The RGSA Executive has been monitoring the situation with the goal of building a return to play plan that we believe will allow us to have some form of a softball season, while maintaining all the precautions required to ensure that we minimize the risk to all players, parents and coaches. The RGSA Executive do have most of the steps completed so we are authorized by Softball BC to hold practices for registered teams.

In the spirit of honoring and respecting the new provincial health standards around physical distancing and providing you a safe environment for your player, team coaches, umpires, volunteers, parents and spectators, you will see many changes to how we use the facilities, bleachers, dugouts, washrooms, concession (if open), the softball diamonds and equipment but most of the game will be the same.

Lots of Hand sanitizing, equipment and structure cleaning & disinfection, no sharing of gear or high fives for good plays or skill assessments, but hopefully a place out of the house where softball team friends can talk and cheer but stay safely distanced apart.

When do we start?

Diamonds should be available for practice for players U10 age group and older and for training skills for U8 age group and younger players sometime after June 29 if all the re: registration is complete for your player and her team. Coaches will notify players and / or their parents when practices will be allowed.

BUT, all players, coaches, volunteers, parent helpers, parent spectators will be required to sign new waivers and agreements of understanding specifically related to Covid-19. Signing these forms is mandatory. Without a signed waiver, players will not be allowed to participate in any Softball BC sanctioned events, including practices. Note that you will need to sign a waiver not just for your daughter but also for any parent or spectator who plans to be on the field. There is one important caveat regarding these waivers and the insurance we get through Softball BC: There is no insurance coverage for Covid-19 related issues. This goes for the executive, coaches, volunteers, players, and parents. It is for this reason that we must have the various waivers. You must be aware that there is an added risk now for playing any sport. RGSA will do everything it can to plan for a safe environment, but we will need everyone’s help in the process. Look for the orange button on the home page labelled 2020 Summer Program.

What can I expect from the season?

• We are mandated by SBBC to practice at all levels for the first two weeks, during these practices we will not only practice softball but practice the new safety protocols around COVID 19. This is a time to get used to the process and be consistent when we have the opportunity to play games.
• Before every event, there will be attendance with contact info taken and recorded as well as screening questions asked of every player, coach, umpire, volunteer and parent (including spectators). The answers to these screening questions will be retained by RGSA for a period of time to help contact trace people should anyone at the event be diagnosed with Covid-19 at a later date. Players and Coaches will sit with a few players in the dugout and most players sitting in the bleachers on designated marked locations. Spectators will need to bring camp chairs.
• At all times there will be mandatory physical distancing of 2 meters on and off the field - details can be found in the RTP document.
• We would like for players U10 to Adult to play a 4 to 6-week multi game season with one, or possibly two, games or practices per week with some maybe on weekends - this is still to be determined depending on Richmond teams registering. Games might be with teams in your age group or the adjacent age groups with some rule tweaking.
• Games must be with Richmond based teams first and later near end of the season venturing into possible interlock with Vancouver or Delta.
• Softball BC plans an end of season regional event in September, but details are still to come.

Now that things are moving, I will do my best to keep you updated with the latest news. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to drop me an e-mail and I will do my best to answer your questions.

Please see the attached executive summary and the entire Return to Play Plan at: https://softball.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Softball-BC-Return-to-Play-Guidelines-June-15-2020.pdf

Al Groff

President

Richmond Girls Softball Association

604-612-1576 Cell al.groff@shaw.ca