Covid-19 Return to Play Guidelines Anaheim Hills Little League
Updated 1/24/2022

Anaheim Hills Little League (AHLL) will implement the following guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic.  These practices have been compiled using guidelines from Little League International, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health, City of Anaheim and Major League Baseball. This plan has been reviewed and approved by the AHLL Board and is subject to change. 


Below are important websites for the most up to date information on COVID-19 for the State and County

COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year

K-12 Guidance 2021-22 School Year (ca.gov)

California Department of Public Health  (historical) Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Adult Sports

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/outdoor-indoor-recreational-sports.aspx

Orange County Department of Heath Guidance for Schools and Youth sports

Guidance: Schools & Youth Sports | Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (ochealthinfo.com)

COVID-19 General Guidance:

Covid-19 is spread by air droplets and the opportunity to pass along infection is always possible even without symptoms or feeling sick.

Face masks/ facial covering will be required for those unvaccinated when entering the zone that encompasses in front of the snack shack at Crescent and Anaheim Hills Elementary when large gatherings are present.

Hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds after being in public place, coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.  Use of a hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol can be used in place of soap and water.  Cover all surfaces of your hands and let sanitizer air dry.  Hand sanitizer will be provided by the league for most common areas.  Individuals are encouraged to bring their own for personal use.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Avoid touching the center of your mask.  Handle your mask by the ear straps or outer most part away from your nose/ mouth.

Participants should maintain at least six feet of distance from others to the maximum extent possible. Coaches should avoid contact with participants and facilitate physical distancing between participants to the maximum extent possible.

For youth sports (age 18 years and under), immediate household members may observe practices and games as needed for age-appropriate supervision, but observers should be limited to ensure physical distance can be maintained, reduce potential crowding.  When observing, individuals must stay at least 6 feet from non-household members.

If a person develops symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, chills, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, gastrointestinal distress or upset stomach, and has reason to believe they may have been exposed, they should call their health care provider before seeking care.   Stay home and avoid close contact with others, including attending Little League events until symptoms are free and deemed safe by a medical professional.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All managers, coaches, volunteers, umpires should wear PPE if not vaccinated (cloth face coverings/ protective masks).  Unvaccinated adults to wear face coverings when in close contact areas and in places where recommended social distancing is challenging (dugouts).  Players should not wear medical gloves on the field during games. 

Players are not required to wear face coverings while on the field during game play but may choose to exercise this option based on individual guidance of the player/parent or guardian

Equipment

Baseballs should be cycled out on a regular basis and should not be reused for a minimum period of five days.  Rotate ball every two innings during games.

Umpires should limit contact with the ball

Warm up balls should be separated from game balls.

Shared equipment should be cleaned and disinfected before use by another person, group, or team.

When equipment is shared during an activity, participants should perform hand hygiene (use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) before play, during breaks, at half time, and after the conclusion of the activity.

Balls or other objects or equipment can be touched by multiple players and used during practice and play if the above hand hygiene practices are followed.

Spitting

Spitting is prohibited (including but not limited to, saliva, sunflower seeds or peanut shells) at all times (including on the field).  Chewing gum is not permitted.  

Game:

Pre-game plate meetings will follow 6 feet spacing and consist of one manager from each team and the umpire.  Face coverings will be required if adult is unvaccinated.

Equipment to be inspected by the umpire will be individually placed in front of the respective dugouts with good spacing to allow clear sight.  Umpires should avoid direct contact where possible.   In the event equipment requires handling, the umpire will use hand sanitizer prior to handing.  At no point should a player or coach handle another player’s equipment.

Game volunteers

For each game, only the required volunteers (managers/ coaches) should be in the dugout.

Only the official scorekeepers will be behind the backstop at least 6 feet apart

Field Maintenance and Preparation

In addition to the coaches/ manager per team, one parent will be allowed to assist with field work.

Shared equipment should be cleaned and disinfected before use by another person, group, or team.

Umpires

Umpires are permitted to be placed behind the pitcher’s mound to call balls/ strikes if that is their personal preference or the preference of their parents (junior umpires).  Umpires are encouraged to keep a safe distance from players as much as possible and wear protective gloves.

Batting Cages

Use to be determined by AHLL.

Cleaning of Surfaces

The league will make its best effort to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily and in between all facility uses including practices and games.  This includes tables, handles, common use equipment, dugouts etc.  Coaches and managers to wipe down team use areas at the conclusion of practice/ games.

Staggered Scheduling

To control the flow of people entering and exiting the facilities to promote physical distancing, and avoid any mingling, the league will schedule sufficient time between practices and games.

Players, families or spectators will not be permitted to show up to the fields more than 40 minutes before game time.

AHLL will ensure practices and games adhere to current state and local guidelines regarding the number of people allowed to gather in one place.

Limits on Spectator Attendance

Spectators should adhere to social distancing guidelines, staying 6 feet apart, wear facial covering if unvaccinated and avoiding direct contact with players/ coaches during play.

Spectators to provide their own seating (portable chairs).

