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Minnesota Softball Update 5/5/2020

By Minnesota Softball, 05/05/20, 12:00PM CDT

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Good Afternoon,

Here is your May 5, 2020 “Back to the Diamond” update from Minnesota Softball/USA Softball Minnesota, Gopher State/MYAS, MBL/MBT. Projected timeline and plan included below.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as our organizations continue to navigate through this fluid situation to understand how we can proceed safely with the 2020 softball season.

Our organizations have unified in order to create the “Safe Play: Back to the Diamond” guidelines to inform policymakers how we can safely start playing baseball and softball across the state and to create a template for leagues across the state.

Minnesota Softball understands that the entire youth softball community has been watching the news and listening to local radio for updates regarding our collaboration and proposed guidelines. Through this effort and with assistance from you, we have gained connections to work with Governor Walz and his task force on our proposed plans and our “Back to the Diamond” safety guidelines.

We are currently working with the Governor’s task force and others involved with making this decision in the safest and healthiest way so that we can get kids back onto the field. This will only take place if it falls within the State of Minnesota guidelines for the following timeline.

Proposed Minnesota Youth Baseball and Softball Timeline:

  • May 11 - Statewide communication to baseball and softball associations with guidelines & requirements.
  • May 18 - Begin baseball and softball practices with no more than 16 people on the field, including coaches and players.
  • June 1 - League games with spectator traffic and distancing guidelines in effect and managed. Tournaments: Possible trial events to be held the weekend of May 29-May 31, with the tentative start dates of tournaments on June 5-7.

We expect to hear something from the Minnesota Governor's office this week and that will help determine what, if any, changes need to happen with our plan.

Wisconsin Update:

We have begun communicating with Wisconsin Sports Services (https://www.wisportsservices.org/) to get the ball rolling. There is a zoom meeting tonight with the sports leaders from the Madison and Milwaukee areas that I anticipate getting an invite to. Once I get more information, I will send to all of you. Thanks for your patience and reminders to push on Wisconsin government leaders.

We are keenly aware that some families in your community will face a difficult decision when it comes to returning to baseball and softball this season. Please respect each family's decision, and do not hold it against them this season or in future seasons. If your team numbers do change this season, we can work with you as we close in on the proposed timeline above.

As a unified front for a better state of youth baseball and softball, our organizations will continue to do everything in our ability to get your teams back on the diamond, while keeping the safety of the youth baseball and softball participants and their families our #1 priority.

As always, thank you for your time and dedication to youth sports!

Brian, Dan, and Tom

Dan Pfeffer
Minnesota Softball

877 Meander Court

Medina, MN 55340
dan@josoftball.com

https://www.mnsoftball.com
(O) (763) 390-8105

(C) (952) 250-3393