MOUNT LAUREL BASEBALL

COVID-19 GUIDELINES

            Mount Laurel Baseball (hereinafter “MLB”) will adhere to the guidance for sports activities as set forth by the New Jersey Department of Health. In addition to said guidelines, MLB will institute the following rules/measures:                       

1. Screen athletes, coaches, umpires, and any other participants with a temperature check upon arrival at the field. Anybody showing or listing symptoms of COVID-19 during or after the screening shall not be permitted to participate (refer to CDC symptom checklist).

2. Do not come to practice/games if you or a member of your household are not feeling well or are showing symptoms of COVID-19.

3. Do not come to practice/games if you or a member of your household has been exposed to a person with COVID-19 within the past 10 days.

4. Adults 65 years and older or people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions are strongly encouraged not to attend practice/games this season.

5. Athletes, coaches, umpires, and any other participants will engage in healthy practices during team activities such as - regular hand washing with soap/water or use of hand sanitizer (which will be provided in each dugout), no post-game handshakes, no spitting, no chewing/spitting sunflower seeds, etc.

6. Players, coaches, umpires, AND spectators should maintain 6 feet of distance whenever possible. MLB will mark out designated areas for players and spectators to sit during practices/games to ensure social distance is kept. Players will bring a chair to sit in when they are not on the field or in the dugout which will be placed in their designated area as outlined above.

7. Spectators are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings when 6 feet of distance is not possible. Coaches and umpires must wear face coverings when 6 feet of distance is not possible. Players are encouraged to wear face coverings when not engaging in vigorous activity or are in close contact areas where distancing is not possible (ie. Dugouts). Children under the age of 2 should not wear face coverings as per the CDC guidelines.

8. No food or drink sharing between players/coaches.

9. Players should use their own equipment whenever possible. If equipment must be shared, it should be cleaned and then disinfected with an EPA approved disinfectant against COVID-19 (which will be provided by MLB) and allowed sufficient time to dry before being used by a new player.

10. Umpires will call games from behind the pitcher’s mound for all rec games. Umpires are encouraged to call games from behind the pitcher’s mound for all travel games when possible.

11. No more than 3 players and 1 coach in the dugout at any one time. Additional players will sit in a designated area outside the field of play as pre-established by MLB to help maintain 6 feet of distance and proceed to the dugout when called by a coach.

12. Signs shall be erected at and around all fields being used by MLB that remind players, coaches, umpires, and spectators to maintain 6 feet of distance whenever possible and to practice good hygiene.

13. All players, staff, parents will be given a copy of these guidelines to review and advised to review the NJ Department of Health guidelines before the season begins.

14. For Instructional & Tball: A parent/guardian will be required to attend each practice/game, stay for the entire event, and assist on the field with their child as directed by the team’s head coach.

15. For Rec Games/Practices at the Quad: All players, coaches, volunteers, and spectators will be required to ENTER the complex by using the path between Quad White & Quad Red. Everyone will be required to EXIT the complex by using the path between Quad White & Quad Blue.

16. Coaches are encouraged to limit use of the batting cages before rec games. If batting cages are used, no more than 2 players may be at the cages waiting to hit at any given time. Therefore the limit of individuals per cage is 4 (coach throwing BP, player hitting in the cage, 2 players waiting for their turn to hit). Players waiting to hit will stand at least 6 feet apart. Only the coach will touch the baseballs.

17. Parent/guardian must attest to their review of these guidelines and sign a liability waiver prior to their child engaging in MLB activities. Failure or refusal to do so will make said player ineligible for participation. 

18. MLB reserves the right to adjust these requirements throughout the season based on updated guidance from state and local health authorities, the CDC and any other governing bodies.  Notice of any changes will be provided as soon as practical via email to all participants.