Coronavirus Updates

6 ft x 42 inch Social Distancing Banner – PDF Download

May 1st 2020

To: USSSA Membership

Subject: POST COVID-19 Return-to-Play Guidelines, Procedures and Recommendations

Inside this manual are best practices for our sports, as developed by our USSSA POST COVID-19 Task Force. These best practices are designed to help directors with ideas and plans for operating events post COVID-19. They do not replace or supersede any protocols or restrictions outlined by state or local authorities. All directors must continue to follow those local or state guidelines.

POST COVID-19 Return-to-Play Guidelines (Updated 5/14/20)

POST COVID-19 Return-to-Play FAQ’s

Return to Play Waiver Sample – FOR REFERENCE ONLY

To sign waiver login to your USSSA account at usssa.com/login

April 13th 2020

To: USSSA State Directors

Subject: 2020 Youth Sports Season Extended to Aug. 31

We hope all is well with the entire USSSA membership, considering these extraordinary circumstances, and that you are staying safe and healthy. Everyone has had to make adjustments recently. Please know we are hard at work here at the USSSA National Office, so we will be ready to kick-start all operations and events once we are assured the coast is clear to return to everyday life.

2020 Season Extended

After lengthy consideration, the USSSA National Office has decided to extend the 2020 season for all USSSA youth sports that have an original season end date of July 31, 2020. We are extending this season by one month, through Aug. 31, 2020. This will give every team as many as five extra weekends in August to still fit in events as part of the 2020 season.

USSSA State Directors all over America are beginning to add August events to their 2020 schedules, where possible. Event opportunities may vary by locality, based on variables such as facility availability, and all decisions to add events rest with the local Directors, who individually must weigh their local options regarding more events. Please know that everyone is working hard to explore additional event opportunities and secure the facilities needed to bring back the crack of the bat and the pop of the glove across this great country of ours.

Also important to know:

The process for teams to register for events remains unchanged, and all events in August 2020 now will be considered part of the ’20 season.
The 2021 season for USSSA youth sports is now scheduled to begin on Sept. 1, 2020.
With the one-month shift in the 2020 season, player age requirements also have shifted by one month. Any player who would have aged up on Aug. 1 will now age up instead on Sept. 1 and will remain eligible to play at the age you are playing today.

Please Note: Soccer is also allowing an extended season for it’s member leagues, clubs and teams. Due to USSSA’s affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation, our soccer members should follow the steps and procedures in the message sent earlier today and posted at; www.usssasoccer.com

Team Insurance Also Extended

Also in conjunction with the extension of the 2020 youth sports season by one month, USSSA team insurance is being extended for one month – until 12:01 a.m. on 9/1/2020. For any team with a current USSSA Team Insurance expiration date of 8/1/2020, the expiration date for that coverage is being revised to 9/1/2020 and no premium will be charged for the month of August 2020. Your team certificate will be updated automatically and available on your Team Management page at www.usssa.com.

If you have any questions about any of the above developments, please contact your Director.

Again, everyone please stay healthy and safe. We all cannot wait to take the field again. And when the time comes, let’s all be ready.

Take care,

Donny DeDonatis III
Chief Executive Officer
USSSA

March 17th 5:15PM EDT

To: USSSA Membership

Subject: USSSA Event Sanctioning Temporarily Suspended

In light of the most-recent federal recommendations regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), USSSA has made the difficult decision to suspend the sanctioning of events in the United States and Canada until further notice.

Effective tomorrow, March 18, 2020, at 5 p.m. EDT, USSSA’s revised sanctioning policy will take effect. At that point, in accordance with USSSA’s bylaws, no events will be sanctioned until further notice. This is for the health and safety of our players and our tournament personnel.

USSSA will evaluate this decision weekly and determinations of when to resume sanctioning in each area of the country will be made in conjunction with state directors and their local government agencies.

During this time, we ask our membership to exercise patience and understanding as each of our directors works diligently to administer this policy and coordinate rescheduling efforts at the local level. Please remember that all of our state directors are independent small businesses. As dedicated leaders with intense passion for the sports we all love, they can appreciate the impact this decision will have as much as anyone else.

In the meantime, USSSA will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation. Should the guidance change, we will take appropriate action and notify our membership immediately of any further sanctioning adjustments.

Should you have any questions regarding an event in which you are registered to participate, please contact the event director or your state director for information on possible cancellation or rescheduling that could affect your team.

We look forward to facilitating the return of sanctioned competition for all as soon as possible.

Please take care,

Donny DeDonatis III
Chief Executive Officer
USSSA

March 12th 2020

To: USSSA Membership

Subject: Notice of New USSSA Mandatory Health & Safety Procedures

Due to concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other health authorities, USSSA is implementing some new, mandatory health and safety procedures as part of a proactive approach to preventing the spread of germs.

Throughout the USSSA organization, we are adopting these new measures effective immediately. We cannot stress enough how vital it is that all USSSA participants adhere to these guidelines.

“No-Contact/No-Handshake” Policy

USSSA is immediately instituting a precautionary “no-contact, no-handshake policy” to be observed at every level of the organization until further notice. This includes all physical contact and extends to customary game-related activities, such as pre-game coaches’ handshakes, umpire-coach introductions, and post-game handshakes between members of opposing teams. Instead, staff, players and coaches should use verbal queues, such as saying “good game,” without shaking hands, high-fiving or fistbumping.

Maintain Good Hygiene Practices

All USSSA employees, membership and participants in USSSA-sanctioned events should be aware of the coronavirus risk and take the necessary precautions to avoid exposure to germs. This includes maintaining good hygiene practices. We strongly recommend the following:

Wash your hands often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol; this is suggested after any physical contact with another person or with a shared surface.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover your mouth and nose – with a tissue, if possible – when coughing or sneezing, then properly discard the tissue in the trash.
Avoid close contact with anyone else who is coughing or sneezing or who is otherwise sick.
Clean or disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Advice from the CDC

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has a specific Q&A regarding the virus in children:

Q: Are children more susceptible to the virus that causes COVID-19 compared with the general population and how can infection be prevented?

A: No, there is no evidence that children are more susceptible… – see here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/children-faq.html

We will provide updates related to these new measures or let you know about any additional precautions to take if and when they become necessary. We appreciate your cooperation in following these new procedures as we work together to maintain the highest health and safety standards as an organization.

If you have any questions regarding an event in which you are registered to participate, please contact your local USSSA state director or other point of contact for that event.

Thank you.

Donny DeDonatis III

Chief Executive Officer

USSSA