2020 Playing & Return to Play Rules Update Agenda 2020 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

2020 Playing & Return to Play Rules Update

Agenda

• 2020 Playing Rule Changes
• 2020 Tournament Season Preview
• COVID 19 Return to Play Guidelines
• FAQ’s
• June 27-28 (first tournament)
• Questions

2020 Playing Rule Changes

Rule 6, Sec 1 Modifies requirements for pitcher's foot placement and

allows the pitcher to step-back if initiated prior to the start of the pitch Prior to the pitch, the pitcher shall take a position with their pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate and their non-pivot foot in contact with or behind the pitcher's plate. Both feet must be on the ground within or partially within the 24-inch length of the pitcher's plate.

Any step back with the non-pivot foot must begin before the start of the pitch (6.1.E.1). Once the pitch has started (the hands separate), the pitcher shall take not more than one step which must be forward, toward the batter and simultaneous with the delivery.

• EXCEPTION: When removing self from the pitcher's position (6.1.D

NOTE)

• NOTE: "Toward" is interpreted as within or partially within the 24-

inch length of the pitcher's plate.

• The pitch begins and cannot be discontinued when the hands are

separated once they have been placed together

Rule 6, Sec 1 Modifies requirements for pitcher's foot placement and

allows the pitcher to step-back if initiated prior to the start of the pitch

USSSA Pitching Foot Positioning

USSSA Pitching Foot Positioning

Rule 6, Sec 1J Enhances the penalty for deliberately dropping or rolling

a pitch to prevent the batter from striking it The pitcher shall not deliberately drop, roll, bounce, etc, the ball while in the pitching position in order to prevent the batter from striking it.

• PENALTY: The ball is dead at the end of playing action. The batter is

awarded a ball which may be declined by the offensive coach.

• FIRST OFFENSE is a team warning.
• SECOND OFFENSE and any subsequent violation the offender is

restricted to the bench for the remainder of the game and their current head coach shall be ejected.

2020 Tournament Season

Summer & Fall Season

Begin 6/27/2020 Ending 11/7/2020 NO BREAK

Special Events

• High School Tournament
• July 8-9
• 25th Annual Kyle Miller Showcase
• Sept. 19-20

Added Tournament Offerings

• Week Night DHs
• Mid Week Tournaments
• July 14-16
• July 21-23
• July 28-30
• Aug 4-6
• Aug 11-13

COVID 19 RETURN TO PLAY GUIDELINES

Please understand, these guidelines may/will change as we get clarity

• n the directives and dates for return to play from the respective state

and/or local authorities. Additionally, there may be further directives for each of the parks that are being used from events that are not covered in this document and will be communicated to participating teams prior to the event.

• The below return to play guidelines are intended to comply with all state and local

guidelines for return to play. These guidelines are subject to change based on state and local changes and/or experiences encountered during an event.

• Any person who is experiencing symptoms will be prohibited from attending the

event/venue of play.

• Masks
• Participants, officials/umpires and spectators are not mandated to wear masks unless they are not

able to maintain physical distance in line with current state orders.

• All staff and volunteers are recommended to wear masks.
• Masks should be worn by everyone when using indoor bathroom facilities.
• Food concession availability will vary by park. If food and beverage service is available

the provider must follow State and local COVID-19 guidelines.

• Food concession availability will be communicated via email the week of the event.
• Facility pavilions and tables are not available for use by anyone attending the event.

Everyone

Teams/Athletes

• 3 coaches per team.
• Coaches must wear mask any time being on field other than in coaches box.
• Event formats will be unique based on the number of teams entered that will

allow for:

• A: Managing the flow of people to meet the state guidelines.
• B: Provide for a winner of the tournament.
• C: Provide the stated game guarantee.
• Directors reserve the right to change the format of the event to provide the safest

playing conditions possible.

• Event formats have teams going and leaving in waves, only a 1/3 to 1/2 of all the

teams scheduled are even at the complex at the same time.

• Ground rules, only head coach, with social distancing.

Teams/Athletes

• If a coach is also a parent, then the coach counts as the single parent allowed for

the player.

• Each team at a field would only be allowed uniformed players actually playing

that day (no injured team members etc.).

• Teams will be assigned/guided to assigned warm up area in a responsible and

socially distanced manner.

• There will be no shaking of hands, high fives, fist bumps or even elbow bumps. At

the game’s conclusion teams will just exit the field.

• For the team on offense, the 3 players in the batting order due up that inning and

1 coach will be in the dugout.

• The remaining players will need to be outside the dugout in the open spaces behind the

dugout or on the bleachers or other safety fencing and socially distanced.

• Each team, when on defense will be responsible for handling and disinfecting the

game balls

Teams/Athletes

• Teams are not allowed to bring in communal water coolers and only commercially sealed

drink bottles will be allowed.

• There will be no retail sales, on site for these events. Online sales of tournament shirts
• nly. Pre-sale tournament shirts will be packaged and distributed to the head coach to

distribute to players.

• No seeds or gum will be allowed during the game, on the field, in the dugout, or any
• ther team designated areas.
• Parents/Guardians should supply their athletes with antibacterial wipes and hand

sanitizer for disinfecting shared playing equipment and cleaning hands between innings.

• Face coverings are not mandatory for athletes but allow players to wear face coverings

and gloves if they choose, as long as the items do not compromise the safety of any and all participants in the game.

• Coaches and players must leave the playing area and return to their cars immediately

after their game(s) end. No sticking around to watch other teams play.

Teams/Athletes

• There will be no team check-ins. All teams are required to have the official roster online

with all players approved for both the online Return-to-Play Waiver as well as the roster. Players that do not sign the Return-to-Play Waiver will be ineligible to play for the tournament and will not show up on the roster. Insurance certificates will be uploaded as instructed in the coach’s tournament web page.

