Baseball and softball to be allowed in June; other youth sports guidelines announced

Violation of these rules may mean a team is prohibited from practicing or playing games for the entire season. 

The below guidelines lay out the planned reopening of certain youth sports. Additional guidelines for other sports will be provided as it is determined participation in those sports meet health and safety measures. Violation of these rules may mean a team is prohibited from practicing or playing games for the entire season.

A Lincoln softball coach we talked to say they are eager to get started.

“It’s bittersweet, it was exciting because we were really excited that we got the go ahead, we got to play softball this year and I know there was a lot of anxiety made, what if we don’t get to play at all this summer,” said Lincoln Girls Softball Coach, Lizzie Dunavin.

Dunavin says she really feels for the seniors, their season cut short.

The below guidelines apply only to team sports. Individual sports such as golf and tennis (including doubles tennis) are not prohibited under any Directed Health Measure, however, participants must practice social distancing.

“It’s so sad, I miss my girls so much and I know for some of my girls, this is their last season playing ever,” said Dunavin.

The hope that they will have some sort of season is keeping Dunavin and her team motivated.

Month of May

• No organized team sports games for youth and adults
• No organized team sports practices for youth and adults. This prohibition includes any practice, training or group exercise program organized by a coach of a sports team.
• Businesses and organizations that provide sports training AND that sell memberships to provide such training are allowed to offer sports training as long as they follow the same guidelines as fitness centers/clubs, gymnasiums, health clubs, and health spas. No team organized training is allowed.

June 1

• Schools are permitted to open weight rooms for use by all student athletes as long as they follow the same guidelines as fitness centers/clubs, gymnasiums, health clubs and health spas.
• Team organized practices for baseball and softball may begin unless circumstances dictate a change in date.
• Dugout use will not be allowed. Players’ items should be lined up against a fence at least six feet apart.
• Parents must remain in their cars or drop off and pick players up afterwards.
• Players should use their own gloves, helmets, and bats as much as possible.
• Coaches are responsible for ensuring social distancing is maintained between players as much as possible. This means additional spacing between players while playing catch, changing drills so that players remain spaced out, no congregating of players while waiting to bat.
• Players must bring their own water/beverage to consumer during and after practice. No shared drinking fountains or coolers.
• Players must bring their own snacks to consume during and after practice. No shared/communal snacks.
• Coaches must sanitize shared equipment before and after each practice.
• Team organized practices for other sports may remain suspended.

June 18

• Baseball and softball games may begin unless circumstance dictate a change in date.
• Same guidelines apply as above for baseball and softball practices.
• Use of dugouts is permitted during games only. Bleachers located between the dugout and home plate should also be used to spread out players. Players should have designated spots to place their personal items. Coaches must designate an adult who is responsible for ensuring players are seated on the benches unless they are actively participating in the games.
• Players should use their own gloves, helmets, and bats as much as possible.
• Fan attendance is limited to household members of the players on the team. No use of bleachers for fans. Fans must bring their own chairs or stand. Fans should keep six feet of social distancing between different household units. No fan seating or standing is allowed in the area from behind home plate to six feet past the far end of each dugout.
• Teams to play next must be provided designated areas for player warm-ups that provide for necessary social distancing.
• Post-game handshakes or interaction between teams is prohibited.
• When games end, the leaving team must sanitize their dugout area. No post-game talks at the field are permitted. Fans and players must leave the playing area and return to their cars immediately after the game.
• The team to play next must remain in their designated warm up area until the prior team has finished sanitizing and is completely out of the dugout.
• Fans for upcoming games must remain in their cars during player warm ups. They will be permitted to come on the field once the team they are there to watch enters the dugout area.
• Restrooms must be cleaned and sanitized regularly while players and fans are present. Markings should be placed on the ground to ensure people waiting to use the restroom are spaced six feet apart.
• Players must bring their own water/beverage to consume during and after practices and games. No shared drinking fountains or coolers.
• Players must bring their own snacks to consume during and after practice/games. No shared/communal snacks.
• Coaches must sanitize shared equipment before and after each practice and game.
• Concession stands are not allowed to be open.
• Team organized practices and games for other sports may remain suspended.