To Our Members,
Baseball NSW are moving in line with the Government’s recommendation to minimize all non-essential travel. As such, clubs are permitted to hold training sessions within their region (within the Greater Sydney basin), with all BNSW sanctioned events (National Showcase) and competitions (State League, Women’s League, PCBL, Metro, Minor League) being suspended until Monday the 18th of January, where a further update will be provided.
Competitions within the country regions are not affected at this time.
Members participating in any non-sanctioned BNSW (third-party) programs or any other baseball-related activity do so at their own risk. If they do so choose to participate in any such event then;
- Members are not covered by the Baseball NSW Member insurance policy;
- As such, Members are not covered by any third-party general liability;
- Third-party providers need to ensure that their COVID Safety Plan is up-to-date and available should it be requested by Members or NSW authorities;
- That the provider should give suitable insurance coverage for their program;
We will continue to monitor the Government recommendations and make changes if required. Should you have any questions, please contact Baseball NSW via
admin@baseballnsw.com.au
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IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATE – August 20, 2020
81 Eastern Road, Rooty Hill, NSW 2766
PO Box 63, Mt Druitt, NSW 2770
P +61 2 9675 6872
E admin@baseballnsw.com.au
baseballnsw.com.au
ABN: 56568633609
A Message from Baseball New South Wales
Regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
To Our Members
In a letter from Dr Kerry Chant, Chief Health Officer, sporting organizations have been requested to
implement measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission related to participation in community
sports. Based on advice from the NSW Government’s Chief Health Officer, Baseball NSW have:
• Ceased activities that result in the mixing of participants and staff from different regions, for example,
zone, regional or state championships;
• Ceased activities that result in overnight stays, for example, multi-day training camps;
• Ceased face-to-face social activities, for example, post-training or post-match group dinners or awards
functions;
• Recommended that participants avoid carpools or bus travel with people from different household
groups where possible;
• Required that we limit spectators to one parent only where a child requires parental supervision
during our sporting activity.
As per the points highlighted in the update from the NSW Government below, both the NSW State League
and NSW Women’s League seasons will commence on the previously advised dates. However, we’d like to
reinforce the importance of COVID-safe plans and the necessity for following the terms of those plans to the
letter.
These restrictions will be in place for six weeks up to the 30th of September. We continue to liaise with the
Department of Health and Office of Sport regarding the implementation of the Department of Health
recommendations and along with any revisions.
Baseball NSW wishes to further remind its members to continue to adhere to the current Public Health Order
and follow the prescribed procedures which include social distancing and practicing good personal hygiene.
NSW Office of Sport
https://sport.nsw.gov.au/novel-coronavirus-covid-19
NSW Government
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/changes
Updated advice for the Community Sport and Recreation Sector
from the Chief Health Officer
Updated Wednesday 19 August 7:00pm
This document contains advice to support the sport and recreation sector interpret and apply
the recommendations outlined in the letter from the Chief Health Officer, dated 14 August 2020.
View the Letter HERE.
Advice on ceasing activities that result in mixing of participants
from different regions
Community Sport –Team and Individual Competitions and Leagues
• The principle is to restrict activities to local competitions to avoid inter-mingling and potential
community transmission.
• Competitions should be run within the local district, zone or association boundaries
determined by State Sporting Organisations or the Peak Body for the respective activity.
• Competitions may run across local government areas within these boundaries, but if there are
enough teams or players within one LGA, a more local competition should be considered.
• For land-based sports in greater Sydney1 there should be at least eight (8) ‘regions’
determined by the SSO/SSOD, but ideally more. The regions may differ between sports and
may align to existing zone, district or association structures.
• For water-based sports in Greater Sydney (i.e. Sydney Harbour or beach-based sports),
there should be at least three (3) ‘regions’, determined by the SSO/SSOD, but ideally more.
The regions may differ between sports and may align to existing zone, district or association
structures.
• In regional NSW (ie outside of Greater Sydney), existing competition structures or scheduling
should aim to minimise the need for overnight travel. If overnight travel is required in order to
participate in sporting activities in regional NSW, car pooling or other shared transport
arrangements should be avoided. The use of shared accommodation facilities that would lead
to mixing of people from different households should also be avoided.
• If participants are members of a club not located within their local area, they should consider
whether it is necessary to participate in club activities at this time.
• It is acknowledged that associations and districts across Greater Sydney and regional NSW
may need to maintain their existing arrangements with neighbouring associations or districts
to ensure there are enough teams to participate in a competition.
1 Greater Sydney is defined by the Greater Sydney Commission with the Local Government Areas found at -
https://www.greater.sydney/district-plans
Community Sport – Activities requiring specialised facilities
(e.g. Ice Skating Rinks, Sydney International Regatta Centre, Sydney International
Equestrian Centre, Athletics Tracks etc.)
• People may need to travel to specialised venues to participate in their sport. In these cases,
people in regional NSW should limit their travel to venues within their region and people in
Greater Sydney regions should limit their travel to venues within Greater Sydney.
• Activity organisers should put structures, schedules and booking systems in place to ensure
that mixing of participants across regions is minimised. For example, for specialised venues
in Greater Sydney:
o Rowing NSW may choose to host an inter-club racing meet at the Sydney
International Regatta Centre where clubs from the North-East of the Harbour Bridge
race in the morning, the venue is then cleared of participants and races are held for
clubs South-East of the Bridge in the afternoon.
