Safety actions that the CBRL Board of Directors is taking at Gardner Field in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic:

• Installed signage at the entrance to Gardner Field at Lane Park that states that no one with a fever or symptoms of COVID-19 or known exposure to a COVID-19 case in the prior 14 days, is permitted in the establishment.

• Installed signage within Gardner Field that provides reminders regarding physical distancing, limitations to gatherings, options for high risk individuals, and staying home if sick.

• Requiring that all persons entering Gardner Field sign a waiver.  

• Invested in thermal no-touch thermometers to monitor the temperature of all persons entering Gardner Field.

• Staffing and training personnel to manage the entrance to the field for events.

• Invested in hand sanitizing stations at four locations around the field (entrance, visitor’s dugout, home dugout, and by the Concessions Stand).

• Invested in bulk hand sanitizer and County approved cleaning supplies.

• Cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms at least once daily prior to opening the Field.

• Invested in extra catching equipment so that players do not share equipment.

• Measure and clearly label locations for players to put their equipment, as dugouts will not be used for this purpose.

• For each event, the league will maintain documentation attesting to each person’s status to ensure that symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are currently not present, nor have they been present in the prior 14-days.  Documentation will be maintained until 14-days following the final event of the season.  

• If person has participated in a sporting event outside of the state or in a locality of Virginia in which the Governor has enacted additional restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, then that person will not be allowed to participate in activities for 14 days from the date of the sporting event.

• The total number of people allowed in the park at anyone one time will not exceed 50.

• All events will be scheduled 30 minutes apart.

What to expect when you come to the field:

• To ensure proper distancing, and to limit possible exposure, activities will be limited to players, rostered coaches, and approved volunteers only.  We recommend others either stay in their vehicles or drop players off.  

• Prior to entry to the field, players, coaches, and families must acknowledge receipt, read thoroughly, and agree to adhere to all policies and procedures contained in this document, and any additional safety protocols the league deems necessary.  

• All entrants to the field will have their temperature taken by thermal no-touch thermometers.  No one will be allowed in the field if their temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. CBRL volunteers will also be looking for visible signs of illness.

• Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will not be permitted in the ballpark.

• Any player or community member who has tested positive for Covid-19 will not be permitted entry to the field until they have satisfied the 14-day required quarantine; in addition, they must provide a doctor's note that player is cleared to return to normal activities.  Documentation should attest to said person being symptom free for a minimum of 24-hours, and at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms or positive test results if asymptomatic.

• All entrants to the field will be required to answer the following questions:
         o Have you had a fever, shortness of breath or a cough within the last 14 days?
         o Have you been sick, or have you had symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 14 days?
         o Have you or anyone in your household been exposed to Covid-19 in the last 14 days?
         o In the past week have you participated in a sporting event outside of the state or in a locality of Virginia in which the Governor has enacted additional restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19?

• All entrants will be required to wash their hands upon entering the field.  

What to expect during events:

• To ensure proper social distancing, bleachers and dugouts will not be used (players will physically distance from one another outside the fence down the baselines).

• Coaches, umpires, and volunteers that are allowed inside the park must wear face coverings. It is highly recommended that players also wear face coverings when waiting at their tape mark along the fence.  If a team is deemed to be in violation of social distancing for their non-playing, non-batting players, players on that team will be required to wear a mask during league events until the end of the season.  

• There will be no team huddles or celebratory contact.

• Teams will not throw “around the horn” during the game.

• No food is permitted at the field, which includes chewing gum and sunflower seeds.

• Players that catch will use their gear only.  The league will provide catching gear sets for each coach to use. Coaches should assign a catcher set to stay with that player only (no sharing).  If a coach does have to share catching equipment, then it needs to be cleaned after one player uses it and wait 4 days until can be used by someone else.

• Players and coaches will wash their hands at beginning and end of the gathering.

• Players will not share any equipment (batting gloves, bats, helmets, gloves, etc.).

• Players will place their equipment along the fence going down the right and left field lines at tape marks (these are spaced 10 feet apart).  

• Players and coaches will be required to maintain a 10-foot distance, where practicable.

• Coaches will send players home who exhibit signs of illness.

• Player contact will not be permitted (high fives, fist bumps, etc.)

• Players should bring their own drinks; no sharing is permitted.

• Players and coaches should avoid touching their faces with their hands.  

• All shared items will be disinfected between each use to the extent practicable.

• Home plate meetings will be limited to the umpire and one (1) coach from each team; all must practice social distancing.

• There will no team coolers in the dugout.

• In lieu of handshaking lines, each team will line up on their respective foul line and tip their caps to the opposing team at the game’s conclusion.

What the CBRL Board Expects of Parents/Guardians:

• Players should be screened regularly for illness and should be kept home if they are sick or exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19.

• Parents/Guardians should make sure their child comes to the field with adequate water/fluids.

• Parents/Guardians should check with their child to ensure that all equipment and water bottles are labeled with the player’s name.

• Parents/Guardians should remain at the field until their child has passed the screening process and has gained entry to the field.  

• Families will be required to honor volunteer commitments during the season as communicated in our registration process, but these tasks have changed to meet the needs of the league.  Instead of a three-hour commitment to work in the Concessions Stand, all families will be required to perform Gatekeeping duties (30 – 45 minutes prior to the start of the event) at least once during the times when practices, scrimmages, or games are taking place.  THE LEAGUE WILL ASSIGN YOUR TIMES.  We understand that not all times will work for all families.  If you are assigned a time that does not work for you, we ask that you work with members of your team to switch assignments so that all slots are covered.

• As stated previously in this document, only approved volunteers will be permitted to watch games from inside the ballpark.  Assigned Gatekeepers, Scoreboard Operators, and Safety Monitors will be allowed into the ballpark during games and should bring their own chair as bleachers will not be used.  Interested player-affiliated persons may sign up for these supplemental duties on a first come, first served basis, and must have a signed waiver on file with the league; the League will communicate the details of the sign up process.  Safety Monitors will be responsible for assisting coaches with keeping their players appropriately distanced while waiting to bat on offense, or during times when they are not actively playing in the outfield on defense.  

Questions or Concerns:
• Please direct any questions about our policies, or concerns about or violations of compliance to our league email account (info@cvillebaberuth.org) and the Board will take any necessary steps.  

Moving Forward:
Throughout the season as medical and governmental guidance changes, our Return to Play policies will continue to evolve. All updates will be communicated to participants in advance of their event.