We're just a low-level rec league, but the boys are so, so
by milhouse (2020-06-20 20:35:46)

In reply to: I'm envious. I'd wear a freaking hazmat suit  posted by BottleofRed

Post Reply Return to Rock's House

happy to be playing baseball. They're going to be 6th graders this fall, and the way they ended their elementary school experiences really affected them more than most people realize. I think it really means a lot to them to be able to see their friends again and do something organized outside of the house.

I've tried very hard to keep them 6 feet apart during postgame conversations and at practices, but there's only so much we can do.



we did make one change
by jt  (2020-06-20 20:50:53)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

no more postgame handshakes--stand on the baselines and tip the cap.

This is in a fairly competitive travel tournament, but I think that it will be similar everywhere we play.
Same here. We have been playing for a couple of weeks.
by ndark  (2020-06-21 09:36:12)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Teams and families are supposed to stay together and not enter the complex until game time with masks worn. Feels like we are some of the only ones abiding by the rules. The boys do think their matching team masks are cool though.

Same, but the dugout avoidance went away for most
by ndgotrobbedin97  (2020-06-20 22:28:56)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

We still won't let them in the dugouts, and keep them spaced out behind, but every other team we've played has talked a good game, but then once the game starts they're all in the dugouts.

We also use our own baseballs, and no one is supposed to touch them besides the defense and their coaches. It MAINLY works, but foul balls are not going to find themselves.
Yep, our distancing measures lasted about 5 minutes
by elcortez01  (2020-06-22 09:29:51)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Into the first practice. It felt silly trying to enforce it since just about all of our 12 kids are all playing together and socializing outside of baseball anyways.

I know you all have thought of this already...
by ewillND  (2020-06-21 12:39:35)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

But one of the things that we have found is that "X marks the spot" actually works. For everyone. Even our most frustrating 15-16 year olds. If we put cones out on the sidewalk in the morning, each kid will stand by one.

Can you put out some extra benches, put Xs 1.5-2 meters apart, and tell the kids they can only sit on an X?

It is never going to be perfect--all of this is an exercise in cat-herding. Kids can't do social distancing--they don't mean to do it wrong, they just can't get their heads around it. But anything you can do to help will actually help.

We did the cap tip too. I like it, actually. It forces the
by milhouse  (2020-06-20 22:46:58)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

players to look at each other and say something instead of the robotic "good game, good game, good game."

We also have no bleachers -- they removed them, and the parents are supposed to sit in their chairs down the baselines. They all end up where the bleachers used to be, though.

I kept the kids with their parents for a game or two, but they were totally out of it -- not paying attention to the game, not ready to bat when it was their turn, etc. I told the parents to do what they want -- if they want to keep their kids with them, great; if they don't mind them in the dugout, fine. I don't want to play police on that.