Little League Name: METROPOLITAN LITTLE LEAGUE

California District 29

The following plan has been established in an effort to resume Little League Baseball and activities while protecting and supporting our player’s health, practice social distancing, limit large gatherings, and minimize risks of COVID-19.  This guidance has been approved by the local league’s board of directors and will be submitted to the local authorities for final approval.  No activities will begin until the State of California and County of Los Angeles have given their approval to begin youth sports activities.  These activities will take place on the following fields: Lake Center Athletic Field and Jersey Field. An approved copy of this document can be found in the local league’s Safety Plan.

PLAYERS

Juniors, Majors, Minor A, Minor B

Team roster should not exceed 13 players per team on any given game or practice day

• 9-13 players maximum per team is permitted on one playing field at one time

  T-Ball, Coach Pitch

• 8-12 players maximum per team on any given game or practice day is permitted for T-Ball, Coach Pitch divisions

  All Players for Both Competitive and Non-Competitive Teams

• Players will be assigned personal spots in their team dugout (or on designated bleacher area) such that they remain 6 feet apart
• Players shall put their equipment bag in assigned spot in the dugout. Personal bat, helmet and other game use equipment should be kept in their designated spot until the equipment needs to be used
• Players shall stay in their assigned personal spot when in the dugout while waiting for their turn to bat or sitting on the bench when their team is on defense
• Players shall wear face coverings when in the dugout.When it is their time to bat or return to the field for defensive play, they are to put their face covering in their own bag and keep with their own equipment. If a player is using a full-face-covering-type mask (wraps completely around the head), the player may just pull the mask down while at bat or while playing defense.
• Players shall only use their own game equipment—no sharing of equipment (exception of shared equipment is the game ball). If a team bat is being used, the bench coach will wipe it down with a sanitizing wipe after each player’s use.

   

  MANAGERS/COACHES

  ALL Teams

  Three league-approved adult volunteers are permitted to be involved with each team per each game

• 1 Team Manager per team
  • Acts as 3^rd base coach during team’s offensive play
  • Manages batting order and defensive line-ups
  • Required to wear face covering when players are in dugout and/or when unable to practice 6 feet of social distancing
• 2 Dugout Coaches per team
  • Assists manager with communicating batting order and defensive line-ups
  • 1 coach acts as 1^st base coach during team’s offensive play
  • 1 coach remains in dugout with players
  • Retrieves and wipes down bats with sanitizing wipe after each player’s at bat
  • Enforces social distancing of players while in designated dugout
  • Enforces players wearing face covering while in designated dugout
  • Required to wear face covering when players are in dugout and/or when unable to practice 6 feet of social distancing

     

• A parent volunteer may be used to help the dugout coach to monitor the players seated in the bleachers
  • Assists manager with communicating batting order for players in the bleacher area
  • Enforces social distancing of players while in designated bleacher area
  • Enforces players wearing face covering while in designated bleacher area
  • Required to wear face covering when players are in the bleacher area and/or when unable to practice 6 feet of social distancing

    T-BALL, MINOR C

    Due to the age, developmental level, and physical abilities of the players within the non-competitive divisions additional approved adult volunteers are permitted, but not required, during defensive play

• There will be a maximum of 4 approved volunteers (1 Team Manager, 2 Dugout Coaches, 1 Adult Volunteer)
• Board of Director approval will be required to include additional volunteers during games and practices (as needed to play)
• All approved volunteers assisting with the non-competitive divisions must wear a face covering while they assist and interact with the players

   

  OTHER ADULT ROLES

• Umpire
  • Set up 6 feet behind catcher and batter or behind the pitching mound
    • For “Majors” and below it is recommended that umpires call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher’s mound
  • Required to wear face covering at all times while on the field of play
  • Must discuss each umpire’s responsibility in their pre-game meeting
• Scorekeeper/Pitch Counter
  • One designated scorekeeper for each game—no exceptions
  • Scorekeeper to sit in score booth—only one person in the score booth
  • Pitch Counter must sit 6 feet from Score Keeper unless they are a stay at home family group member
  • Required to wear face covering when unable to practice 6 feet of social distancing during interaction with others
  • Pencils and other scorekeeper supplies will be supplied by the league only when requested.If league supplies are used, they should be sanitized after each person’s use.Scorekeeper is encouraged to bring their own pencils, erasers, pens
• Board Member on Duty (Minimum of one board member per game time slot)
  • Board Member on Duty will manage the entire operation of the field(s) on game days
  • Board Member on Duty will be assisted by a Safety Coordinator when there are multiple games scheduled during the same time slot
  • Board Member on Duty will wear a face covering when they are unable to practice 6 feet of social distancing during interaction with others
  • Player & Spectator Management
    • Traffic control to limit congregation of groups
    • Remind spectators of social distancing guidelines—6 feet apart; encourage face coverings when unable to adhere to social distancing guidelines
    • During game, remind players, coaches and umpires about social distancing plan and protocol with equipment

