Following the Victorian Government’s announcements on the lifting of lockdown restrictions in regional Victoria, Baseball Victoria acknowledges that a return to baseball training may commence from 10 September 2021 for three VSBL clubs in regional Victoria: Ballarat Royals, Geelong Baycats, and Mitchell Majors.
Current lockdown restrictions will ease in regional Victoria, except for Greater Shepparton from 11.59pm on Thursday 9 September. These changes for regional Victoria will include:
- Five reasons to leave home are removed.
- No limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home – other than restrictions on entry to metropolitan Melbourne.
- Density limits and patron caps on restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues.
- Community sport - permitted outdoor training only with the minimum number required to train. Spectators are prohibited except one parent permitted to supervise children.
This ability to train will only apply to the Ballarat Royals, Geelong Baycats, and Mitchell Majors as clubs participating in the Victorian Summer Baseball League.
All players from these three clubs will be required to complete the return to training registration for regional Victoria, and all clubs must maintain an attendance register and COVID-19 restriction compliance documentation.
Registration and return to play documents will be confirmed directly with these clubs and registered players for these clubs, subject to any further updates from the Victorian Government or Sport and Recreation Victoria.
Most winter associations cancelled the remainder of their seasons last month. Winter associations that wish to return to limited training may do so with council approval and in line with the Baseball Victoria COVIDSafe Plan in hopes of completing their seasons once a return to competition is allowed.
The Victorian Government has provided this table of restrictions outlining the changes for regional Victoria and the current lockdown settings for metropolitan Melbourne.
Lockdown restrictions remain the same in metropolitan Melbourne, with all baseball activity cancelled until lockdown is eventually lifted and community sport is allowed to resume. The Victorian Government has flagged small easing of restrictions when 70 percent of eligible Victorians have had at least one dose of vaccine, a target we are expected to reach in the next two weeks at the current vaccination rate. The return to community sport in metropolitan Melbourne remains undetermined at this stage, with further clarification expected over the coming weeks and months.
Baseball Victoria continues to closely monitor this evolving situation to provide regular updates to VSBL clubs regarding plans for the start of the summer season. Baseball Victoria Aces Academy remains online, and no baseball clubs in metropolitan Melbourne may conduct training, come and try days, or any in-person activities.
As a reminder, the lockdown restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne include:
- Only five reasons to leave home:
- shopping for necessary goods and services (within 5km radius of home unless not available within)
- two hours of exercise (within 5km radius of home unless not available within, and with only one other person)
- caregiving/compassionate/medical reasons
- authorised work or permitted education – with valid permit only
- getting the coronavirus vaccine
- No public or private gatherings
- No community sport
- Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies
- Daily curfew from 9pm – 5am
“We are pleased to hear about the easing of restrictions in regional Victoria, allowing for a return to training, while we know the situation is still challenging for all Victorians. Our top priorities remain the health and safety of our Victorian baseball community,” Baseball Victoria Interim CEO Gemma Scales said. “We continue to communicate with VSBL clubs about the summer season and we are looking forward to getting back to baseball when it’s safe to do so.”
Full details on the latest Victorian Government announcements are available HERE.
COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for all Victorians aged 16 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.