Spring 2021 Game Protocol
Moraga Unified School District, which governs our use of the fields, has pointed us to specific areas of the evolving California Department of Public Health guidelines and encouraged people to look through them.
We've included MSD's key points in the Game Protocol below, to which MBA will adhere and apply to our 2021 season until further notice:
Face Coverings: Required by all players in all divisions unless the wearing of the mask poses a greater safety hazard (e.g. batter, pitcher, or catcher having occluded vision).
Face Coverings: Required by all coaches, support staff, and spectators at all times.
Spectators: Allowed on bleachers, etc., at least 6 feet from non-household members.
Sanitation: Clean hands and faces often. Please send kids with hand sanitizer.
Dugouts: Open; masks required and social distancing to the maximum extent possible.
Food: No food allowed (e.g. no pre or post-game snacks)
Catcher's gear: OK to share, but must be sterilized (with wipes) between users.
Sharing of other equipment: Not allowed.
Physical contact: None. No fist-bumps, high-fives, etc.
Other:
Best judgment: Things will come up that haven't been anticipated - our coaches are going to use their best judgment prioritizing safety.
Parents ultimately decide: In all cases, parents can choose to be more conservative (e.g. prefers child to stay out of the dugout).
Practice policies: Remain unchanged and can be found here. Practice games/scrimmages are now allowed and should follow the game protocol listed above.
Opening day: Although we are beyond excited about games we are not going to kick the season off with a parade given current circumstances. If possible, we aim to do an end-of-season celebration.
COVID-19 Exposure Protocol:
Potential Exposure of a player or coach through 'Close Contact' (see below) to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Action: Notify your coach and teammates immediately, quarantine immediately.
Return from Quarantine: Without a Covid test you may return to your team after 10 days of quarantining without any symptoms. With a negative Covid test you may return to your team after 7 days of quarantining (test must occur on day 5 of close contact or later).
Team Action: Continue practices and games reinforcing masks and social distancing (e.g. continue to refrain from Close Contact).
Positive COVID-19 test of a player or coach:
Action: Notify your coach and teammates immediately, isolate immediately
Return from Isolation: 10 days after symptoms first appeared, and 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, and other symptoms are improving.
Team Action: COVID-19 test for all players and coaches recommended. Continue practices and games reinforcing masks and social distancing.
Helpful Links:
Link to CA Youth Sports Guidelines, Effective February 26, 2021: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
Link to CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/
CDC Definition of 'Close Contact':
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
- You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
- You shared eating or drinking utensils
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
We ask you to review these guidelines in their entirety and to reiterate to your players that our ability to play baseball is directly reliant on everyone following the rules.