News Detail

15

May, 2020

WNSL COVID-19 Guidlines

WEST NASHVILLE SPORTS LEAGUE GUIDELINES FOR COVID-19

 

1. All local & state health official guidelines will be followed. These WNSL guidelines will be approved by Metro Parks and Harpeth Hills Church of Christ.

2. No handshaking/celebrations: Players and coaches should refrain from handshakes, high fives, fist/elbow bumps, chest bumps, group celebrations, etc.

3. Only two (2) players MAXIMUM in the dugout at one time (on deck and in the hole), while also following 6’ social distancing guidelines at all times and these players will be monitored by a Coach or a Parent. Remaining players & coaches will be positioned inside the field down the left & right field lines away from throws that might come to 1st and 3rd base. Players will be seated or stand no less than 6’ apart and must have at least one (1) Coach or Parent to watch over players in this area at all times. Flag Football players huddle will be a circular huddle with 6 feet of social distancing. Football players on the sideline must remain 6 feet apart and this social distancing must be monitored by a coach or parent from each team.

4. Players should limit any sharing of playing equipment, bats, gloves, fielder’s mask, catcher’s gear, helmets, water bottles etc. Baseballs will be cleaned whenever possible (in between innings) and an adequate supply of baseballs will be on hand.Footballs will be sanitized (wiped down with a sanitizer cloth) by the referee between each series when the ball is turned over. Flags will be sanitized before each game by all players. This will be closely monitored by the coach for each team.

5. WNSL employees and spectators (non-playing personnel) are encouraged to wear some type of face covering while at the Park/Church. If a player chooses to wear additional PPE, they may do so as long as it does not compromise the safety of other players. Umpires, coaches and players may wear masks on the field but is not a requirement.

6. Cleaning supplies, as well as hand sanitizer, should be available in the dugout area. Hand sanitizer will be available at mid field on each football field for the two teams. Also, hand sanitizer stations will be set up in many strategic locations around the Park/Church.

7. Parents should be advised to have backup supplies in the player’s equipment bag for use when needed and their own marked water bottle or sports drink. No team or dugout/sideline coolers are permitted.

8. Cleaning and sanitation of common areas like dugouts, bathrooms, concession stands or similar areas between games or activities will be conducted. Teams should be advised to clean out and wipe down dugout or other field areas that they were in prior to leaving the playing field. Oncoming teams will be given the opportunity to clean their dugout before their players enter. The necessary cleaning supplies will be provided.

9. For the first two weeks of play, limit the number of two (2) spectators per player attending games in the Park/Church. There will be no more than 100 people around/in one field at a time- this includes an umpire, coaches, parents, scorekeepers, players and spectators. Social distancing of 6 feet is a requirement for everyone outside the ball fields and around the football fields. Four (4) football fields will be spaced out as much as possible to allow as much area in between the fields so as to give each field its own space for maximum social distancing. Exceptions to this number of spectators/player will be granted for special cases such as a single parent with multiple children. The family must stay together. After the first two weeks, the WNSL will look into increasing the number of spectators/player or doing away with the number of fans allowed.

10. Game schedules will allow for fields to be staggered in start/finish times to minimize the number of people in the area of the fields. The schedule will allow for gaps (at least 15 minutes) in between games to help limit the number of people at the Park/Church at one time. Teams must exit the dugout and the field at the time the game time expires and the oncoming teams will enter after all teams are cleared of the area and the dugouts have been cleaned. Wookies games will be scheduled for 50 minutes, Rookies 75 minutes, Majors and Minors 90 minutes, Prep 100 minutes. The time limits will be strictly enforced. Flag Football games will be scheduled for 60 minutes.

11. Spectators attending games should follow 6’ social distancing guidelines at all times.No spectators will be allowed to sit in the bleachers and must sit/stand by the outfield fences. Handicap spectators may use the area behind the home plate areas. Spectators around the football fields must maintain the 6 feet social distancing.

12. Any player, or person not feeling well, should not attend games or practices.

13. Coaches should help to educate players on the hygiene/hand washing/touching of the face suggested guidelines.

14.Proper signage throughout the park on guidelines will be provided by the league and will be in plain view.

15. Pregame conference will be limited to one (1) Coach per team and the Umpire. Social distancing of 6’ is required.

16. Batting lineup changes should be limited to communicating from a distance that maintains the 6’ social distancing guidelines at all times.

17. For baseball, one umpire will be utilized and this umpire will be stationed at the pitcher’s mound area 6 feet from the pitcher. Having one umpire in the field is for social distancing purposes and is a safer way to umpire games. Two referees will be utilized in flag football. The football referees will be on the sidelines during play.

18. Concession Stands will be open for drinks and prepackaged snacks only for the first two weeks. Depending on the status of the health of the community and after two weeks, Concession Stands may have warm food such as hamburgers and hot dogs available when things are closer to normal. All Concession Stand employees must wear masks and gloves. No shared food items will be available.

19. Pavilion areas/picnic tables will not be utilized and no loitering around the picnic tables for the first two weeks and we will evaluate this policy after two weeks.

20. No post game team gatherings/parties/shared snacks will be allowed at the Park/Church.

21. Bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized every 30 minutes to 1 hour (depending on usage).

22. No pets will be allowed in the Park/Church due to social distancing guidelines.

23. All WNSL employees, umpires and referees will be screened before their work and their temperatures taken.

24. For the first two weeks, only the 2 outside area batting cages will be utilized at the same time and players waiting their turn must remain 6 feet apart. If the cages become an area of congestion they will be closed.

25. Anyone found in repeated violations of these guidelines will be asked not to take part in future sports activities at the Park/Church for this season.

26. The WNSL management reserves the right to change any of the guidelines at any time to ensure the utmost safety and well-being of the players, the officials, the spectators and workers are first and foremost. If the guidelines are not strict enough or not being followed and the WNSL management feels like things need to be tightened up, WNSL management will do just that- tighten up the guidelines for safety and well-being. A review of the guidelines will be conducted after the initial 2 weeks and if there are guidelines that may be relaxed, the WNSL will consider relaxing them.

 

WE STAYED HOME.

WE STOPPED THE SPREAD.

WE SAVED LIVES.

WE WILL PLAY SPORTS.

Note: These guidelines must be submitted to Metro Parks and Harpeth Hills Church of Christ for review and approval. These guidelines are subject to change but hopefully these guidelines are very close to what we will follow.

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