UCCS Baseball & Softball – COVID Communication and UCCS Campus Plan

 
Guidelines are being implemented per NCAA, RMAC and UCCS planning efforts.  The State of Colorado and El Paso County guidelines have also been implemented.
 
Communication.

Please enter through the main entrance of Mountain Lion Park (baseball) and Mountain Lion Field (softball) and head directly to your dugout.

All visiting institutions need to follow NCAA and RMAC testing guidelines and protocols, and symptom check completed.

Locker rooms are not available.

Limited Athletic Training access will be provided.  It is recommended that visiting Athletic Trainers communicate with UCCS Athletic Trainers the week in advance as there will be limited access to facilities and supplies.

A limited number of fans will be allowed into the games with COVID-19 restrictions to be followed.  Admission will be charged for the general public.

Personnel.

All individuals necessary to host home baseball and softball games should be divided into three tiers, as described below. Tiers are based on the ability to wear masks/face coverings, the ability to practice physical distancing (6 feet or greater) and the role played in connection with the competition.  All individuals should wear masks/face coverings and physically distance whenever possible.  Only individuals assigned to Tiers 1 and 2 will be permitted access to the inner bubble (e.g., locker rooms, athletic training room, playing field area). The inner bubble must always be secured.

Tier 1 — This tier consists of individuals for whom physical distancing and face coverings are not possible or effective during athletic training or competition. Examples of relevant individuals include student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and physical therapists, medical staff, equipment staff and officials. Tier 1 individuals should be limited (e.g., 25-30). All Tier 1 individuals should wear masks/face coverings, except for student-athletes and officials on the playing surface. Physical distancing should be adhered to whenever possible.

Tier 2 — This tier consists of individuals who come into close contact with Tier 1 individuals but can reasonably maintain physical distance and use face coverings during their interaction. Examples of relevant individuals include certain team staff (e.g., athletic department staff) and certain operational staff (e.g., security, event staff and league staff). Tier 2 individuals will maintain physical distance and universal masking while performing their jobs, and any interaction with Tier 1 individuals must be approved by the designated event organizer or athletics health care administrator (or designee), and both parties must maintain physical distance and wear face coverings.

Tier 3 — This tier includes individuals who provide event services but are not in the same vicinity with Tier 1 individuals (and should closer contact become necessary, would be reclassified into Tier 2). Tier 3 individuals should minimize contact with Tier 2 individuals and observe masking and physical distancing at all times. Examples of relevant individuals include certain operational staff (e.g., housekeeping, catering, sanitation and transportation) and media/broadcast.

Spectators are not part of Tiers 1, 2 or 3, and, if present, should observe local health official mandates and guidance with seating clearly separated from these tiered individuals at all times, and as per below.
Further Recommendations:

1. Each host institution's athletics health care administrator should maintain contact with local and state health officials regarding operations within the competition venue, including oversight of the daily screening log and any health developments of attendees.

Physical distancing/PPE/masks-face coverings.

Recommend all individuals, regardless of role or function, always wear a mask/face covering prior to entry and within the competition venue. The type of mask/face covering and the proper way to wear it should be consistent with CDC recommendations.

Face coverings should be worn at all times in the dugout.  Only the athletes on the field can be without a mask.

Cough/sneeze etiquette and hand sanitization are recommended at all times.

Face shields may be worn but do not replace masks/face coverings, meaning that a face shield alone is not recommended as sufficient infection control mitigation.

No one outside of Tier 1 and Tier 2 individuals shall be allowed in the team areas (e.g., athletic training room, locker rooms, locker room hallway) when student-athletes are present.

When feasible, Tier 1 and Tier 2 individuals will not enter guest and public areas of the competition venue (e.g., stands, concession stands, concourse, ticket office).

1. Tier 2 individuals may interact directly with those in Tier 1 only as necessary and upon approval. All parties must wear masks/face coverings and maintain 6 feet of physical distance.
2. Universal masking and physical distancing are the rule except in the competition or medical care areas.
3. Medical staff should follow strict hand sanitization, especially during sessions with student-athletes. Whenever feasible, athletic training staff and student-athletes they are treating should maintain masking/face coverings and physical distancing.
4. Officials should always wear masks/face coverings and maintain physical distancing during all activities except active competitive play.

Cleaning and disinfecting.

