Victoria will enjoy greater freedoms from 6:00pm tonight as Victoria reaches the 80 percent double dose vaccination target and metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria unite and move forward under the same restrictions. This is welcome news for the Victorian baseball community, as Baseball Victoria can confirm the return to community sport competition and the start of the 2021/22 VSBL season next month.
The Baseball Victoria Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan will be updated following further clarification from the government so clubs can provide this plan to their respective councils.
As part of Victoria’s Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan, the changes coming into effect at 6:00pm on Friday 29 October 2021 include:
- Travel allowed between regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne.
- All retail opens and greater density limits for pubs, clubs, and entertainment venues.
- 10 people including dependents can visit your home per day and 30 people can gather in public outside.
- Community sport permitted indoors and outdoors, regardless of vaccination status, with minimum number required, for spectators public gathering limits apply.
- Masks will remain mandatory indoors but are no longer required outdoors, although it is highly recommended to wear a mask outdoors where you cannot socially distance.
As a reminder, Baseball Victoria clubs must comply with CHO directions and any additional directions of your landowners.
This return to community sport is for the minimum required only, so for baseball this means up to 20 people, including necessary coaches or administration staff. Two groups of 20 people can train on the same baseball field if they remain separated for the entire training session.
Baseball Victoria follows Victorian Government COVIDSafe Settings, and all clubs must adhere to social distancing and personal hygiene measures while training.
The Victorian Government has released updated CHO COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions confirming there is an exemption for community sport volunteers so while vaccination is strongly recommended, it is not required.
Service Victoria QR code check-ins are required for businesses, including community sport organisations. Clubs must maintain an attendance register and COVID-19 restriction compliance documentation.
All clubs need council approval to access their facilities and return to training. We have opened the return to play registration, which all participants must complete before taking the field.
“Thanks to Victoria’s efforts in reaching our roadmap milestones and vaccination targets, we are pleased to be in a position to proceed with a 13 November start date for the 2021/22 VSBL season,” Baseball Victoria Interim CEO Gemma Scales said. “We are so excited to return to training and get ready for play in just a few weeks, as our clubs and members have been waiting patiently for good news. We remain committed to providing the safest experience for all baseballers, and we look forward to a safe and successful summer season.”
Baseball Victoria continues to monitor updates from Vicsport and Sport & Recreation Victoria on the COVIDSafe measures required to resume community sport training and play. We will provide any further updates as required while Victoria keeps moving toward 90 percent full vaccination coverage.
To read the Premier’s latest announcements, click HERE.
To track Victoria’s progress toward vaccination targets and view COVID resources, click HERE.
COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for all Victorians aged 12 years and over. Getting vaccinated helps protect you from getting sick with COVID-19. The vaccines being used in Australia are safe, free, and very effective at preventing serious illness and loss of life from COVID-19.
Click HERE to book your vaccine appointment.
You can download your vaccination certificate to the Service Victoria check-in app. Click HERE for more details.
It remains very important that Victorians monitor for symptoms, get tested, and get vaccinated when eligible.
To stop the spread, everyone should check this list of exposure sites and isolate, monitor for symptoms, and get tested as directed.
If you have been to an exposure site, are a close contact of a confirmed case, or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 – such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, chills or sweats, or change in sense of smell or taste – get a test immediately. Find out where to get tested HERE.
Stay safe by washing your hands regularly, wearing a face mask, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and keeping at least 1.5 metres from others. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, you must get tested and stay home.
Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions.
Click HERE to view all COVID resources, including the Baseball Victoria Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan.
We encourage our members to stay connected and prioritise their mental health. Please view mental health resources on our website HERE, including information from Beyond Blue, Headspace, Kids Helpline, Lifeline, and R U OK?
To view more COVID-19 resources from the Victorian Government, click HERE.