Guidelines & Protocols for Returning to Play!

Hello CFBGSL Families! I know you all are as excited about having softball start up again as we are. But do to COVID-19, there will be guideline and protocols we will need to follow and is the responsibility of all participants, be it coaches, players, parents, spectators and umpires to follow these guidelines and protocols. This responsibility ultimately starts with the Coaches and Managers of your team to manage and oversee the health and safety of their players, parents and their fans.

We have also been communicating with or respective cities we play games in, what was to be expected out at those facilities with some revelations being different for the facilities than the other early on. The news was not good early on for watching games, making it somewhat complicated.  This week there was some good news on this front but will have some restrictions regarding guidelines and protocols.

Josey Ranch Complex in Carrollton has removed the bleachers/stands from the facility and spectators will need to come prepared to stand or use a chair to watch games following the below social distancing guidelines and protocols provided below.

Oran Good Park in Farmers Branch decided NOT to remove bleachers/stands from their facility and spectators will have use of them as long as spectators follow the below social distancing guidelines and protocols provided below.  Same goes for those that chose to use a chair to watch games.

Please take a moment to thoroughly go thru all of the guidelines and protocols policies below so you know what is expected and must be adhered too. We are really glad to be playing again and look forward to having a great Fall Season. Let’s have everyone do their part to make it so!

Many Thanks from your CFBGSL Board!

CFBGSL – COVID-19 Guidelines & Protocols

As of the latest executive order from Dallas County, which our game facilities reside, masks and/or face coverings are required by all ages 11 or older unless they meet certain criteria, and are not required by ages 10 or younger unless they also meet certain criteria. Even though youth sports facilities with attendance less than 100 are excluded from these mandates, we will require and ask that all spectator participants, even those 10 and under wear masks and/or face coverings when at games.

With these measures in place for participation in the 2020 Fall Season, please know the health and safety of all our CFBGSL families, participants and spectators is of the highest priority to use. So please cooperate in following all the guidelines and protocols provided to allow us to continue to play games and the chance for all of us to stay healthy and safe.

Here are the guidelines and protocols we expect our CFBGSL teams to follow.

(Please Note: Umpires are not required to wear face coverings once they enter the field of play)

Players and Coaches/Managers - Guidelines:

Ø  Coaches/Managers and players should be monitor their teams health. If they or a player have a fever and/or any symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, fever equal or greater than 100.6 degrees or having close contact with someone who is confirmed having COVID-19 . Anyone experiencing these symptoms should not attend games.

Ø  Masks and/or face coverings are not required, but optional on the field and in the dugout, BUT should be worn upon arrival by those age groups mentioned above.

Ø  Teams will be limited to only 4 coaches/managers on the field/dugout at any time.

Ø  All athletes will be required to bring their own personal water jugs and labeled as such with the players’ name. There will be NO SHARING of water jugs or water bottles allowed.

Ø  There will also be NO FOOD allowed in the dugout.

Ø  Teams will not be allowed to enter the field/dugout until teams from the prior game have left the field/dugout.

Ø  Players should bring their own individual batting helmet, glove, bat and catchers’ equipment (where applicable). Please avoid or minimize the sharing of any equipment.

Ø  Pre-game Warm up equipment and balls should be provided by the team. Team is responsible to ensure safe handling and cleaning of these items to insure safety.

Ø  All players and coaches/managers should take all steps possible to minimize physical contact between them. Should include no handshakes, high fives, fist or chest bumps and etc.

Ø  All Coaches must remain in the coach’s box during play to assist in socially distancing from baserunners and defenders.

Ø  Teams will not participate in after game high fives. They can do a team high-wave from their respective dugouts.

Ø  After game team/group meetings must take place well away from their dugout just exited.

Ø  There should also not be any snacks or drinks provided to players during these meeting.

Ø  Parents and families should also social distance from the team/group meeting until players have been released.

Family Members and Spectators Guidelines:

Ø  Family members and Spectators should monitor their health. If they have a fever or any symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, fever equal or greater than 100.6 degrees or having close contact with someone who is confirmed with having COVID-19. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should not attend games.

Ø  Family members and Spectators considered at high risk and/or vulnerable are encouraged to stay home. Those 65 years and older should heed the latest executive order mandated warnings if you are of the high risk and/or vulnerable.

Ø  Spectators should follow the latest executive order mandating to avoid being in a group larger than 10 individuals when sitting in the stands or your own chair groups.

Ø  When teams, families and spectators are waiting for their games to begin, between games or after games, they should be following the social distancing guidelines expressed in the latest executive order.

Please be advised, the information provided above may be updated as new executive orders are released. We encourage you to visit the website for updates as new information becomes available.

Additional Links:

Carrollton:  www.cityofcarrollton.com/coronavirus  

Farmer's Branch:  www.farmersbranchtx.gov/156/Parks-Recreation

Texas Government: www.texas.gov/covid19