• Participants should drive directly to the venue, compete, and then return to their homes
following the activity. Avoid social gatherings before and after the activity, and car pooling or
other shared transport arrangements.
• Participants should not be travelling into Greater Sydney from regional NSW to participate in
activities nor travelling across regions in regional NSW.
• If participants are members of a club not located within their local area, they should consider
whether it is necessary to participate in club activities at this time.
Semi-Professional Sport
• SSOs, SSODs or the sanctioning body for the respective activity will be responsible for
determining which of their competitions are considered to be semi-professional, noting these
competitions should involve a level of player payment and/or other remuneration.
• Semi-professional sport may continue their existing competition activities with a COVID
Safety Plan in place, and must encourage full compliance with all elements of the plan.
• NSWIS training and competition activities may continue under the recommendations, in line
with the NSWIS COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• Organisations planning semi-professional summer competition fixtures (e.g. Grade Cricket)
should consider scheduling of teams that are located close to each other at the beginning of
the season to prevent the movement of teams and participants across Greater Sydney and
regional NSW, or between Greater Sydney and regional NSW.
• If participants are members of a club not located within their local area, they should consider
whether it is necessary to participate in club activities at this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are these additional recommendations being put in place for
community sport?
Since the return of community sport on 1 July, we have seen an increased number of COVID-
19 cases in NSW.
It is essential we implement a range of additional measures across industries and sectors
where there is a high risk of community transmission, or where many people may come into
social contact with others that they do not usually mix with.
Why is there a concern about mixing participants from zones?
We have seen over the past few weeks how easy it is for the virus to be transmitted across
local communities by people going about their regular activities prior to testing positive for
COVID-19.
By bringing people together from different regions of Greater Sydney and more broadly
across NSW, there is an increased risk of introduction of new infections into communities, as
well as ongoing community transmission once established.
Community sport is one of several sectors and industries where there is increased interaction
of people from outside their local communities, therefore these additional recommendations
aim to limit this interaction to minimise the risk of community transmission.
Why are additional restrictions being placed on community sport?
Sport brings together a range of people from across different communities, increasing the risk
of community transmission.
The public health advice is that these additional recommendations are needed for a period of
6 weeks in the first instance, to reduce the risk of community transmission.
Our competition has already commenced, our scheduling has been
finalised and our fixtures and activities take place across multiple
locations and regions – what should we do?
You should consider what steps you can take to cease activities that result in the mixing of
participants and staff from different regions, in line with the advice above. This may require
the postponement or cancellation of fixtures including but not limited to regional or state
championships or competitions. Alternatively, it may be possible to alter or split a competition
or event so that fixtures remain local.
It is acknowledged that associations and districts across Greater Sydney and regional NSW
may need to maintain their existing arrangements with neighbouring associations or districts
to ensure there are enough teams to participate in a competition.
Does this affect competitions that are played across local government areas?
Competitions may run across local government areas within these boundaries, but if there are
enough teams or players within one LGA, a more local competition should be considered.
What does this mean for scheduling of upcoming finals and events?
The additional recommendations are anticipated to remain in place for the next six weeks.
Organisations may need to consider the scheduling of finals in the context of these additional
recommendations.
Will this be updated in the COVID-19 Safety Plans as a requirement for
community sport organisations?
At this time, the recommendations relating to limiting mixing across regions have not been
included in the COVID-19 Safety Plan checklist for community sport. The safety plan will be
updated to include the advice in relation to limiting spectator numbers to a single parent
where the child requires parental supervision during the sporting activity, and to avoid group
singing or chanting (including cheering).
NSW Health is seeking the cooperation of community sport organisations in complying with
these additional recommendations. Should community transmission continue or increase, the
Public Health Orders and COVID-19 Safety Plan requirements may be reviewed and
amended accordingly.
Why is there such a short time frame to implement the additional
recommendations?
We are at a critical time in the pandemic. It is essential that we act quickly and implement
additional measures to protect local communities from the risk of community transmission.
What does this mean for inter-region or state championship events
scheduled for the October Long weekend and beyond?
Community sport organisations should consider contingency plans for postponement for
events and activities on the October long weekend in case the recommendations remain in
place for more than 6 weeks.
Summer season activity organisers should consider contingency plans aligned with these
additional recommendations.
NSW Health will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation over the next six weeks and
provide further advice as the situation evolves.
Are there any changes to the current gathering sizes?
No, at this point in time there is no change to the current gathering size restriction of 500
people at community sport activities.
For local activities, they include a requirement to limit spectators to one parent only, where the
child requires parental supervision during the sporting activity.
How are sports supposed to monitor the one parent per child rule at open
sports grounds and venues?
Community sport organisations should already be considering measures within their COVID
Safety Plans to minimise spectators at community sport. This may include communicating in
advance with parents, erecting signage in the carpark around the grounds and through PA
announcements at the venue.
If I arrange my own accommodation rather than using communal or
residential accommodation facilities, is it OK to part participate in multiday activities?
Community sport organisations should cease activities that result in the mixing of participants
and staff from different regions. In general, if your activity is going to result in travel that
requires participants to stay overnight, then it recommended that the activity should cease for
6 weeks.
In regional NSW (i.e. outside of Greater Sydney), existing competition structures or scheduling
should aim to minimise the need for overnight travel. If overnight travel is required in order to
participate in sporting activities in regional NSW, car pooling or other shared transport arrangements
should be avoided. The use of shared accommodation facilities that would lead to mixing of people
from different households should also be avoided.
