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COVD-19 Updates

~ Additional Updates Will Be Posted Here ~

UpdatedTuesday May 12, 2020 byBYB.

05/11/20 – 8:00 pm – The BYB Board of Directors continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation. We are still waiting for further guidance from Governor Burgum and the ND Dept of Health on social distancing/maximum group size relative to youth recreational activities. In addition, Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken National’s latest guidance states in part that “It remains our hope that once permission is granted by state and local health officials, we’ll return to our community fields”.

While we are still in this holding pattern, it is our desire to be able to provide our players an opportunity to get back out there on the field. However, there are still many unknowns.

One of the biggest areas of concern is that we are still in a position where we cannot have gatherings of more than 10 individuals. Obviously, this in and of itself creates significant challenges for nearly all aspects of our season. Please read through the updates outlined below that address these different areas. There are some significant changes that are being implemented, due to the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in.

MAJORS SKILLS EVALUATIONS/DIVISION PLACEMENT: At this time, conducting skills evaluations for the remaining 100+ 11/12 YO players is just not feasible. However, there still needs to be some type of mechanism for taking into account the wide variance in skill levels and associated concerns for player safety within this age group. Therefore, the structure of Majors and AAA divisions will be different for the 2020 season:

  • MAJORS – 4 Teams, comprised of all 2019 Majors players as well as all 2019 10 YO and 11 YO Bismarck Youth Baseball rostered Travel Team players.
  • AAA – Up to 12 Teams, comprised of all remaining registered 11/12 YO players.

TRAVEL TRYOUTS: At this time, conducting Travel Team Tryouts and proceeding with Travel Team creations is just not feasible. The Board does intend to have some type of travel season; however local and regional government guidance will determine the timing for convening travel tryouts. This means that there may be significant deviations to our original planned multi-tryout process; and there may be a very short notice provided as to when and where travel tryouts will take place. National Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken has provided guidance for local leagues to “extend” seasons, but they have yet to issue a final determination on State/Regional/World Series tournaments. We will provide more information on the travel division as soon as we have something more tangible to work with. Our understanding is that the Midwest Plains Regional Commissioners are meeting on May 15th – so we should know more at that point.

LEAGUE TEAM ASSIGNMENTS: We have had some families drop registrations due to COVID, and our Division Directors are working through final coaching calls based on some of those changes. We will proceed with final Team Assignments and opening of divisions once we have more clear-cut guidance on large gatherings and/or youth recreational activities.

UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION: The specifics of this process will be finalized once more solid guidance from the Governor and Health Department is released. However, it is very likely that there will not be group distribution. It may be that each team is provided uniforms to distribute individually; and sizing exchanges will have to be set up.

PICTURES: It is very likely that there will not be pictures for this season. Even if we get to the point of being able to gather for team pictures, the turn-around time during an adjusted schedule may not prove to be attainable.

EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION: As of right now, no equipment will be distributed. Once additional guidance from the Governor and Health Department is released on large gatherings and/or youth recreational activities, we will provide information and details on how/when equipment will be distributed.