     

    II.      EQUIPMENT PROTOCOL

     

     

    PLAYER EQUIPMENT

• Safety Coordinator (Assistant to Board Member on Duty on game days)
  • The league Safety Coordinator will be one adult designated to assist the Board Member on Duty during game days when there are multiple games scheduled during the same time slot
    • The Safety Coordinator will remain on-site at all times when multiple games are being played
  • Safety Coordinator will educate and enforce social distancing among players and spectators
  • Safety Coordinator will communicate with all participants of the game and all spectators in a friendly, yet firm manner that all social distancing protocol must be adhered to during their time at the field
  • Safety Coordinator will wear a face covering when they are unable to practice 6 feet of social distancing during interaction with others
• Players are not to use bat racks or helmet racks
• Bats, helmets, gloves are not to be shared between players
  • If a player is using a “team” bat, that bat will be kept in the bat rack and will be cleaned with a sanitizing wipe after each use.
• Catchers must have their own equipment
  • League can provide gear for each game that is used by only one player per day
  • Borrowed league’s catcher’s gear is to be wiped down with sanitizing wipe prior to reuse
• Players to keep their own equipment in their own bag
• Bats are retrieved by player if out at first
• Bats are retrieved by dugout coach if player reaches base safely—dugout coach to wipe down bat with sanitizing wipe and set on side of dugout for player to retrieve upon reentering dugout and place in their own equipment bag

   

  UMPIRE EQUIPMENT

• Umpires are encouraged to use their own umpire gear
• League can provide umpire gear to include a protective face covering, chest protector, shin guards and umpire indicator—each set of gear is to be used by only one umpire per day
  • Gear must be wiped down with sanitizing wipe prior to reuse of gear

     

    III.     PREGAME & POSTGAME—PLAYERS & SPECTATORS

     

     

    PLAYER ARRIVAL TO GAME SITE & WARM-UPS

• Players to arrive to the game site no earlier than 30 minutes before the game time for warm-ups
• Players are not to congregate within a group prior to taking the field to warm up
  • Home team to warm up on left field
  • Visitor team to warm up on right field
• Each team to follow social distancing guidelines during warm-ups
  • Stretching—separate in a space to allow 6 feet apart
  • Running—run as a team spaced 6 feet apart
  • Throwing—ensure throwing distance is at least 6 feet apart
  • Defense warm-up—when taking grounders, players awaiting their turn should be spaced from the other players at least 6 feet apart
  • Pitcher/catcher warm-ups in bullpen only; coach is to maintain a distance of 6 feet from players during instruction; coach to wear face covering at all times while in the bullpen

     

    STARTING THE GAME

• For the Pledge of Allegiance and/or Little League Pledge—players will line up along their dugout side baseline, spread out down the baseline, at least 6 feet apart, to recite both pledges
  • Managers and coaches will line up behind their players, closer to the dugout; managers/coaches to remain 6 feet from each other and minimum of 6 feet from their players
  • Umpire to stand at home plate during pledges at a minimum distance of 6 feet from a player or adult
• For the plate meeting, managers from both teams will meet the umpire at the plate—all parties are required to wear a face covering during the plate meeting

   

  DURING THE GAME

• Players are encouraged to use hand sanitizer as frequently as possible during the game
  • Players should have a personal bottle of sanitizer kept in their equipment bag
• No group gatherings at home plate following a home run
• No high fives or handshakes following a play or game
• Players are to bring their own water/Gatorade for use during their game—no team water jugs or ice chests are permitted; players are not to share their drinks or snacks with anyone
• Sunflower seeds are not allowed at any time
• Parent/Guardian will be responsible for taking their child to the restroom during the game and ensure hands are washed

   

  CONCLUSION OF THE GAME

• There will be no “good game” high-five line
• Players will line up along their dugout side baseline, spread out down the baseline, at least 6 feet apart, and tip their caps to the opposing team
• Manager/Coach to say a few words to their team while their players are lined up on baseline to acknowledge good play and sportsmanship, thank the umpires and the volunteers
• Congregation of teams/players is not allowed at the game site—there is to be no after-game team meeting at the game site
• Players and families will be asked to leave the game site within 10 minutes of the game concluding
• The dugout will be sanitized prior to each game

   

  SPECTATORS AT THE GAME SITE (Spectators are defined as parents, caregivers, siblings, family, fans)

• Spectators should try to limit their time at the field prior to game time when possible, based on child’s age and needs
• Spectators are not to congregate in a group outside of their stay-at-home family group
• Spectators will not be allowed to stand behind the home plate area within 6 feet of the backstop. Caution tape will be used to mark off the restricted area.
• Bleacher seating will be limited to all spectators
• All spectators are encouraged to sit outside the field fence at least 6 feet away from the dugout/field entrance. Chairs, blankets, etc., may be set up by spectators
• There should be no more than 6 people sitting together in a “family group;” the “family group” is only to include their stay-at-home family
• There should be at least 6 feet between each “family group” along the fence line

