Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 24, 2020 – Baseball Manitoba announces that just over three months since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the province, it is safe to return to competition.
Baseball Manitoba submitted a Return to Play document to the Province of Manitoba in May of 2020. It was approved in early June, allowing Manitobans to return to training on June 8, 2020. Once training could begin, Baseball Manitoba continued to work towards a safe return to competition. Their target start date was July 1, 2020, but after a very successful Phase 1: Return to Training, they are pleased to announce Phase 2: Return to Competition can officially start on June 24, 2020. An updated version of their Return to Play Document is now available on their website at baseballmanitoba.ca
Signage has been delivered and hung at ballparks, sanitizing supplies are being accumulated and distributed, and volunteers and players are adjusting to baseball under the new circumstances. Local baseball volunteers are working diligently to get the season started in a safe manner.
Checklists have been created for the following categories, including one for the new volunteer role of Health and Safety Coordinator. Baseball Manitoba intends for these checklists to help their community return to competition safely:
- Health and Safety Coordinator
- Player
- Coach
- Parent and Spectator
- Umpire and Clinician
- Ballpark Maintenance Staff
Baseball Manitoba is one of the first provinces within Canada to return to baseball competition.
The Manitoba Junior Baseball League will host the first games of 2020 as 3 double headers get underway on Sunday, June 28. The Winnipeg AAA Baseball League will get underway on July 1. Finally, grassroots baseball games will begin Province-wide in early July.
For more information, please visit baseballmanitoba.ca.