Competition venue cleaning staff shall ensure all team and game officials areas are cleaned prior to each practice and competition. This includes, but is not limited to, team and officials locker rooms, restrooms, team dugout areas, and the scorers' table surfaces.

Disinfectant and cleaning supplies will be available in each dugout for teams to use.

Regular cleaning by competition venue staff of all high-touch areas, including, but not limited to, restrooms, handles, call buttons, chairs, and workstations.

Athletic training areas, including treatment tables, stools, high-contact areas, and equipment, shall be disinfected after each use.

Remind teams and officials to follow personal health guidelines (e.g., wash hands frequently; do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth; use hand sanitizer; maintain physical distance and wears masks whenever possible).

Minimize physical interactions, such as high-fives, fist bumps and hugs, with members of other teams.

Provide hand sanitizer stations and disinfectant spray bottles and/or disinfecting wipes in each team dugout and press box.

Recommend the elimination of ball persons who are not Tier 1 individuals. Designate a member of the host institution to retrieve foul and home run balls.

Hydration and towels.
 
Hydration:
 
Only water coolers will be provided for visiting teams.  Visiting teams and umpires should bring their own bottles and water.
 
Team members should drink only out of their own cup/personal water bottle.
 
Single-use cups with proper disposal are preferred but will not be provided.
 
Water bottles should be labeled for individual use by visiting teams.
 
Each team should have its own set of hydration coolers (two — one for water, one for sports drink), water bottles and bottle carriers. Cooler carts will be provided for those teams that bring their own.
 
Towels:
 
Towels will NOT be provided to visiting teams or officials.
 
Team dugouts.
 
Individual water bottle and towel. Each player and coach will have their own water bottle and towel that they will need to bring with them (UCCS will not provide these for them). Players and coaches will be responsible for getting their own water and towels.
 
Masks/face coverings on the bench. All dugout personnel who are not on the field should always wear masks/face coverings. If a face shield is used, it should be done in conjunction with a face mask.
 
Press box layout.
 
Press box personnel will use the South door at ML Park to enter and exit the press box.:
 
No attendees seated or gathered next to entry/exit tunnels/doors; maintain at least 6 feet from seating area around doors.
 
Tier 1 and 2 members should have a different entry tunnel/door to the field than Tier 3 members, if possible. Tier 1 and Tier 2 individuals will not use the tunnel/door at the same time. 
 
Even if a face shield is worn, masks must also be worn.  
 
Tier 1-3 individuals will only be allowed in the dugout and press box.
 
Facility planning — movement in/around areas.
 
Entry/exit: The Main Entrance to Mountain Lion Park (baseball) and Mountain Lion Field (softball) will be the only access to the facility.
 
Fan seating: The public will not be allowed into the facility until state, county and institutional guidelines allow.  A very limited number of fans will be allowed into the facility via a pass list. Fans allowed into the facility are expected to be masked and practice social distancing.
 
Isolation and quarantine rooms will not be available.  Individuals with positive tests, close contacts or ANY symptom should NOT come to UCCS campus.
 
Game Ball Management.
 
Per RMAC policy, below is the game ball management for baseball and softball.
 
Any individuals, including umpires, who have concerns about the handling of game balls are encouraged to wear gloves and/or use regular sanitizer.
 
Baseball:
 
When the game balls are "rubbed down" prior to the contest saliva should never be used. If moisture is necessary to prepare game balls, please utilize clean water only.
 
The home team shall also continue to be responsible for retrieving all game balls. When the home team has sent a ball out of play, or the visiting team's defensive half of the inning has concluded, those game balls must be returned to the home team dugout and a new ball must be put into play.
 
Softball: 
 
Whether the contest is home or away, each team is responsible for game balls during its defensive half of the inning and retrieving its own game balls that are sent out of play.
 
Coaches are encouraged to designate one individual per game to be responsible for working with the home plate umpire on the exchange and fulfillment of game balls throughout the contest.
 
On-field operations.
 
No coach/official/scorers' table physical contact (e.g., handshakes, fist bumps) at any time.
 
No post-game handshake line involving the two participating teams. Acts of sportsmanship will be encouraged.
 
Assigned work areas for the media to minimize the need for cleaning workstations until after media representatives have exited the venue.
 
Rules, policies, and protocols.
 
Establish guidelines for host medical staff. Team athletic medical personnel need to follow their established institutional guidelines.
 
Concessions will not be available at either facility.