas).
- Must keep six-feet or more distance from active play area
- Spectators must stay in their respective areas. Children playing tag, catch, etc. to occupy themselves during the game is prohibited - No team snacks to be provided
- Face coverings must be wore when proper distancing is not possible
- No more than two spectators per player

Spectator Recommended
- Hand washing or hand sanitizing, in the absence of soap and water, is recommended strongly during the games
- Limit spectators to those from immediate household only and protect those who are especially vulnerable by keeping them at home

Coaches Mandatory
- Must wear face coverings when distancing is not possible
- Must conduct daily symptom assessments by coaches and players (self-evaluation)
- Anyone experiencing symptoms must stay home
- No spitting or eating seeds, gum, or other similar products
- No touch rule – coaches should refrain from high fives, handshake lines, and other physical contact with teammates, opposing players, coaches, umpires, and fans
- Must ensure that players are following COVID-19 -related prevention measures included herein
- Coaches should ensure the players are adhering to social distancing in dugouts and other seating areas and wearing face coverings while not actively participating on the field of play
- Whenever possible, equipment and personal items should have proper separation and should not be shared. If equipment must be shared, proper sanitation should be administered between users

Coaches Recommended
- Must adhere to six-foot social distancing practices

Umpires Mandatory
- Must adhere to six-foot social distancing practices when interacting with players, coaches, and spectators off the field of play
- Must conduct daily symptom assessments (self-evaluation). Anyone experiencing symptoms must stay home
-Must wear face coverings at all times
- Must avoid exchanging documents or equipment with players, coaches, or spectators
- Umpires should allow adequate distance from fielders while still able to perform their duty - Grounds rules – umpires and one coach per team. No captains or additional participants

Umpires Recommended
- Digital check-in and registration for all events
- Station umpire behind the mound rather than behind the catcher

Leaving the Venue Mandatory
- Individuals should not congregate in common areas or parking lot following the event or practice
- Umpires should adhere to social distancing practices when interacting with players, coaches, and spectators off the field of play
- Individuals should not exchange items (pins, etc.)

Leaving the Venue Recommended
- Team meetings should occur virtually or over the phone rather than in a team huddle
- Athletes are strongly recommended to travel to the venue alone or with a member(s) of their immediate household, if possible. face coverings are strongly recommend for individuals traveling to and from the venue
- Team meals should only occur in compliance with the guidelines issued for service of food in New York