Baseball Victoria has taken into consideration the federal update on the three-step framework for a COVID-Safe Australia announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison last Friday, as well as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcements made on Monday, 11 May.
The key points in Baseball Victoria’s latest update are:
- Under eased restrictions, outdoor activities in groups of up to 10 people will be allowed from 11:59pm on Tuesday, 12 May in Victoria.
- There are still many questions that will need to be clarified and confirmed with the relevant authorities before we can safely return to baseball activities, including on-field training.
- Baseball Victoria’s position remains the same – there is no current formal baseball activity. While we work with the government for clarification on creating the safest environment for returning to activity, all baseball activity remains closed.
- Further information will be communicated to all associations, clubs and members when it becomes available, we expect updates in the coming days.
On Monday, 11 May, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that some coronavirus restrictions will be lifted from 11:59pm on Tuesday 12 May. Allowing outdoor activities to be held with groups of up to 10 people while still maintaining social distancing rules is the most relevant announcement relating to baseball. Clearly, this is a very positive move towards the return to baseball activity.
However, while some of the restrictions will be eased from 11:59pm on Tuesday 12 May, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that we can get back on the field safely. Our discussions with our state and territory counterparts confirmed that each location is different, and we need to clarify and confirm how eased restrictions apply to baseball. One such example is whether coaches count towards the 10-person maximum, or whether that number applies to players only. Access to toilets and equipment or first aid at club facilities is another issue that needs to be addressed by authorities prior to our return to activity.
There are numerous details yet to be confirmed and finalised. We will now work with the relevant authorities to finalise these details and communicate the first draft of Baseball Victoria’s Return to Baseball Activity Guidelines.
We acknowledge the patience and commitment to flattening the curve as demonstrated by the Victorian Baseball community, and we know many of our members are excited about the prospect of returning to baseball activity. While we respect these sentiments, we must continue our careful planning and preparation to ensure we have all the relevant information. This will allow us to provide guidance on conducting baseball activities safely for all participants without breaking any applicable laws.
Baseball Victoria has met with winter associations and both winter and summer clubs this evening to discuss this update and our current plans for proceeding under eased restrictions. We will provide an update as soon as possible.
If you have any questions please contact Baseball Victoria, with full contact details available HERE.
As a reminder, the COVIDSafe app is now available and will allow authorities to quickly track and control the spread of COVID-19. Please consider downloading the app to help save lives, protect the community and get baseball back as soon as possible. Click HERE to learn more.
For up-to-date information on keeping your family safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website HERE.
All further updates from Baseball Victoria will be available on the Baseball Victoria website and will also be communicated by the Baseball Victoria social media channels.