Sunnyvale Little League News |
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Sunnyvale Little
League COVID Protocols
Sunnyvale Little League (SVLL) is
committed to offering a baseball program for the community for the 2021 Spring
Season. As state and local guidelines currently restrict competition, SVLL has
designed a development program, offering a fun and safe alternative that could
transition to competition (games!) once the California Department of Public
Health allows. Following state and county guidelines, the league is
allowed to run socially distant sessions in small groups, often called Pods,
with stable rosters and limited physical interaction between players during
practices. Adherence to league safety protocols, including health screening and
sanitizing requirements, will be required. The league has defined a
set of safety protocols in compliance with guidance from the state, county and
city. These protocols will be applied so long as they are required by these
government agencies and will apply to practice & training events, and
eventially to game events once we are allowed to hold games.
Summary of webpage updates
as of May 4, 2021:
- We are eliminating the requirement to take
temperature checks of all players, coaches and umpires prior to on-field events
such as practices and games.
- We are eliminating the requirement
restricting spectators to immediate family members. We do encourage you to
limit attendance to your immediate family, but we are not restricting who may
attend.
- The protocols we had in place related to the
rotation of baseballs by each team is being eliminated. Umpires will now manage
all baseballs during games. For those divisions that do not have umpires, the
managers may continue with baseball rotations at their preference.
SVLL will continue to monitor State and County
guidance and update our policies accordingly. |
Summary of webpage updates
as of March 9, 2021:
- Updated links to Supporting External
documents to reference most recent youth sports guidance
- Removed constraints on number of coaches per
Pod/Team (requirements removed from County)
- Removed Pod interval requirements of
3-weeks (requirements removed from County)
- Recommended, but not mandatory, to limit
participation to a single activity (aligned to State guidance re: additional
activities)
- Continue to recommend against equipment
sharing, but if needed, equipment can be shared if hand hygiene is performed
regularly (aligned to State guidance re: sharing)
- Removed COVID testing question (aligned to
State guidance re: testing requirement for Outdoor High- Contact Sports;
Baseball is classified as Outdoor Moderate-Contact Sport)
SVLL will continue to monitor State and County
guidance and update our policies accordingly. |
SVLL COVID Safety
Protocols:
Other Supporting External documents:
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Are the Pods actual teams or just practice
cohorts?
- No, the Pods are not Teams. Pods are stable groups
of players who practice together for 3 week periods. See below for Team
formation information.
2) How will players be assigned to Pods?
- Like our Fall Ball program, players can request to
play with friends, in a division up (not down) from their current age
recommendation, etc.
- Player Agents will consider families
requests, existing cohorts, grade level, and schools in Pod assignments, but it
may not be possible to fulfill or accommodate all requests.
3) What is the structure of the practices for the
Pods?
- Pods will focus on baseball skills development,
physical activity, fitness and fun!
- Managers and Coaches will maintain appropriate
physical distancing between players and coaches while providing their
instructional guidance
- There will be no scrimmages with other Pods while
the county is in the Purple Tier. Please see below for transition to
competitive play
4) Who is running the Pods?
- Pods will be managed by a team Manager and
assistant Coach
- We love our volunteers. If you are interested in
running (Manager) or assisting (Coach) in a Pod, please indicate so in your
registration
- Managers and Coaches will be appropriately trained
in COVID-19 protocols and given practice, instructional guidance/plans
- Depending on the division, there are ratio limits
of adult coaches to players
5) How long, when and what is the frequency of the
Pod practices?
- Depending on the division, practices can range from
60-90 minutes long (and are capped at 90 minutess per county mandate)
- T-Ball, Pioneer and Farm will practice at minimum
once a week while Minors, Majors and Juniors will practice at minimum twice a
week, dependent on field availability, weather and daylight savings
- Managers personal schedules will determine
practice days, which may change from week to week
6) Can I participate in another activity if I join a
SVLL Pod?
