Latest Covid News
May 31, 2021
As recently announced by the premier and Dr. Strang, sports will soon be allowed to resume with restrictions. We are currently working with NS Health, Baseball NS, and the Town and County of Antigonish to figure out what our return to play will look like. We hope to have an announcement out later this week with details for parents and players, so please stay tuned.
As recently announced by the premier and Dr. Strang, sports will soon be allowed to resume with restrictions. We are currently working with NS Health, Baseball NS, and the Town and County of Antigonish to figure out what our return to play will look like. We hope to have an announcement out later this week with details for parents and players, so please stay tuned.
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 2021. Our baseball programs in 2021 will be governed by rules and guidelines from public health, Baseball NS and the Town of Antigonish. 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 2021.
Update from Baseball NS (May 28, 2021)
Starting Wednesday (June 2nd), outdoor training and practices will be permitted for groups of 10. The 10 includes all participants and staff, and the groups must remain consistent from practice to practice. Multiple groups of 10 will be allowed on the field of play at a time as long as they can ensure that they remain physically distanced. There can be no alternating between groups at any time. (example: one group with two coaches and 8 athletes, and a second group in a different area of the field with 2 coaches and 8 athletes).
Phase 2 could come as early as two weeks later, permitting groups of 25 to train and practice outdoors.
Phase 3 allows for competition, but the current guidelines released state no changes to gathering limits. This would make it very difficult for baseball and most team sports to conduct competition. The province is aware, and BNS (and Sport NS) are working with them so that games and competitions for sports can be considered at the appropriate time.
We will follow-up with more information as it becomes available.
Update from Town of Antigonish
We met with representatives from the Town of Antigonish on Monday May 31 to discuss what a return to play would look like at the Regional Sports fields. An official plan has not yet been released however we know that it will include signage, restrictions on parking, designated drop off areas, and directions for how, where, and when participants/parents can access the fields. These measures will be put in place to help maintain social distancing. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in temporary or permanent suspension of programs and/or closure of fields. There will likely be random spot checks for compliance by town representatives and the RCMP. Full details on these plans will be shared with all participants and posted here. We are asking for your patience and cooperation to ensure that we can offer quality programs for the kids.
Other Return to Play guidelines
Teams will be split into groups of 10 (including coaches) to ensure we remain below gathering limits. Groups will be assigned to specific parts of the field (infield, Left field, Right field) and expected to remain in their assigned section at all times. Each section will have its own entry and exit point that will be marked with signs. There will be arrows and signs to direct traffic flow to and from the field.
We are asking that parents/guardians do not stay to watch practices. If this is going to be an issue then please reach out to us to discuss. Bleachers will be closed to prevent congregation of spectators. Parents and guardians are allowed to walk their child down to the field and get them settled if they feel that is needed. We will revisit this policy once gathering limits increase and games are allowed to happen.
Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before the start of your assigned practice time. If you arrive more than 5 minutes ahead of time then please wait in your vehicle until 5 minute mark. Pickup will be 15 minutes prior to the end of your scheduled timeslot. For example if your child is assigned to practice from 5-7 then you should plan on arriving no earlier than 4:55 and plan on picking up your child at 6:45. There will be designated drop-off and pickup areas in the parking lot and at each field.
We will have some communal team and training equipment. This will be disinfected regularly. For our rep teams we encourage players to bring their own bats where possible. If you are considering purchasing a bat then please message your coach ahead of time to find out what size bat is appropriate for your child.
All participants and volunteers must sign a waiver prior to stepping onto the field for the first time. Information on this waiver is given below. In order to participate in any of our activities players, volunteers, coaches, officials, and spectators must be healthy. If you are sick, visited a potential exposure sites, or travelled somewhere that requires you to self isolate then please stay home. To ensure that people are following this guidelines, each participant will be asked to complete a covid-19 screening questionnaire each time they come to the field. A copy of the questionnaire will be posted at the field and is available below. Attendance will be taken to ensure contract tracing can be performed if needed.
Hand washing and disinfection stations will be setup at each field. All participants and spectators are encouraged to use these stations frequently. We ask that masks be worn whenever possible and practical.
There may be additional game or practice guidelines put in place. To see the latest rules and guidelines please consult Baseball Nova Scotia's Covid page on their website (www.baseballnovascotia.com).