• There will be NO schedules, scores or brackets posted at any sight. All schedules, scores

and brackets are online. If an incorrect score is posted, please contact the tournament director by phone, either texting or calling. Be sure to properly identify your team and yourself.

• Team on defense should assign a person(s) to retrieve foul balls and return them to the

person on defense in charge of sanitizing balls.

• Do not discard PPE face coverings, gloves, wipes, etc. on the ground.
• Any person coming within an unsafe distance of an umpire or event director to

aggressively argue or discuss a call may be subject to automatic ejection (Game plus next game) or removal from premises.

Parents/Spectators

• 2 parents/spectators per player.
• No additional spectators, siblings, grandparents etc. will be allowed.
• No dogs, skateboards, bicycles, rollerblades, etc.
• ALL parents and spectators will need to sit outside of the outfield fence
• line. No sitting near the backstops, dugouts, or bleachers. Bleachers will

be reserved for players/teams that are playing.

• Parents will be required to bring their own chairs to observe and will be

required to maintain the standard 6’ distance between chairs.

• Spectators are not required to wear face coverings. However, it is

recommended that face coverings be worn in close contact areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

Parents/Spectators

• We will allow pop up tents but only 2 people/spectators per player allowed

in or around each tent.

• Vulnerable populations should not attend these events.
• Spectators must leave the playing area and return to their cars immediately

after their game(s) end. No sticking around to watch other teams play.

• Spectators for upcoming games must remain in their cars or away from the

warmup/playing areas during player warmups. They will be permitted to come to the field once their team enters the dugout area.

• There will be NO schedules, scores or brackets posted at any sight. All

schedules, scores and brackets are online.

• Any person coming within an unsafe distance of an umpire or event

director to aggressively argue or discuss a call may be subject to automatic ejection (Game plus next game) or removal from premises.

Umpires

• No positional changes will be required for umpires.
• Umpires are required to maintain proper social distancing when

appropriate.

• No seeds, or gum will be allowed during the game, on the field, in the

dugout, or any other team designated areas.

• It is highly recommended that all umpires wear face coverings

whenever applicable

• Required – To and From field
• Do NOT hang out in groups
• Obtain a new disinfected set of game balls for every game
• DO NOT use balls from previous game

FAQs

How long will these restrictions last?

• It’s unknown for how long we will need to enforce these restrictive

measures.

• Once games begin and we understand any issues we find during

actual play, we can begin to evaluate any amendments.

• However, we cannot predict how the government will continue to

restrict us. It’s unrealistic and perhaps also unwise to think in a matter

• f weeks we can go from maximum restrictions to pre-pandemic

behavior.

How will the site restrictions be enforced and what happens if people do not comply?

• For everyone’s safety all must understand we will have a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY.
• Coaches must ensure their team adheres to the two parent/spectator per player rule and on-field

social distance rules.

• Field crew will also be part of the enforcement effort. Typically a 2-person crew is assigned to 2

fields for the day. They will not only groom fields but will be part of the crowd management team.

• Umpires, the UIC and the Director will manage both the game and the social distance and safety

rules on the field. However, we need the coaches to be an equally important part of the safety team.

• Umpires will warn coaches if a team is not abiding by the social distance restrictions. Teams will

have a maximum of 2 warnings. If a third infraction of social distance rules occurs, the game will end and be recorded as a forfeit.

• Spectators are required to obey all commands from tournament staff regarding social distance

and park policies. Spectators who refuse to obey commands from staff will be ejected from the

• park. If they refuse ejection, the police will be called.
• If anyone, players or spectators are feeling sick, have a cold, coughing etc., STAY HOME! As

recommended by the CDC it is suggested to take your own temperature before attending an event.

Will the bathrooms be open and will food be available? Can we bring our own food and drinks?

• Some events may have food available. Equipment will be sanitized each

day by the food operator. The area by the concession stand will be marked

• ff with 6’ distance markers to stand in line.
• Individual families may bring food or drink for themselves, but no tailgating
• r team meals will be permitted.
• No communal water coolers will be permitted.
• No seeds or any food that encourages spitting will be permitted.
• Our bathrooms will be open. Masks or cloth face covering are required to

enter the bathrooms. As we always do, our restrooms will be maintained for cleanliness, monitored constantly and disinfected daily.

• The largest challenge we had to gain approval of our plan to play was the

volume of teams coming to the park. We were tasked with creating a way to dramatically reduce the number of teams in the park, reduce the entrances to only 2 and have little to no overlapping games or teams waiting to play which would make management of social distance polices much more difficult.

• Event formats will be unique based on the number of teams entered that

will allow for:

A: Managing the flow of people to meet the state guidelines. B: Provide for a winner of the tournament. C: Provide the stated game guarantee.

• This format accomplishes the safest way we can manage the teams in the

park.

What is the new format of the tournaments and how will you manage the teams attending?

How long will this these restrictions and the event format last?

The event format will be in place for the first couple of events. As we get deeper into the summer, approaching the fall, we will review based

• n conditions and governmental regulations. Our hope is to return to a

traditional play as soon as possible. It’s unrealistic and perhaps also unwise to think in a matter of weeks we can go from maximum restrictions to pre-pandemic behavior.

June 27-28

• Normal timing
• As always, finish the inning
• No line up cards
• Free Substitution
• Umpires
• Stay hydrated
• NO Food or Drink will available for sale. You must come prepared
• Keep games on schedule without rushing.
• Review the rules!
• Same rulebook as last year with the new rule exceptions
• Rulebook online, also other useful rule files on Welcome Page of website

Be Careful and stay Safe

Questions