- Per county mandate, registration and participation
in SVLLs program requires that the player not participate in any other
program, no exceptions
- Players must close out a conflicting
Pod/activity/cohort/etc. before joining SVLLs Pod
7) I missed the registration deadline. Can I still
register and join a Pod?
- Yes, but the player will be placed on a waiting
list. Space availability may be a limiting factor.
- Board-approved volunteer Managers will receive
priority in your players placement into a new Pod
8) When will SVLL transition from Pods to
competitive Teams?
- SVLL is striving to provide a competitive season
(games). However, the county must be in Red Tier status for inter-team
play.
9) How will you transition players from Pods to
Teams once return-to-play is possible?
- TBall, Pioneer, Farm and Challenger Pods will
convert to regular Teams. Adjustments may be made depending on the balance of
competition, team sizes, late registrations, and Manager input
- Players from Minors, Majors and Juniors Pods will
be drafted to Teams
10) When will Teams be announced, begin to practice
together and play games?
- Consistent with county requirements, Pods must
remain intact for 3 week intervals. Upon Public Health's authorization for
'return-to-play', SVLL will re-form Pods into Teams and notifications will be
sent via email. Teams may begin activities at the conclusion of the final 3
week Pod period
- Transition from Pods to Teams will be determined
based on state and county safety guidelines
- SVLL will make every effort to start competitive
play (games / scrimmages) shortly after Teams are formed
11) If a player does not participate in the Pod
program, can the player play on a Team?
- Yes. Players must register but may choose to
participate in competitive play only (no Pod). Email
playeragent@sunnyvalelittleleague.com to opt out of Pods
- Players may be added to a Team after official Team
formation, including the draft
- Volunteering to be a Manager significantly
increases possibility of player participation should there be roster size
limitations
12) I have more questions about Pods and Teams. Who
can I contact?
13) Has SVLL set up any precautionary plans re:
COVID-19 for Spring Season?
- SVLL has developed guidelines in compliance with
the state, county and city guidelines, CDC regulations, and Little League
International suggestions re: COVID-19.
- SVLL has registered with Santa Clara County Public
Healths Social Distancing Protocol to provide a site-specific protection
plan.
14) What happens if someone is confirmed or
suspected of COVID-19?
- Anyone who tests positive for or is known to be
exposed to the virus is required to inform the league
(safety@sunnyvalelittleleague.com)
- SVLL will be keeping all pre-health screening and
attendance information for contact tracing. Families that have been close in
contact with the confirmed individual(s) and the county health officer will be
immediately contacted
- The SVLL Safety Officer will provide quarantine
requirements and whether suspension of practices and/or games is necessary,
according to county and state protocols
15) Will the players, coaches, and volunteers be
required to have COVID-19 testing?
- It is not mandatory; however, we encourage adult
volunteers to be tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at least once every four
weeks.
- Instead, a pre-health screen form must be completed
prior and temperature will be taken at practices and games.
- We request that anyone who exhibits any flu-like
symptoms to refrain from participating in SVLL activities.
16) Will equipment be shared?
- SVLL strongly encourages players to bring their own
gear to limit equipment sharing
- If sharing equipment is unavoidable, shared
equipment will be sanitized after each use
17) What are the regulations for spectators?
- SVLL mandates all players, coaches, volunteers and
spectators wear facial coverings at all times and follow social
distancing.
- To avoid mass gathering, spectators are limited to
household members only. Spectator areas will be on the sidelines or behind the
outfield.
- Bleachers are reserved for players, coaches, and
team volunteers only.
18) Will there be snack shacks or volunteer duties?
- There will be no snack shack this year.
- SVLL is a volunteer-run program; therefore, we will
need your assistance with the typical volunteer duties and specific COVID
safety roles this year. Guidelines for COVID precautions will be provided. Your
safety and your players safety are our number one priority.
19) I completed registration earlier this year for
my child. Is there anything else I need to do?
- If you completed our registration between December
1st 2020 and February 12th, 2021, you MUST COMPLETE REGISTRATION AGAIN. The
initial process simply collected interest info. We need all players to complete
our full registration, which includes the collection of league fees.
- Please complete Registration
here.
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