   

  IV.     SNACK BARS—FOOD & BEVERAGE

   

   

  FOOD & BEVERAGES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT LEAGUE SNACK BARS

• Customers will stand in designated spots when ordering from snack bar
• Maximum of 3 workers per shift standing 6 feet apart
• Workers will wear mask and gloves at all times during their shift
• Gloves will be provided by the league, workers are to provide their own mask
• Counters will be regularly sanitized
• Snack bars will be wiped down at the beginning and the end of the day as well at the beginning of each shift change
• Hand sanitizer will be available at the snack bar ordering window

   

  V.      FIELD MAINTENANCE ON GAME DAYS

   

   

  Field maintenance equipment to include, but not be limited to, rakes, field drags, shovels, paint/chalk sprayers, and hoses.  Field maintenance equipment will only be handled by a maximum of two league members per team who will be designated as the “field crew”

• Field crew to be the only person(s) to use the field maintenance equipment
• Field crew to wear gloves during all field maintenance—including set up and tear down
• Field maintenance equipment to be wiped down after each use
• Paint/chalk sprayer push handle to be wiped down with sanitizing wipes after use

   

  VI.     FIELD FACILITIES & SURROUNDINGS

   

   

  FIELD FACILITIES

• All restrooms will be serviced and wiped down and will be stocked with soap for hand washing

   

  FIELD SURROUNDINGS

• Informational signage will be posted throughout the field(s) regarding infection control, social distancing and the use of face coverings and gloves

   

  VII.   TEAM PRACTICE PROTOCOL

   

   

  TEAM PRACTICE AT FIELDS

• Team practice protocol shall align with all game day guidelines and protocol
  • No sharing of equipment
  • Proper social distance spacing during warm-up, practice drills and batting
  • Hand sanitizer to be used by players before and after use of any equipment and transition of offense and defense drills
  • Players to wear a face covering if they are unable to practice standard social distancing
• Enforcing social distancing, use of face coverings and sanitizing equipment shall be the sole responsibility of each team manager, team coach(es) and/or other approved adult league volunteer that is organizing a team practice

   

  VIII.  ONGOING MONITORING PROTOCOLS

   

   

  PERSONAL PREVENTION ACTIONS

• All league members and visitors to the fields will be reminded of their responsibility to adhere to personal prevention actions including:
  • Stay home when sick or having symptoms of becoming sick (i.e., symptoms of respiratory illness, fever, or cough)
  • Volunteers, Coaches and players will have temperature taken upon arrival at the field. Anyone with a fever will be instructed to leave the premises and isolate themselves at home.
  • Upon being informed that one or more volunteers, coaches or players test positive for, or has symptoms consistent with Covid-19 they will be instructed to isolate themselves at home and require immediate self-quarantine.
  • In the event that 3 or more cases are identified among the members of the sports team within a span of 14 days, the league will report the outbreak to the Department of Public Health at (888) 397-3993 or (213) 240-7821.
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, dispose of the tissue and wash hands immediately after. If tissue is not available, cough or sneeze in elbow
  • Do not touch eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick or who are exhibiting symptoms of being sick
  • Avoid sharing items
  • Always maintain the recommended minimum of 6 feet separation from others
  • Wear a face covering when unable to practice 6 feet of social distancing
  • Sanitize frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • Those not adhering to the guidelines will be instructed to leave the premises.

     

     

    PROTECTING THE FIELD ENVIRONMENT

• All league members and visitors will be reminded of the importance of social distancing while at the fields as well as in all other environments
• A minimum of 6 feet of social distancing should be maintained at all times
• Face coverings should be worn to increase protection when unable to socially distance
• Continued efforts to sanitize facilities, equipment, and areas and items of common touch points will be made

   

  ENSURING COOPERATION

• Board Members and league officials will maintain ongoing communication with all members of the league to include all players/managers/coaches/spectators at the field to limit any violation of the safety protocols
  • All players/managers/coaches/spectators will be reminded that any violation of the social distancing and safety protocols will jeopardize the continued operation and opening of Little League games
  • Any player/manager/coach/spectator who refuses to adhere to the protocols after one warning will be asked to leave the field site immediately

These guidelines were established to allow our children the opportunity to play sports.  These guidelines reflect the recommendations and views of the community and health care providers.  Youth sports and local businesses are required to follow COVID-19 safety and preventive guidelines to remain open and active.

The following persons may be contacted regarding this protocol:

I understand and agree that these guidelines are necessary for my child(ren) to play Little League and that refusal to follow these guidelines may prevent Little League from remaining open for play and that I may be asked to leave the game site if I do not abide by these guidelines.