PRACTICES/GAMES: As of right now, the League is not permitting gatherings of any players for any type of structured practices. Once additional guidance from the Governor and Health Department is released on large gatherings and/or youth recreational activities, we will provide information and details on how/when practices and games will be scheduled. As of right now, our hope is to shift the entire season back 30 days, which would mean we would start informal practices on June 1st. If we are able to do that, then we would still be able to get in the same original number of weeks for League practices and games – ending everything in the last week of August.

~~~ As stated in our last update, we are cognizant of the fact that some families may wish to not participate in the season, regardless of how this all plays out. So, if you have a registered player, and you feel that you would like to withdraw from the season, please send an email to info@bismarckyouthbaseball.org - and we will issue you a full refund.

Additional information on adjusted plans will be posted on the home page of the league web site (www.bismarckyouthbaseball.org) and Facebook, as well as emailed to all registered families.

We thank you for your patience - and we hope that you are all staying healthy!

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4/28/20 - 2:30 pm - The BYB Board of Directors continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation. We are anticipating further guidance from Governor Burgum with relation to social distancing/maximum group size when he outlines his ND ReStart plan later today. We have also been notified that Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken National will be releasing additional guidance early next week.

Our hope is to then formulate an adjusted plan for the 2020 season. It is still the desire of the Board to hold some type of season, although the details are still up in the air. We are also cognizant of the fact that some families may wish to not participate in the season, regardless of how this all plays out. So, if you have a registered player, and you feel that you would like to withdraw from the season, please send an email to info@bismarckyouthbaseball.org - and we will issue you a full refund.

Additional information on adjusted plans will be posted on the home page of the league web site (www.bismarckyouthbaseball.org) and Facebook, as well as emailed to all registered families.

We thank you for your patience - and we hope that you are all staying healthy!

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4/4/20 - 3:30 pm - The BYB Board of Directors continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation, and most definitely hopes to have baseball in 2020. However, with the social distancing guidelines extending to the end of April, it is clear we will have to make some adjustments, and the season will look different than what we have become accustomed to. We do not plan on cancelling the season, but we ask everyone to be patient, as any alternative plans we develop can change at any time, due to the direction of our Government leaders. As of now, we would like to provide you with the following updates:

  • Uniform Distribution/Pictures – WILL NOT TAKE PLACE ON MAY 1 & 2, as previously scheduled. Additionally, the process in and of itself may change significantly for this year due to limited facility access and possible social distancing measures still in place at some level. We will provide more guidance once we know more.
  • 11/12 YO Skills Evaluations – Nearly half of the registered players still need to complete their skills evaluation, in order to determine AAA or Majors division placement. At this point, we still intend to conduct the second skills evaluation at the Fore Seasons Dome – so that all players will be assessed within the same environment. We cannot schedule that assessment until after Parks & Rec opens the facility – which will not be any earlier than April 20th. We may not have a lot of flexibility in when that gets scheduled, as there will be many user groups trying to access the facility. We will do our best to get the session scheduled and provide ample notice to all registrants.
  • Travel Tryouts – Scheduling of these will be dependent upon timing of loosening of social distancing restrictions, ability to access facilities, etc.
  • Delay of League Schedule for Optional/Scheduled Practices/Games – The original overview schedule of League Practices and Games, as published in early January is going to be delayed. As soon as we possibly can, we will publish new dates. Depending upon how much of a delay there is, it is anticipated that there will not be a “second season” – and we will just push the entire regular season back.

Our Board members are working behind the scenes to be as responsive and flexible as possible in this difficult time. We recognize and respect the need to keep everyone as safe as possible, but we also would like to be able to afford our players the chance to get out there on the field this summer!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us via direct message on Facebook or info@bismarckyouthbaseball.org

For additional information about COVID-19, please visit the following:

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3/23/20 - 7:00 pm - The BYB Board continues to monitor the ever-changing COVID-19 situation. Some of you may have seen information posted by Babe Ruth Headquarters which discusses possible 2020 season delays and/or suspension. Their position in that regard is primarily directed to leagues in other areas of the country which have seasons that start earlier than ours, and/or run year-round..

As our season starts later, we are not yet in a cancellation mind-set; and we hope that we will be able to minimize any delays that may be necessary. Obviously, our highest priority is the health, well-being and safety of our participants, families, volunteers, and fans. However, we also realize that our community will be anxiously awaiting the opportunity to get back to some sense of normalcy, and enjoy the social aspects of time at the fields.

As of right now, we have kept our reservation for uniforms/pictures that is scheduled for May 1st and 2nd. However, that is still subject to change.

We also continue to communicate with Bismarck Parks and Recreation as to the availability of the Fore Seasons Dome for rescheduling of both Travel Tryouts and the last round of 11/12 YO Skills Evaluations. We will do our best to provide ample planning time for all  remaining tryouts/evaluations - but realize we will be one of many user groups trying to get back in and get things rescheduled.

We thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate these uncharted waters.

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3/13/20 - 5:30 pm -- BYB Families - Unfortunately, BYB is postponing travel tryouts and 11/12 skills evaluations until further notice. This decision was made in consideration of this afternoon's declarations by the President and Governor; as well as the actions taken by the NDHSAA.

We feel it is prudent to follow the lead of other large organizations and minimize public gatherings at this time.  

We do not want to risk a potential spread at a BYB event when others have cancelled as well. No makeup dates are available at this time, as the events surrounding this health issue are fluid.

As soon as we are able, we will post updated information about next steps on our web site and Facebook. We will also send emails/texts to all registered families.

We thank you for your understanding in light if these unprecedented circumstances.

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3/12/20 - 10:00 pm --- The Bismarck Youth Baseball Board is monitoring the COVD-19 situation, and will continue to do so. The most immediate possible impact could be the Travel Tryouts (scheduled for Sunday, March 15th) and the remaining 11/12 YO Skills Evaluation (scheduled for Tuesday, March 17th).

We have been in communication with the Bismarck Parks & Recreation Department, who manages the Fore Seasons Center (aka Dome), and as of now, the plan is to hold both events as scheduled.

We will post additional updates as needed.

Please review the information below, relative to guidance provided by BisParks.

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Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) continues to monitor COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) concerns. BPRD asks you to do your part to contain the spread of this virus by staying home or keeping your child from attending park district programs and facilities if there have been signs of the flu in your household or if you are not feeling well.

BPRD continues to disinfect doorknobs, handrails, counters, locker rooms, restrooms and equipment. Extra hand sanitizing wipes and sanitizers can be found in facilities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way of preventing the disease is to:

  • avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available
  • clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces/objects regularly
  • avoid contact with people who are sick
  • stay home if you are sick, and cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash

The CDC has posted information on how to prevent the spread of coronavirus in communities. Click here for information and check back often as information is updated:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html

BPRD will continue to monitor the situation, work with state and local health officials and will follow recommended guidance as it becomes available.