2021 Game Day Protocols

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Please note-protocols are subject to change based on guidelines and the league’s evolving ability to create safe places for spectators.

Consistent with practice, only coaches and team managers will be on the field with the players. Additionally, all players, coaches, and team managers must have their daily safety check completed and reviewed by the designated team manager.

• All players, coaches, team managers, and spectators will be instructed to stay home if they or anyone in their household have any symptoms of illness including, but not limited to temperature above 100.4, cough, sore throat, sneezing, body aches, loss of sense of smell or taste, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fatigue.

SPECTATORS

At this time, only members of the player’s household are permitted to be spectators at games. We understand that grandparents enjoy watching games too. As long as they are included in your household’s “bubble”, they may take the place of another household member in order to come out to a game. 

THE BLEACHERS AT CENTRAL PARK WILL BE CLOSED TO SPECTATORS, all spectators must remain in designated spectator area in the outfield grass, must stay 6 feet from people outside of their family, and wear appropriate face coverings that cover both their mouth and nose at all times. 

GAME PLAY SAFETY

Teams will follow all precautions and procedures currently being followed by Santa Clara PAL Softball during practices. These include but are not limited to: 

• Stay home if player or immediate family member is not feeling well 
• All participants must wear masks throughout the entirety of the event. When drinking water all participants must maintain more than a 6ft distance from each other in order to safely remove mask in order to drink. 
• Utilize hand sanitizer when arriving at facility 
• Utilize hand sanitizer before and after drinking 
• Utilize hand sanitizer when coming on and off the field 
• Keep personal equipment 6ft apart (bats, helmets, gloves, bat bags) 
• No sharing of any individual equipment 
• Teams will utilize designated spaces to act as “dugouts” with enough room to provide proper distance between players. ALL PLAYERS SHOULD BRING A LAWN/FOLDING CHAIR TO USE DURING GAME PLAY. 
• No sharing of food or water 
• Players, coaches, and spectators shall refrain from sunflower seeds or similar snacks
• Coaches must shag foul balls hit by their respective teams 
• Utilize sanitizing wipes on game balls between innings

SNACK SHACK

The Snack Shack will not be open to sell food and drink this season. Please plan accordingly and bring any drink that you need with you to your games.

GAME BALLS

Each team will be provided four game balls that they must maintain for the season. During games, the team in the field will utilize their game balls while they are in the field. Umpires will not be given spare balls, if a ball goes out of play the team in the field will provide the replacement from their supply while the original ball is being recovered. Balls should be sanitized between innings. Only use league provided balls for game play, if you lose a ball or need a replacement, please reach out to our Equipment Manager to get a replacement. 

A spare set of balls for Interleague opponents will be stored in the first base dugout on Field 1. 

INTERLEAGUE PLAY

Leagues participating in Interleague play have agreed that if Game Day Protocols between two leagues have differences in policy, the stricter set of rules apply. The Santa Clara PAL Softball Board will assist coaches and team managers to determine protocols for all interleague games if there are questions. 

UMPIRES

In games where an umpire is utilized, the umpire will wear an appropriate face covering for the entirety of the event. Umpires will follow same guidelines for participation in any event. 

POST GAME

• No post game high fives or handshakes will be permitted. Instead teams may line up along the baselines (while maintaining their 6 foot social distancing) and clap for each other.
• Teams may not have post game snacks to be shared between players.
• Teams must refrain from post game gatherings, including prolonged post game team meetings. Teams should leave the playing area and fields as soon as their game is complete.

RESTROOMS

The City of Santa Clara provides restrooms for use at our fields. Our recommendation is to only use the shared restroom facilities when absolutely necessary and maintain both mask usage and social distancing when needed.