Nanaimo Minor Softball Association

Covid-19 Update With the City of Nanaimo announcing that the Beban Park sports field will be opened today, Monday, Nanaimo Minor Softball Association announces that they will be the first of the sports teams to use the 4 diamonds at Beban Park. With many associations shutting down across the province, the long journey and hard work of NMSA executive has made it happen. That is truly exciting news as we move forward in trying times. We have put in place all the requirements n...ecessary and dictated by our BC Provincial Health Officer, Island Health, City of Nanaimo and Softball BC. To start, the format will be limited as we have no-contact, non-competitive training activities for all players but with the hope to gradually work towards some competition. We have teams in U10, U12 & U14 combined, U16 & U19 combined and U12 B Rep and U19 B Rep so families and coaches who completed all registration & waiver requirements will have received an email with information on when and where they play and "How to Attend a Softball Activity" with NMSA during COVID-19. We thank all families who completed their registration and COVID-19 waivers and stepped forward to support the teams in the new Safety Roles required during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also appreciate everybody who considered playing with us this year but felt this wasn't the right time for them; that was a very hard decision for many to make I’m sure. This won't be a "normal" year, but we'll be creative during our time on the fields this summer. Our schedule continues on into late August so we anticipate as to time that it will approximate a normal season. To have players of all ages on the fields, and some good weather, IT WILL JUST FEEL GOOD! Brian Cornborough President | Nanaimo Minor Softball Association [email protected] cell/text: 250.755.5770

Covid-19 Update To: House Players, Competitive Players and Parents From: Nanaimo Minor Softball Association We have now received the Return to Play guidelines from Softball BC (named Back to Bases Softball BC’s Return to Play Guidelines and Protocols). Your Board is now in the process of adapting them for our use. We also require approval from the City of Nanaimo before we can enter onto fields. Hopefully that will be next week. Please read about the Softball BC guideline...s link on our website and copies to the coaches will be made. However, before we do that, you as a parent or older player will need to do your part. There are three forms that require your signature before any activity can take place, whether it’s as simple as a meeting. These forms are required so as to protect you and the Association. Please go to our website at www.nanaimosoftball.ca and check for the forms, complete them, and return by email if possible to the [email protected]. by no later than midnight June 14th, 2020. On Monday, June 15th, we will begin to build teams with players who have sent in the forms. They are: - Declaration of Compliance - Consent for use of personal information and photo release - Release of Liability, waiver of claims and Indemnity Agreement (participants 19 and older) - Informed Consent And Assumption Of Risk Agreement Minor (players/participants under 19) This year will more than ever require the assistance of parents as the extra tasks due to COVID 19 are many. The Board’s policy is that at least one parent of each family must be available to take on a task. It might be asking the screening questions (similar to those at most businesses before entry), taking attendance, sanitizing equipment, etc. We will have complete job outlines available in the next few days and they will be communicated to you. We will not be using the dugouts for sitting but rather all players must bring a camp chair so that spacing can happen. We will also not have the washrooms open during field times due to their shared nature, high touch use and NMSA limited ability to maintain and sanitize. This will be a year of patience and understanding and I guess one to remember. If you see anything that is worrisome to you, please speak up, in person at the field or to myself or any other Board member. Thanks for your understanding. More updates will follow. Brian Cornborough President | Nanaimo Minor Softball Association [email protected] cell/text: 250.755.5770 -- Actions Required for Players to be placed on a team Please review the NMSA Local Operating Plan 2020 http://nanaimominorsoftball.sportsavvy.com//NMSA-Local-Ope Softball BC Back to Bases Guidelines https://softball.bc.ca//Softball-BC-Return-to-Play-Guideli Complete the Required Waivers for players and at least 1 parent or guardian http://nanaimominorsoftball.sportsavvy.com/rules/documents/

Covid-19 Update To: House and Competitive Players and Parents From: Nanaimo Minor Softball Association... Thanks for your patience. We are very close now to embarking on our season. Softball BC has received the guidelines from viaSport (the Government branch implementing the steps for return to play) for amateur sports in BC. Softball BC will now take these guidelines and ensure that they are embedded into their return to play to be in compliance with the provincial requirements. Likewise, your NMSA Board is working hard on preparing for our return to play so that everyone who wants to return has a clear path to that goal of some kind of softball activity. As part of playing this season, Softball BC has instituted a policy that requires every parent/player to complete forms/waivers as we noted in an earlier update (3 of 4 are applicable to everyone). These forms are to be completed by players (19 and older) and parents (in the case of players under 19) and are designed to help manage risk for the club and safety of parents. In order for us to manage the rush which will happen as soon as we get the ok, we are asking that you complete them now and return them to [email protected] as soon as possible. You may wish to wait for the action plan before submitting them and that is fine also. The forms will have to be submitted prior to any ball activity and must be strictly enforced. The forms are: - Declaration of Compliance - Consent for use of personal information and photo release - Release of Liability, waiver of claims and Indemnity Agreement ( participants 19 and older) - Informed Consent And Assumption Of Risk Agreement Minor (players/participants under 19) Download the Forms here: http://nanaimominorsoftball.sportsavvy.com/rules/documents/ NMSA has been acquiring PPE supplies, not an easy chore. As we come together, we hope parents will be able to help with providing your children with some of the tools they will need such as facemasks and sanitizer, all of which will help us financially to get through this year’s play. Thanks for your understanding. Be sure to follow us on our website for further announcements. Brian Cornborough President | Nanaimo Minor Softball Association [email protected] cell/text: 250.755.5770 -- COVID-19 Waiver & Release Documents Softball BC has mandated that all participants including players, coaches, volunteers, umpires, and board members must complete and return the following COVID-19 documents before participating in any Softball related activities. 3 of the 4 documents below must be completed for each person in order to be placed on a team, coach a team, umpire, volunteer or participate in any softball related activity. Please complete and sign the following forms and email them to [email protected] as soon as possible. Download the Forms here: http://nanaimominorsoftball.sportsavvy.com/rules/documents/

Covid-19 Update In anticipation of a Return to Play in June, online registration is still open at http://nanaimosoftball.ca The BC Government announced that in Phase 2 sports can begin again. Even as we are now in Phase 2, return to play depends on several levels of Government and Association Governing bodies to finalize return to play safety guidelines and processes. NMSA is waiting on Softball BC for return to play safety guidelines and COVID-19 related waivers which will b...e following information received from BC Health, Work Safe BC, and ViaSport. The City of Nanaimo will also have an update for us soon regarding re-opening fields. Once the paper work and processes are ready we are aiming to begin playing ball June 1 or shortly after. We'll have additional announcements by email, our website and Facebook page as soon as we have more information on next steps. Nanaimo Minor Softball Association