BASEBALL ONTARIO UPDATE
To the Baseball Ontario Community (June 12, 2020)
Baseball Ontario’s suspension of in‐person activities expires June 15, 2020.
Baseball Ontario will not be extending the suspension of in‐person activities. Therefore, as of June 16, 2020, in‐person baseball activities can resume, pending observance of provincial and municipal rules and restrictions.
Regions in Stage One of the Provincial Reopening Plan are not yet permitted to resume team sport activities.
Regions in Stage Two of the Provincial Reopening Plan are permitted to resume outdoor team sports (including baseball), if physically distanced, for training only and no scrimmages or games, but must still respect the gathering limit of 10 persons at this time.
Following review by medical and legal advisors, the Return to Sport Protocol has been finalized and approved by the Baseball Ontario Board of Management, as of June 11, 2020.
Member Organizations and all participants must familiarize themselves with this Protocol prior to resuming in‐person activities. Member organizations should either adopt the Baseball Ontario Protocol as their own or supplement it with their own local protocol. A Declaration of Compliance and either a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims and Indemnity Agreement or an Informed Consent and Assumption of Risk Agreement, depending on the age of the person, are required from participants.
All the information and resources with respect to Baseball Ontario's Return to Baseball Protocol are available through our OnDeck platform available online at
http://ondeck.baseballontario.com/ and through our mobile OnDeck app available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
To the Baseball Ontario Community (June 3, 2020)
Baseball Ontario is pleased to be releasing to the baseball stakeholders in Ontario a draft Return to Baseball Protocol dated June 3, 2020 (the "Draft Protocol").
In the Draft Protocol, we look forward to the day when the Province of Ontario, municipal governments and public health authorities deem it safe for in-person baseball activities to resume in Ontario. Once finalized, the Draft Protocol will honour Baseball Ontario's promise to you to be ready for reopening as soon as it is allowed by government and health authorities.
Get the full story (click here)
Draft Protocol - Return To Baseball June 3 (click here)
To the Baseball Ontario Community (May 30, 2020)
The Provincial Government announced today (May 30, 2020) as part of an update to its reopening plan, that the use of batting cages can resume as of May 31st. Baseball Ontario is pleased to learn that these steps are being taken towards the gradual reintroduction of sporting activities. As was the case when the Province opened up sport fields, including baseball diamonds, on May 19th, the Province is still precluding team sports to be practiced or played within batting cages.
Baseball Ontario’s suspension of in-person activities remains in place and therefore any and all in-person training or activity, regardless of the number of participants, is still prohibited at this time, including team use of batting cages.
In addition, the provincial government has not lifted or modified its limits on the number of people allowed to gather.
Baseball Ontario remains committed to the safety of the baseball community. While the COVID-19 situation remains fluid, we are continuing to monitor the situation. Based on the guidelines of the provincial government and public health authorities, the suspension of all in-person baseball programs remains in effect through June 15, 2020.
Baseball Ontario is finalizing its return to baseball plan, preliminary details of which will be released in the coming days, so that we will be ready for the eventual lifting of restrictions by the Ontario government.
Stay tuned to our Inside Pitch e-communication as we will be providing more information on these measures in our June 3rd edition.
To the Baseball Ontario Community (May 24, 2020)
Baseball Ontario extends its suspension of in-person baseball activities to June 15th.
To hear from our President, Ed Quinlan, with more information on this operational update please watch our 3 part video series!
Baseball Ontario YouTube Channel (16:08)
To the Baseball Ontario Community (May 14, 2020)
Baseball Ontario remains committed to the safety of the baseball community.
While the COVID-19 situation remains fluid, we are continuing to monitor the situation. Based on the guidelines of the provincial government and public health authorities, the suspension of all in‐person baseball programs remains in effect through May 31, 2020. The Provincial Government announced today (May 14, 2020) under Stage 1 of its reopening plan, certain outdoor sports fields and individual sports, such as cycling and golf, can resume. Team sports, such as baseball, are still under suspension.
Baseball Ontario’s suspension of in‐person activities remains in place and therefore any and all in‐person training or activity, regardless of the number of participants, are still prohibited at this time.
Baseball Ontario is finalizing its return to play plan and will be ready for the eventual lifting of restrictions by the Ontario government. When that time comes, we will be ready with protocols to ensure the safety of all members. Stay tuned to our Inside Pitch e-communication as we will be providing more information on these measures in our May 27th edition.
To the Baseball Ontario Community (April 20, 2020)
Baseball Ontario remains committed to the safety of the baseball community. While the COVID‐19 situation remains fluid, we are continuing to monitor the situation. Based on the guidelines of the provincial government and public health authorities, the suspension of all in‐person baseball programs and activities is being extended until May 31, 2020.
The scheduled mid‐May tryouts for the Ontario Youth team have been postponed. Our Ontario Youth team has a contingency plan but will hold off on its release until Baseball Canada decides on Nationals expected by May 1.
Even though there is no play on the field, Baseball Ontario’s various committees have been continuing work behind the scenes to facilitate umpire and coaching programs online.
The executive committee is continuing to meet regularly by teleconference on the planning and preparations required for baseball to begin when the opportunity presents itself. Board of Management has met 3 times since the start of the pandemic. BOM, Rep Council and Select Council will all meet as appropriate as more definite plans can be made.
As developments occur, Baseball Ontario will update its website and social media platforms, and we will review this timeline at the end of May.
To the Baseball Ontario Community (March 15, 2020),
Baseball Ontario considers safety a core value of our organization, and as such we continue to monitor the evolving impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID‐19).
While the situation regarding COVID‐19 is fluid, Baseball Ontario has implemented the following precautionary measures:
In Person Baseball Activities:
Effective 11:59 pm on March 15, 2020, Baseball Ontario has suspended all in person baseball activities indefinitely. This suspension will remain in place at least through April 3, 2020. Baseball Ontario will advise when it has lifted the suspension.
Level 3 Umpire SuperClinics:
SuperClinics will be cancelled. Level 3 umpires will certify via an online exam as they did in 2019. The Exam will
be made available March 23rd, and payments already received will be transferred to exam registrations.
Level 1 & Level 2 Umpire Clinics:
As of Monday, March 16th, there will be no in‐person Level 1 & 2 clinics for the remainder of this season. We will
introduce online training so that certification can be achieved for 2020. More details will be shared by April 3rd.
Coaching Clinics:
As of Monday, March 16th, there will be no in‐person clinics for the remainder of this season. We will introduce
online delivery of coaching clinics so that certification can be achieved for 2020. More details will be shared by
April 3rd.
Summer Season:
At this point in time, plans are still to run with our regular outdoor activities as usual when baseball season begins
in May.
Reliable Resources
For the most updated information for you and your families, please refer to the trusted sources of information
below:
Canada Public Health ‐ https://www.canada.ca/en/public‐health/services/diseases/coronavirus‐disease‐
covid‐19.html
World Health Organization ‐ https://www.who.int/
Baseball Ontario is proactively monitoring the situation and will gauge potential future decisions regarding our
2020 season on confirmed information as the situation evolves in the weeks to come.