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Baseball Victoria COVID-19 Update – 30 September 2021

Baseball Victoria
30 September 2021

Baseball Victoria is continuing to plan for the resumption of community sport and based on Victoria’s Roadmap and further updates from the Victorian Government, we are expecting to start the 2021/22 VSBL season on Saturday 13 November 2021. This date is subject to change depending on Victorian Government restrictions and how soon the state reaches its vaccination targets that will allow for a return to training and competition.

“We are excited to announce our anticipated start date for the 2021/22 VSBL season, and we are looking forward to an awesome summer of baseball,” Baseball Victoria Interim CEO Gemma Scales said. “While this starting date is subject to Victoria reaching the required vaccination levels to return to community sport, based on the government’s projections, we are confident we will be able to get the season underway later this year.”

Baseball Victoria consulted with the BV Board, VSBL clubs, and Sport & Recreation Victoria regarding this expected start date to ensure we planned for an appropriate amount of time between the return to training and return to play. We also have a plan in place in case we do not reach our targets on time and the start date needs to be pushed back.

This week, Victoria reached its first vaccination target of 80 percent one dose, allowing us to move forward with our 13 November start date plan. Here are the key roadmap milestones and dates in our current plans, which will be used to confirm the VSBL season schedule in the coming weeks.

  • 26-29 October - 70% of eligible Victorians fully vaccinated
    • Yes: return to training commences with 13 November start date
    • No: shift to 4 December start date with a delayed return to training
  • 5 November – 80% of eligible Victorians fully vaccinated
    • Yes: proceed with 13 November start date
    • No: training may commence with 4 December start date, or if there is still no training, push back to a January VSBL start

Baseball Victoria continues to seek clarification from Vicsport and Sport & Recreation Victoria on the COVIDSafe measures required to resume community sport training and play. These additional details will guide an updated version of the Baseball Victoria Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan.

As a reminder, Ballarat Royals and Geelong Baycats are the two VSBL clubs in regional Victoria currently permitted to train with the minimum number of participants required. Spectators are prohibited except one parent permitted to supervise children. All players must complete the return to training registration for regional Victoria, and the club must maintain an attendance register and COVID-19 restriction compliance documentation.

Mitchell Shire remains in lockdown due to the high number of active cases and close proximity to the areas of highest concern in metropolitan Melbourne.

Please note the current lockdown restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, Mitchell Shire, and City of Latrobe allowing limited outdoor personal training does not include baseball coaching. However, with the start of the season in sight, we encourage all baseballers to check out our Ramp Up to Play video series and use daily outdoor exercise to work on throwing and arm strength in preparation for summer baseball.

As a reminder, the lockdown restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, Mitchell Shire, and City of Latrobe include:

  • Six reasons to leave home:
    • shopping for necessary goods and services (within 15km radius of home)
    • four hours of exercise, including limited outdoor personal training or contactless recreation at outdoor facilities, such as boating, tennis or golf (within 15km radius of home)
    • caregiving/compassionate/medical reasons
    • authorised work or permitted education – with valid permit only
    • getting the coronavirus vaccine
    • outdoor social interaction (picnic, walk, or other outdoor activity) with another person not from your household. Up to five adults (plus dependents) from two households may gather outdoors if all adults are fully vaccinated.
  • No public or private gatherings other than for permitted outdoor social interaction
  • No one-on-one or small group baseball coaching – this does not count as personal training
  • No community sport
  • Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies
  • Daily curfew from 9pm – 5am (metropolitan Melbourne only)

Please read the latest updates from the Victorian Government 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.

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 follow these instructions:

  • Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
  • Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
  • Anyone who has visited a Tier 3 exposure site during times listed should monitor for symptoms - If symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

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.

While Victoria works to get more people vaccinated, you can 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.

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