Update from Baseball NS (May 28, 2021)
Starting Wednesday (June 2nd), outdoor training and practices will be permitted for groups of 10. The 10 includes all participants and staff, and the groups must remain consistent from practice to practice. Multiple groups of 10 will be allowed on the field of play at a time as long as they can ensure that they remain physically distanced. There can be no alternating between groups at any time. (example: one group with two coaches and 8 athletes, and a second group in a different area of the field with 2 coaches and 8 athletes).
Phase 2 could come as early as two weeks later, permitting groups of 25 to train and practice outdoors.
Phase 3 allows for competition, but the current guidelines released state no changes to gathering limits. This would make it very difficult for baseball and most team sports to conduct competition. The province is aware, and BNS (and Sport NS) are working with them so that games and competitions for sports can be considered at the appropriate time.
We will follow-up with more information as it becomes available.
Update from Town of Antigonish
We met with representatives from the Town of Antigonish on Monday May 31 to discuss what a return to play would look like at the Regional Sports fields. An official plan has not yet been released however we know that it will include signage, restrictions on parking, designated drop off areas, and directions for how, where, and when participants/parents can access the fields. These measures will be put in place to help maintain social distancing. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in temporary or permanent suspension of programs and/or closure of fields. There will likely be random spot checks for compliance by town representatives and the RCMP. Full details on these plans will be shared with all participants and posted here. We are asking for your patience and cooperation to ensure that we can offer quality programs for the kids.
Other Return to Play guidelines
Teams will be split into groups of 10 (including coaches) to ensure we remain below gathering limits. Groups will be assigned to specific parts of the field (infield, Left field, Right field) and expected to remain in their assigned section at all times. Each section will have its own entry and exit point that will be marked with signs. There will be arrows and signs to direct traffic flow to and from the field.
We are asking that parents/guardians do not stay to watch practices. If this is going to be an issue then please reach out to us to discuss. Bleachers will be closed to prevent congregation of spectators. Parents and guardians are allowed to walk their child down to the field and get them settled if they feel that is needed. We will revisit this policy once gathering limits increase and games are allowed to happen.
Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before the start of your assigned practice time. If you arrive more than 5 minutes ahead of time then please wait in your vehicle until 5 minute mark. Pickup will be 15 minutes prior to the end of your scheduled timeslot. For example if your child is assigned to practice from 5-7 then you should plan on arriving no earlier than 4:55 and plan on picking up your child at 6:45. There will be designated drop-off and pickup areas in the parking lot and at each field.
We will have some communal team and training equipment. This will be disinfected regularly. For our rep teams we encourage players to bring their own bats where possible. If you are considering purchasing a bat then please message your coach ahead of time to find out what size bat is appropriate for your child.
All participants and volunteers must sign a waiver prior to stepping onto the field for the first time. Information on this waiver is given below. In order to participate in any of our activities players, volunteers, coaches, officials, and spectators must be healthy. If you are sick, visited a potential exposure sites, or travelled somewhere that requires you to self isolate then please stay home. To ensure that people are following this guidelines, each participant will be asked to complete a covid-19 screening questionnaire each time they come to the field. A copy of the questionnaire will be posted at the field and is available below. Attendance will be taken to ensure contract tracing can be performed if needed.
Hand washing and disinfection stations will be setup at each field. All participants and spectators are encouraged to use these stations frequently. We ask that masks be worn whenever possible and practical.
There may be additional game or practice guidelines put in place. To see the latest rules and guidelines please consult Baseball Nova Scotia's Covid page on their website (www.baseballnovascotia.com).
Waiver / Covid-19 Questionnaire
All participants will be required to sign a 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.
We will have paper copies of the waivers available at the field but we asking people to sign the digital version if they are willing and able. The digital version can be accessed here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqKy85p07scspOWGUof02MrbMVseygRNixqCd0Kh11mrro6Q/viewform
Another option is to print your waiver, sign it at home, and send it in with your child. There is a waiver for players/parents. There is a different waiver for coaches/volunteers/officials. Both are available below.
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. The screening questionnaire is available below.
We will have paper copies of the waivers available at the field but we asking people to sign the digital version if they are willing and able. The digital version can be accessed here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqKy85p07scspOWGUof02MrbMVseygRNixqCd0Kh11mrro6Q/viewform
Another option is to print your waiver, sign it at home, and send it in with your child. There is a waiver for players/parents. There is a different waiver for coaches/volunteers/officials. Both are available below.
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. The screening questionnaire is available below.
| parent_guardian_and_athlete_waiver__covid_19_liability__for_2021_season.pdf |
| coach_volunteer_official_waiver_2021.pdf |
| Covid-19 Participant Screening Questionanire |
Covid-related 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.
