Safety Guidelines

COVID-19 Safety & Preventative Measures and Return to Play Guidelines

Updated for the Fall 2020 Season (Approved by the City of Jacksonville Beach)

Safety Guidelines & Preventative Measures

1. All fans and players must adhere to any state and local safety guidelines while on park premises.
2. Please follow 6’ social distancing guidelines when at the park. Masks are required when you cannot social distance.
3. Coaches & players are strongly encouraged to wear masks in areas where it may be more difficult to social distance. This includes, but is not limited to, dugouts & the covered cages.
4. Any player or fan not feeling well or showing any symptoms of COVID-19 shall not attend games or practices. An Isolation tent/room or designated outside area within the park will be available in the event any player or fan becomes sick while at the ballpark. The sick individual is to leave the ballpark immediately or be relocated to the isolation area until they can leave the ballpark.
5. Masks will be required by all volunteers while working the concession stands or when inside the building with others. Disposable masks are available in the concession stand.
6. Parents should drop off players prior to games and remain in their cars before returning at the scheduled game time to reduce crowds at the park.
7. Players and coaches should refrain from handshakes, high fives, fist/elbow bumps, chest bumps, group celebrations, etc. Post-game sportsmanship gestures shall be in the form of a “hat tip” from team to team, with players remaining on their side of the field near the chalk lines.
8. One team should not enter the field of play until the other team has exited fully.
9. Players should not share playing equipment, bats, gloves, fielder’s mask, catcher’s gear, helmets, water bottles etc. Cleaning wipes will be available if equipment needs to be wiped down.
10. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance to all fields and park entrances. Players should use it as they come on and off the fields. Parents should also provide their child with a small bottle of sanitizer for their bags.
11. No team or dugout coolers are permitted. Please refrain from using the water fountains.
12. Fans may use the stands but are encouraged to bring their own chairs instead. Fans should remain 6’ from all other parties whether they are using the stands or have brought their own chairs and should have a mask available if social distancing cannot be maintained.
13. Fans on the Sr and Jr T-ball field should social distance as best they can within space available. We ask you to kindly consider having immediate family only at these games because of the limited space available. If you are able, please do not have siblings at games. Masks are required when you cannot social distance.
14. Any siblings/children not playing must stay with their parents/guardian. There is no running around the fields/complex or playing on unoccupied fields or in the batting cages.
15. The use of candy, chewing gum and/or sunflower seeds is not permitted by players, coaches, or umpires. Tobacco has never been allowed at Wingate Park.
16. Pre-game home plate meetings are limited to one coach per team and umpire(s).
17. In the event of rain all players, spectators, and coaches must return to their own vehicles and cannot congregate under overhangs, dugouts, or other covered structures.
18. Each parent must sign a COVID-19 waiver during the registration process for their child. COVID-19 notices are posted at all entrances into Wingate Park and anyone who enters the park shall deemed to have accepted the terms & conditions and all underlying risks.
19. These rules are subject to change at the discretion of the JBBA Board of Directors and from guidance issued from the City of Jacksonville Beach.

Return to Play Guidelines

1. Any player or fan who has tested positive for COVID-19 or had an immediate family member residing in the same household test positive shall not return to Wingate Park or any league activity for 10 days after the date of positive test. If they are still showing any symptoms after 10 days, they cannot return until they are cleared by a doctor.
2. Any case of a player being at practices, games, or other team activities and later testing positive for COVID-19 will be reviewed by the Board of Directors to determine if any other players meet the guidelines for high exposure. High exposure is defined as within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes with or without mask on. We will consult with medical professionals for review if needed.
3. Any player who has had high exposure with some that has COVID-19 (regardless of where) will not be allowed to return to Wingate Park or any team activities until 14 days from the date of exposure. If the player is tested and is positive, then a 10 day quarantine (as outlined in item #1 above) from the date of the test shall be applicable.
4. In the event that a player is asked to quarantine by a school, because the classroom or a group of students is deemed to have potential exposure, the board shall conduct an investigation that involves interviewing the parents and player to determine if high exposure has occurred with the infected person. If high exposure did not occur, then the player may continue to participate with the team activities. If high exposure did occur, the player shall not return to Wingate Park or any team activities and must quarantine according to the steps outlined above.
5. A positive player does not mean a team must quarantine. The Board shall conduct an investigation in each case and determine if the coaches and players followed the safety guidelines while at practices and/or games. If any player is determined to have high exposure to the infected player, then the exposed player shall not return to Wingate Park or any team activities and must quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.