No spectators will be allowed on the bleachers

Any person with symptoms of COVID-19 (including fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, chills, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, gastrointestinal distress or upset stomach, and has reason to believe they may have been exposed)  should stay home and avoid close contact with others, including attending Little League events until symptoms are free and deemed safe by a medical professional.

Persons over the age of 65, nursing home residents and those with underlying medical conditions (heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, kidney disease or immunocompromised) should seek consultation with their medical provider before attending a game.

Restrooms

Per OUSD/ City of Anaheim guidelines

Concession stands

Pending final decision from AHLL

All buffet-style and communal food spreads are prohibited. Meals and snacks must be served in individualized to-go containers. Teams should attempt to facilitate food ordering for players outside of game times through text message, email, or another method (e.g., Slack) to permit individuals to time their food orders.

Communal items, such as large condiment bottles, must be removed from eating areas and replaced with individually packaged units.  Cutlery should be pre-packaged, in recyclable or disposable form.

Contracting COVID

Any person participating in AHLL with a positive test for COVID-19 should notify AHLL safety officer Matt Stresak [email protected].  Please be prepared to provide date of symptom onset, date of positive test and last contact with AHLL participants (including players/ coaches/ volunteers who may be at risk).  AHLL will be required to alert the Orange County Health Authority and City of Anaheim.  AHLL will also notify those participants identified who may be at risk for disease spread.   All AHLL COVID positive persons are to  stay home, avoid others, including attending Little League events until symptoms are free and deemed safe by a medical professional.

The CDC says that people who develop COVID-19 symptoms or get infected with coronavirus should:

Returning to Sports After Infection

Children and teens with symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend practices or competition. They should consult their physician for testing and notify their coach of their symptoms.

Youths recovering from COVID-19 will have different paths to return to sports based on the severity of their illness. Those who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms should not exercise until cleared by a physician. See the American Academy of Pediatrics Interim Guidance on Return to Sports for additional guidance for more serious infections.

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-interim-guidance-return-to-sports/

What to do if a participant had COVID-19 or has it during the season?

In a SARS-CoV-2–positive child who is either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (<4 days of fever >100.4°F, short duration of myalgia, chills, and lethargy), there are limited data available and recommendations are based on expert opinion. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should not exercise until they are cleared by a physician. It is suggested they visit with their primary care physician (PCP) who will review the local 14-point preparticipation  screening evaluation with special emphasis on cardiac symptoms including  chest pain, shortness of breath out of proportion for upper respiratory tract infection, new-onset palpitations, or syncope and perform a complete physical examination. If the preparticipation  screening   evaluation and examination are  normal, no further testing is warranted and the patient may begin a gradual return to play after  10 days have passed from date of the positive test result and a minimum of 24 hours symptom free off-fever reducing medications. If the PCP identifies any new or concerning history or physical examination findings at this visit, an ECG should be performed and referral should be made to a pediatric cardiologist for evaluation and further testing. 

For those with moderate symptoms of COVID-19 (≥4 days of fever >100.4°F, myalgia, chills, or lethargy or those who had a non-ICU hospital stay and no evidence of MIS-C ), an ECG and cardiology consult is currently recommended after symptom resolution, and at a minimum of 10 days past the date of the positive test result. Individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 should not exercise until they are cleared by a physician. The cardiologist may consider ordering a troponin test and an echocardiogram at the time of acute infection. Depending on the patient’s symptoms and their duration, additional testing including a Holter monitor, exercise stress testing, or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be considered. If cardiac workup is negative, gradual return to physical activity may be allowed after 10 days have passed from the date of the positive test result, and a minimum of 10 days of symptom resolution has occurred off fever-reducing medicine.  

For patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms (ICU stay and/or intubation) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), it is recommended they be restricted from exercise for a minimum of 3 to 6 months and definitely require cardiology clearance prior to resuming training or competition. Coordination of follow-up cardiology care should be arranged prior to hospital discharge. Extensive cardiac testing should include but is not limited to: troponin tests, echocardiogram, and cardiac MRI. 

A graduated return-to-play protocol can begin once an athlete has been cleared by a physician (cardiologist for moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms) and is asymptomatic when performing normal activities of daily living. The progression should be performed over the course of a 7-day minimum. Consideration for extending the progression should be given to athletes who experienced moderate COVID-19 symptoms as outlined above.  

The following progression was adapted from Elliott N, et al, infographic, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020:

Stage 1: Day 1 and Day 2 - (2 Days Minimum) - 15 minutes or less: Light activity (walking, jogging, stationary bike), intensity no greater than 70% of maximum heart rate. NO resistance training. 

Stage 2: Day 3 - (1 Day Minimum) - 30 minutes or less: Add simple movement activities (eg. running drills) - intensity no greater than 80% of maximum heart rate. 

Stage 3: Day 4 - (1 Day Minimum) - 45 minutes or less- Progress to more complex training - intensity no greater than 80% maximum heart rate. May add light resistance training. 

Stage 4: Day 5 and Day 6 - (2 Days Minimum) - 60 minutes -Normal training activity - intensity no greater than 80% maximum heart rate. 

Stage 5: Day 7 - Return to full activity/participation (ie, - Contests/competitions).