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Richmond Little League

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17

Jan, 2022

RLL's COVID Policy

Richmond Little League

COVID-19 Return to Play Policies and Best Practices

(Updated February 28th, 2022)

As details of CDC, state and local phasing guidelines are published and revised, 

these guidelines are subject to modification.

General Rules and Requirements

  1. Richmond Little League (RLL) requires that players, coaches, umpires, volunteers and spectators at RLL events (collectively, RLL Community) adhere to all guidelines set forth by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Richmond.  If an RLL team is participating in an event in a locality outside of the City of Richmond, RLL requires the RLL Community involved adhere to that locality’s guidelines.  RLL expects the RLL Community to stay informed of all changes to state and local guidelines. 

  2. Individuals should self-screen for fever or COVID symptoms prior to participating in RLL activities.  An RLL Community member experiencing any of the following symptoms may not attend or participate in an RLL activity. It is recommended individuals experiencing any of these symptoms should get tested or get cleared by a medical professional before returning. 

    1. fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), 

    2. a new cough that cannot be attributed to another health condition, 

    3. new shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to another health condition, 

    4. new chills that cannot be attributed to another health condition, 

    5. a new sore throat that cannot be attributed to another health condition, 

    6. new muscle aches that cannot be attributed to another health condition or specific activity (such as physical exercise),

    7. headache that cannot be attributed to another health condition,

    8. congestion or runny nose that cannot be attributed to another health condition, 

    9. diarrhea, 

    10. nausea or vomiting.    

RLL Board members and managers have the discretion and authority to address an instance in which an RLL Community member is not in compliance with this requirement.   

  1. If an unvaccinated player, volunteer, coach or umpire has an exposure to an individual that has tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 10 days they should isolate and are prohibited from participating in RLL activities for 10 days. They may return if they have no Covid-19 symptoms (see 2 above) and have obtained a PCR-based Covid test on Day 5 post-exposure if the test was negative, they have had no fever within 24h, and are not experiencing any Covid symptoms. If you are unable to obtain a Covid test you may return after 5 days if you are not experiencing fever or symptoms but must wear a tight-fitting mask. If a fully vaccinated player, volunteer, coach or umpire has an exposure to an individual that has tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 14 days they may continue to play unless they develop a fever or symptoms.  CDC and VDH recommend testing 5 days post-exposure. 

  2. If you test positive for an active COVID-19 infection please contact the RLL safety officer: [email protected].  If you are symptomatic with your infection you should isolate at home for 5 days. If your symptoms have resolved you may return to play wearing a tight-fitting mask for an additional 5 days. If your infection is asymptomatic you should isolate at home for 5 days but may then return to play.

  3. Any individual, including players, at risk for severe illness or with serious underlying medical or respiratory conditions should not attend RLL events without written permission from a medical professional.

  4. RLL expects the RLL Community to practice appropriate physical distancing at RLL events based on the most recent guidance from the CDC, state and local authorities.  

  5. Richmond City Parks & Recreation will maintain the restrooms at Byrd Park & Maymont.  They will post signage on those bathroom doors. At JB Cary RLL will provide a Port O Johns at the field that is intended for RLL use only. Disinfectant spray, paper towels, & hand sanitizer will be supplied in the Port O John’s for use by the RLL community, so please alert your coach if those supplies are running low. The Port O John’s will be locked at the end of the daily RLL schedule.  

Players

  1. Catcher’s masks can only be shared by players during the game if it has been disinfected. 

  2. Players may wear face coverings at their discretion.

Coaches, Umpires, and other Volunteers

  1. Coaches, umpires and other volunteers may but are not required to wear face coverings. Unvaccinated coaches, umpires and other volunteers are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.

  2. Dugouts will be limited to essential personnel only. 

  3. Coaches will monitor players for COVID-19 symptoms.

  4. Coaches will oversee physical distancing and enforce all player procedures. 

  5. The scoring table at Byrd Park will be used by team scorekeepers and announcers only. 

  6. Coaches and other volunteers will disinfect high touch equipment. 

Spectators

Spectators should social distance (based on current guidelines) in league designated areas per each field. 

League Notification and Action Plan for a Positive Covid-19 Testing

The City of Richmond Parks and Recreation Department has provided RLL guidance on recommended steps to deal with a positive Covid-19 test in our League. Under that guidance, RLL has developed the following action plan.  

  1. Require RLL Members to notify the RLL Safety Office if any player, volunteer, umpire, coach or any “same household” family member of any of those RLL participants tests positive.

  2. If a player, volunteer, umpire, coach or any of their “same household” family members test positive that player, volunteer, umpire or coach is out of play. If the player, volunteer, coach or umpire tests positive for Covid-19 they should isolate and may not participate an any RLL activities for 10 d. If a player, volunteer, umpire or coach does test positive they should contact RLL’s safety officer via email [email protected]

  3. If a player, volunteer, coach on a team, or umpire officiating a game, does test positive, the affected team or teams will have all activities, practices and games “paused” and the league will notify Richmond City Parks & Recreation, who is our liaison on matters related to Covid-19 cases. The team(s) will remain on “pause” until Richmond City Contact tracing is complete.

  4. Richmond City Parks will help inform Richmond Little League of appropriate action plans and next steps including decisions to allow for the safe and appropriate return to practice/play for affected the team(s). 

  5. Richmond Little League will concurrently notify families on the affected team(s) and families in the relevant division with non-confidential information of the incident. The league may follow-up with a league wide communication as well as necessary.