usssa.com/coronavirus & https://open.texas.gov/uploads/files/organization/opentexas/OpenTexas-Checklist-Youth-Sports-Operators.pdf has information regarding return to play protocols. Please review these items carefully and provide them to your coaches, players and families.

To limit touch points, all teams must pay their tournament fees online prior to the event.

All players have been removed from ACTIVE STATUS on their USSSA roster. All guardians must log into their guardian account and approve the new COVID-19 waiver to participate in USSSA sanctioned events. If a player is actively participating in an event, without signing the COVID-19 waiver, the team will be removed from the event and forfeit their tournament fees. COACHES, PLEASE CHECK YOUR ONLINE ROSTER PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING IN AN EVENT.

No one with a fever shall be allowed to enter the park. Anyone exhibiting symptoms will not be allowed entry. Ballparks reserve the right to perform temperature check stations if they so desire.

Per Governor Abbott’s Executive Order 29, dated July 2, 2020, every person in Texas shall wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity or other building or space open to the public, or when in an outdoor public space, wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet social distancing from another person not in the same household; provided, however, that this face covering requirement does not apply to the following:

1. 1. Any person younger than 10 years of age is not required to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth;
   2. Any person with a medical condition or disability that prevents wearing a face covering;
   3. Any person while the person is consuming food or drink, or is seated at a restaurant to eat or drink;
   4. Any person while the person is (a) exercising outdoors or engaging in physical activity outdoors, and (b) maintaining a safe distance from other people not in the same household;

The Executive Order 29 in its entirety can be found here: https://open.texas.gov/uploads/files/organization/opentexas/EO-GA-29-use-of-face-coverings-during-COVID-19-IMAGE-07-02-2020.pdf

All spectators must wear a face covering over the nose and mouth and must follow CDC Social Distancing guidelines and stay at least 6 feet from other persons outside of their immediate household.

Players and coaches must wear a face covering over the nose and mouth until they take the field for their game. At the conclusion of the game, all players and coaches must wear a face covering over the nose and mouth before exiting the playing field.

Bleacher seating will not be accessible or will have reduced capacity. Please bring your own chair and spread out down the foul lines and around the outfield where space allows. Spectators will not be allowed to congregate in one area.

PLEASE LIMIT THE NUMBER OF SPECTATORS ATTENDING AN EVENT.

INDIVIDUALS 65 AND OLDER ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY HOME AND NOT ATTEND EVENTS AT THIS TIME.

PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND PARTICIPANTS, THERE ARE ENHANCED RISKS OF PARTICIPANTS BEING IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH ANYONE AGE 65 OR OLDER FOR 14 DAYS FOLLOWING THE EVENT.

If coaches, players and/or spectators refuse to follow Governor Abbott’s Executive Order 29 and wear a face covering over the nose and mouth, Baseball Nation reserves the right to remove the individual(s) from the ballpark. If the problem persists, the team will be removed from the event and forfeit their tournament fees.

Players may wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as long as the items do not compromise the safety of any and all participants in the game.

Plastic face shields are not allowed if they are not NOCSAE approved.

Masks and other face coverings are allowed.

Baseball Nation Ballparks will provide hand sanitizer dispensers in the dugouts and spectator areas.

Please alert Baseball Nation staff if a dispenser needs to be refilled.

Baseball Nation staff will wear face coverings during each event.

Upon arrival at the dugout, teams are to disinfect hard surface areas (benches, bat racks, etc.)

Upon departure from the dugout, teams are to pick up all trash and other items prior to the next team entering.

ALL PLAYERS MUST DRINK FROM THEIR OWN WATER CONTAINER. Teams are not allowed to have communal drink stations or water jugs.

Teams are encouraged to supply their players with antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer for disinfecting shared playing equipment

The managers meeting at home plate will be limited to one coach from each team plus umpires. No players will be allowed at the home plate meeting. Coaches and umpires must observe CDC Social Distancing Guidelines and stay at least 6 feet from one another at all times.

No high-fives and/or handshakes between players, coaches and umpires.

NO SUNFLOWER SEEDS, CHEWING GUM OR PEANUT SHELLS.

If questioning a ruling or arguing a call, coaches must observe CDC Social Distancing guidelines and stay at least 6 feet from umpires AT ALL TIMES.

• • First offense, coach will be ejected.

• • Second offense, team will be removed from the event and will forfeit their tournament fees.

At the conclusion of the game, umpires will verbally notify coaches of the final score and pitching statistics.

• • Managers must verify that both the score and pitching statistics are accurate. At that time, the umpire will confirm the manager’s name and write it on the card. A manager must notify the on-site tournament director immediately if the score or pitching statistics are entered incorrectly.

At the conclusion of the game no handshakes between players, coaches and/or umpires are allowed.

At the conclusion of the championship game, no award ceremony will take place. The tournament director will provide the head coach of each team with their awards and players, parents and coaches must follow CDC Social Distancing guidelines and stay at least 6 feet from one another if taking pictures.

All posted rules must be followed.

All state and local guidelines must be followed.

Additional guidelines may come from ballparks and/or the state at any time. Please be prepared to adjust accordingly.