Baseball Victoria has received several queries on the Air Quality Policy, and with the 2019/20 VSBL season resuming this weekend, here are some clarifications for our members.
Q: Who is in control of determining the air quality/ checking current rating?
A: On days where there are concerns about air quality, it shall be the responsibility of the home club secretary (or his/her nominee) to monitor the air quality prior and during the game. The website for monitoring air quality is http://aqicn.org/here/. You must select the location closest to the playing field.
Air quality readings are taken on the hour and posted by the half hour (I.e. taken at 1pm and posted on website by 1.30pm). The home club secretary (or his/her nominee) is to advise the umpire of the reading prior to the game commencing, and then when each new reading becomes available.
Following the air quality policy, the umpire will confirm if the game is continuing, reduced or suspended. Play shall not resume until the reading is below 300.
Q: Should it reach very hazardous, will games be rescheduled or count as a no game played?
Same rules as a washed out game would apply.
Q: If game is to be reduced by two innings for "hazardous," does this have to happen previous to commencement of the game or can this happen during the game?
This can happen during the game. Once the game is reduced in innings it cannot revert back to a longer game.
Scenario 1 - If the game commences at 1pm, and the 12:30pm reading is above 300, the game is suspended. If at 1:30pm the posted reading is above 200 but below 300, the game would commence and be reduced by two innings.
Scenario 2 - If the game commences at 1pm, and the 12:30pm posted reading is between 200 and 300, the game commences. If the 1:30pm posted reading remains between 200 and 300, the game is reduced by two innings.
Q: Should a game be postponed, is the wait time for air quality to increase enough to resume the same as a rain delay?
Play is to be suspended until the next available reading. If the next reading (an hour later) is still above 300, the game is to be cancelled and the same rules as a washout would be applied.
