RYBL Families,

I am hoping that this will be the last time that you will be hearing from us with a COVID-19 update. Our games are set to start this evening, so we wanted to take one last time to advise everyone on our guidelines and to provide updates. As everyone is well aware, Governor Holcomb put a mask mandate in place that started on Monday, July 27. The RYBL board is taking this seriously and have updated our guidelines to reflect the mandate. We have put in place these guidelines with the safety of all in mind who come to our ballpark and most importantly with the kids in mind.  We are grateful that we are able to have baseball for the kids this year and thank you for being patient and flexible. We ask that these guidelines are followed and taken seriously. 

General Safety

• If anyone is sick, has been sick, or are showing any signs of COVID-19, that individual should stay home until they are feeling better.
• If your player or a family member they have been in direct contact with tests positive for COVID-19, you must notify your coach or a RYBL board member so that the proper precautions can be taken so that the situation can be isolated, i.e., notifying other players families, canceling practices/games as neccesary, and the board of health for direction and guidance.  Confidentiality will be maintained.
• Upon arriving at the RYBL fields, all players and spectators need to do their best to keep their social distance from others. If social distancing cannot be achieved, then the use of face masks should take place.
• When in congested areas of the ballpark, i.e. concession stand and bathrooms, face masks are required and should be worn.

Parent and Spectator Safety

• Social distancing should be observed at all times. When social distancing is not able to be achieved, then face masks should be worn.
• Parents/Spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs and sit/stand on the outside of the field fence both along the foul lines and in the outfield in order to promote social distancing.
• The bleachers and picnic tables will be available for use, assuming social distancing is able to be achieved. Please note that while the bleachers and picnic tables are available for use, these areas are to be used at your own risk as RYBL assumes no liability as we are not able to clean these areas on a regular basis.
• Parents/Spectators are encouraged to leave after their games/practices are over and not congregate in the park so as to lessen the congestion in the park.

Player, Coach, and Umpire Safety

• Players must stay socially distanced while in the dugouts as best possible. Players are to stand or sit near the markings around the dugout and fenced in area. The players should remain at those spots throughout the entirety of the game and not swap spots with players.
• If players/coaches can not stay socially distanced then face masks will be required.  Our preference is team huddles should be socially distanced otherwise if they are not players/coaches have to have face mask on.
• Sharing of equipment is not allowed
• No sharing of drinks. Players should have the names clearly marked on their drinks.
• The use of chewing gum and/or sunflower seeds is not permitted by players coaches, umpires, or spectators
• Team-shared equipment (i.e. catcher’s gear) will require cleaning and sanitizing of equipment after each use.
• Dugouts on the T-ball field shall not be used. T-ball players shall sit with their parent of guardian when their team is batting.
• No post-game handshakes between teams. Teams will still engage in an alternative postgame sign of sportsmanship such as lining up on both base paths and tipping of the hat and saying “Good Game” or similar.
• Players and coaches should refrain from handshakes, high fives, fist/elbow bumps, chest bumps, group celebrations, etc. throughout the game or during practices.
• At this time, players will not be required to wear face coverings during game play. 
• RYBL will provide hand sanitizer in each dugout.

Ballpark

• You will notice that a lot of our usual signs and banners have not been placed on the fences this year. We have done this to help create more areas around the fences for people to spread out  socially distanced and watch games. This has been a difficult year to navigate through, so if you are a sponsor or see that a usual sponsor sign or championship sign is not up on the fence, you have not been forgotten. We appreciate all of our RYBL sponsors, past champions and supporters and we thank you for your continued support.  All signs will be back up on the fences as normal next year.
• Press Boxes: Press boxes are NOT to be used.  The scoreboard controllers are wireless and can be taken down to the field to be ran by a coach or an ADULT.    NO CHILDREN/PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED TO RUN THE CONTROLLERS. Please make sure to return the controller to the press box when finished.  If this guideline is not followed then the use of the scoreboards will be discontinued. 
• Concession Stand: You will find our concession stand has gotten the start of a remodel this year and is looking great.  This is a major project for the ballpark and is still a work in progress that will include when done, new men's and women's restrooms.
  • Use of Face Masks is required in the concession stand and in line at the concession stand, since this is a common congested area. 
  • Our stand offerings to start the season off will be a shortened menu.  Items offered to start with will mostly be pre packaged, such as candy, chips and fountain drinks. NO HOT FOOD such as nachos, hot dogs, for at least the first week the stand is open. Please plan accordingly as you visit the ballpark with your family and or feed your player for a game. 
• Restrooms: Face Masks are required when visiting the Restrooms as this is a common congested area. Our current restrooms will be cleaned/sanitized more frequently.  As stated above, these restrooms will be replaced with new ones that will be located on the south side of the concession stand in 2021. 

Should you have any questions or concerns please contact a RYBL board member or coach.  Let's remember this is a total volunteer led organization doing its best to comply with what we have been given for a 2020 season. Let's all do our best to follow these guidelines and give these players a great season that they will always remember. We are in this together.

Thank you,

RYBL Board