Updated February 18, 2021
COVID-19 Guidelines for GBI Recreational League Baseball
These guidelines are put in place to ensure that we follow the recommendations from the CDC and from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services involving youth sports.
General Guidelines:
• If a player, parent, or coach is not feeling well or otherwise has symptoms of COVID-19 they should not attend practices or games and should stay at home away from others
• If a player, coach, or parent is waiting for a COVID test result, including being tested due to close contact with a COVID-19 case, he/she should not attend games/practices.
• Updated recommendations state that individuals should wait a period of 5 days to get tested after the close contact of a known COVID-19 case
• Close contact is defined as within 6 feet for a period of 15 minutes or more
• Players should try and maintain a distance of 6 feet from each other whenever possible
• Benches shall not be used for practices or games. Players should place their equipment along the fence 6 feet apart from other players.
• Equipment shall not be shared amongst players. Catchers should use their personal equipment where possible. If using the team equipment, no other player shall use that equipment during that practice/game. After the game, the equipment should be sanitized.
• Post-game team snacks and/or drinks shall be postponed until further notice.
• Coaches are encouraged to wear a mask during mound visits and other close contact with players
• Coaches, players, and family members are expected to adhere to all local guidelines and regulations for preventing the spread of COVID-19
• It is recommended that immunocompromised family members do not attend baseball games
The following scenarios outlined in this document are guidelines to aid in good judgement. Each situation is unique. The final decision about a participant’s eligibility to play may be made by the Board of Directors. These guidelines provide the structure for that decision.
If a player or coach tests positive or has symptoms of COVID-19:
• Player should stay home and Parent/Guardian should notify the team’s head coach of the symptoms or positive test result
• Player can return to play:
o 10 days after the symptoms first appears or 10 days after a positive test result and
o 24 hours without fever and
o Other symptoms are improving
• Any other player or coach in the same household as the infected player should not participate for a 10 day period of time (i.e. siblings on different teams and/or leagues shall not be allowed to participate until after the quarantine period)
o Exceptions:
▪ If the non-infected household member (i.e. sibling or coach) has already tested positive for COVID-19 within the previous 3 months and has recovered and remains without symptoms
▪ If the non-infected family member has had the vaccine within the past 3 months
If a player or coach comes in close contact with a known COVID-19 case:
• Parent/Guardian of player should notify the team’s head coach of the close contact
• The player or coach should not attend practices or games for a period of 10 days
o Exception: if the player already tested positive for COVID-19 within the previous 3 months and has recovered and remains without symptoms OR
o The player or coach has been vaccinated
• Members of the same household of someone that has come into close contact with COVID-19, but have not come into close contact themselves can continue to play
Head Coach Responsibilities:
• Encourage all players and assistance coaches to follow the guidelines outlined above
• Notify League Director of any player that has tested positive with COVID-19 and include:
o Date of positive test result or when symptoms first appeared
o Last known date when the player or coach was around other players and/or at the GBI facility – include the teams played if applicable
League Director Responsibilities:
• Notify the GBI Executive Board (i.e. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Operations Director)
• Aid in communication to the affected team(s) and coaches and umpires if applicable
GBI Board of Directors Responsibilities:
• Ensure guidelines are followed as laid out in this document
• Ensure parents, coaches, League directors and participants are aware of the guidelines
• Protect privacy of individuals involved as much as possible when communicating about a confirmed positive COVID-19 case
• Communicate to the affected team(s)
• Determine if further action, such as delay/cancellation of games, is warranted to protect individuals and families
Additional information can be found at:
https://files.nc.gov/covid/documents/guidance/NCDHHS-Interim-Guidance-for-Youth-Amateur-Sports.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/youth-sports.html