Norton Youth Baseball Softball is thrilled to announce our plan for the resumption of Little League Baseball and Softball. Our primary goal is to enable a safe playing environment that offers the highest level of instruction, fosters strong sportsmanship and insures fun for all of our participants. For this season, in order to emphasize the safety aspect of our goal, we will be governed and guided- at all times and at every step of the way- by the 4-Phase Reopening Plan implemented by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Governor Baker’s plan allows us to begin practicing in Phase 2. Currently our plan is to begin practices the week of June 14th for Softball and June 20 for Baseball. Baseball practices will be conducted as age appropriate Instructional clinics for ages 7 – 12. As we get closer to Phase 3 the NYBS board will evaluate Phase 3 guidelines and determine whether to continue with instructional clinics or transition to a shortened season. Softball will be team practices for those who have registered and will be playing in the Hock Summer Softball league. Softball games will begin when Phase 3 begins.

As always NYBS will comply with all federal, state and local regulations. We are following a specific COVID-19 safety plan for the 2020 season. Each component of this plan has been implemented according to the guidance received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Town of Norton Board of Health and Little League International. This plan will be adjusted when needed in order to always remain in compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

The components of the NYBS COVID-19 safety plan include:

• NYBS requires strict adherence to Massachusetts policy as stated in the Massachusetts Workplace Safety and Reopening Standards for Supervised Youth Sports Leagues of June 2, 2020
• Facilities (Burchill Complex, Lions Field, and Everett Leonard Field) will be open for Phase 2
• Practices during Phase 2 require groups of no more than 10 people (includes players, coaches & volunteers). Multiple groups may utilize a field as long as the group maintains a distance of at least 20 feet. No more than 20 people are allowed on the field at one time.
• Parents will drop off and pick up their child for practices during Phase 2
• No games or scrimmages are allowed until Phase 3
• Only NYBS organized practices are allowed on the field
• All players and coaches should practice good general health habits, including maintenance of adequate hydration, consumption of a diet that includes fruits and vegetables and getting appropriate sleep
• Athletes and coaches should bring their own personal drinks to all activities. Drinks must be labeled with the person’s name
• There will be NO shared or team beverages allowed
• No Concession Stand during Phase II
• All player equipment bags must remain outside of the dugout, preferably behind the dugout
• No spitting of any kind allowed in the dugout
• No sunflower seeds or gum will be allowed this season
• Players not in the dugout and not on the field of play will be spaced out appropriately
• Teams will make every attempt to avoid shared equipment
• NYBS has a limited supply of helmets and bats which may be signed out for the duration of Phase 2
• Some critical equipment may not be able to be obtained by every individual. When, in rare instances, it becomes necessary to share critical equipment all surfaces of each piece of shared equipment MUST be cleaned and disinfected with an EPA approved disinfectant against COVID-19 and allowed sufficient time to dry before use by a new player. Increased attention should be paid to detailed cleaning of all equipment directly contacting the head and face
• Hand sanitizer will be provided by the league and will be available in all dugouts
• Players should not wear protective medical gloves on the field during game play
• Players are not required to wear a face covering while on the field during play
• Players will be permitted to wear cloth face covering on the field during play if physically able to do so, based on any directive of a medical provider or the determination of a parent/guardian
• There will be NO handshakes, high-fives or celebrations
• NYBS will require only one person allowed in a portable bathroom at a time and frequent sanitation of each restroom after use
• All visitors, spectators, volunteers and staff must wear face coverings
• Each family will sign an agreement stating, among other things, that they will not allow their child to attend any NYBS activity if showing any signs of illness or if they have had a fever in the past 24 hours
• If a child becomes exposed to a person with the virus, that child will not attend NYBS activities until medically cleared to do so
• Players will be required to fill out a COVID-19 health survey prior to attending any NYBS activity
• NYBS personnel will clean and sanitize any high contact surfaces and areas prior to and after each NYBS activity