COVID-19 Return to Play
This page is here to help families try and understand the conditions and rules that govern our return to play in 2020. All baseball programs in NS in 2020 are governed by rules and guidelines from public health. These rules and guidelines are captured in a return to play document that has been vetted by Baseball NS, Sport NS, and public health. It is important for all participants to understand that these rules and guidelines need to be followed otherwise baseball will not be allowed to proceed in 2020. Please scroll all the way to the bottom of this page as there are multiple important sections (return to play documents, waivers, new policies, etc).
Update regarding gameplay
July 28th, 2020 - We're very excited to announce that baseball can return to competition as of July 31, 2020. Thank you to everyone for your patience, and for respecting the current Phase 1 rules for a few more days. After several days of review and consultation, Baseball NS has updated the return to play documents to reflect this annoucement. These documents can be found below and on Baseball NS website.. Please review these documents thoroughly, as there are changes from the original Phase 2 document released previously. Modifications to game play will not be as extreme as previously anticipated, but there are some key changes from normal competition that should be noted. As these documents were prepared very quickly following Friday’s announcement, there may be follow up or updates to these documents.
| Return To Play Document - Updated July 28, 2020 |
| Return To Play - Phase 2 Guidelines |
Return to play review
On June 7th Baseball NS met with baseball associations across the province, including Antigonish Baseball Association, to review what will be required of Associations under the return to play plan. On June 10th, ABA held a virtual Covid-19 return to play information and planning session for its members. This session was recorded and is available to view at:
youtu.be/xhzU8_wF7CE
youtu.be/xhzU8_wF7CE
As per Return to Play rules (see documents on our websites). All participants must be insured by Baseball NS prior to them stepping onto the field. Once registered with Baseball NS, that participant cannot be unregistered and Antigonish Baseball will be held responsible for the participants registration fee. This policy will severely restrict our ability to offer refunds.
Return to Play Documents
Here are the Return to Play documents that have been provided by Baseball NS.
Complete Return to Play Document
Please note as of June 10, 2020 only the first phase (Return to Training) has been approved. The subsequent phases (Return to Competition, Return to Events, Return to New Normal) have not yet been approved. These last three phases are still subject to change. There is no guarantee that these phases will be approved in 2020, although we are hopeful for approval of phase 2 (Return to Competition) in a timely manner.
Please note as of June 10, 2020 only the first phase (Return to Training) has been approved. The subsequent phases (Return to Competition, Return to Events, Return to New Normal) have not yet been approved. These last three phases are still subject to change. There is no guarantee that these phases will be approved in 2020, although we are hopeful for approval of phase 2 (Return to Competition) in a timely manner.
| BNS Return to Play 2020 |
Return to Play Document for Participants - Phase 1
This is a simplified version of the Return to Play document for participants. It should cover most of what you will need to know about phase 1 of return to play (return to training) if you are hoping to register for a baseball program this summer.
This is a simplified version of the Return to Play document for participants. It should cover most of what you will need to know about phase 1 of return to play (return to training) if you are hoping to register for a baseball program this summer.
| phase_1_participant_guidelines_june_3rd.pdf |
Return to Play Document for Coaches - Phase 1
This is a simplified version of the Return to Play document for coaches. It should cover most of what you will need to know about phase 1 of return to play (return to training) if you are hoping to coach as part of a baseball program this summer.
This is a simplified version of the Return to Play document for coaches. It should cover most of what you will need to know about phase 1 of return to play (return to training) if you are hoping to coach as part of a baseball program this summer.
| phase_1_coaches_guidelines_june_3rd.pdf |
Return to Play Document for Associations - Phase 1
This is a simplified version of the Return to Play document for Associations. It covers what Associations, such as Antigonish Baseball Association, are required to do have programs this summer under phase 1 of return to play. Information in this document may be helpful for families if they are trying to understand why ABA has adopted certain policies this year such as the No Refund policy (below)
This is a simplified version of the Return to Play document for Associations. It covers what Associations, such as Antigonish Baseball Association, are required to do have programs this summer under phase 1 of return to play. Information in this document may be helpful for families if they are trying to understand why ABA has adopted certain policies this year such as the No Refund policy (below)
| phase_1_association_guidelines_june_3rd.pdf |
Waiver / Covid-19 Questionnaire
Normally as part of our registration process, participants or their parents/guardians, had to acknowledge and waive the association of liability for the risk associated with participating in sport. This year because of Covid-19 and restrictions within our insurance coverage all participants will be required to sign a more in-depth liability waiver prior to stepping onto the field for the first time this season. This waiver was developed by Baseball NS in consultation with their lawyers. Baseball NS's insurance has a pandemic clause so you will not be covered if you contract Covid-19 while participating in baseball activities.
All participants will also be required to complete a Covid-19 screening questionnaire prior to stepping onto the field each time this season. Antigonish Baseball will ask each participant if they have completed the questionnaire prior to them stepping onto the field.
All participants will also be required to complete a Covid-19 screening questionnaire prior to stepping onto the field each time this season. Antigonish Baseball will ask each participant if they have completed the questionnaire prior to them stepping onto the field.
| Waiver |
| Covid-19 Participant Screening Questionanire |
New Policies
Cancellation
The public health authority in NS is the ultimate authority on whether activities (baseball, fishing, business opening/closing, etc) can proceed. All approvals, including the approval of the different phases of return to play, are dependent on the number of infections and risk of transmission being low. If the Covid-19 situation changes in the province or locally then baseball activities could be modified, curtailed, or cancelled with little to no notice. The order to modify or cancel can come from public health, the provincial government, our municipal governments, Baseball NS or Antigonish Baseball. Efforts will be made to communicate any such changes in a timely manner. This condition will affect all other decisions and policies made by Antigonish Baseball.
Refund Policy
As per Return to Play rules (see Return to Play - Association document above), all participants must be insured by Baseball NS prior to them stepping onto the field. Once registered with Baseball NS, participants cannot be unregistered and Antigonish Baseball will be held responsible for the participants registration fee. This policy will severely restrict our ability to offer refunds. Fees have been reduced as much as possible.
The public health authority in NS is the ultimate authority on whether activities (baseball, fishing, business opening/closing, etc) can proceed. All approvals, including the approval of the different phases of return to play, are dependent on the number of infections and risk of transmission being low. If the Covid-19 situation changes in the province or locally then baseball activities could be modified, curtailed, or cancelled with little to no notice. The order to modify or cancel can come from public health, the provincial government, our municipal governments, Baseball NS or Antigonish Baseball. Efforts will be made to communicate any such changes in a timely manner. This condition will affect all other decisions and policies made by Antigonish Baseball.
Refund Policy
As per Return to Play rules (see Return to Play - Association document above), all participants must be insured by Baseball NS prior to them stepping onto the field. Once registered with Baseball NS, participants cannot be unregistered and Antigonish Baseball will be held responsible for the participants registration fee. This policy will severely restrict our ability to offer refunds. Fees have been reduced as much as possible.
