2020 Spring Season Cancelled Branford Little League 2020 Spring Cancellation Notice
Dear Branford Little League Community,
After weighing all the options, BLL has decided to cancel the 2020 Spring Little League season. We have all paid close attention to ever changing Coronavirus guidelines coming down from Washington, Hartford, New Haven and Branford. We have been trying to reconcile these guidelines with the information coming down from Little League International. Finally, before making this decision, the Board consulted with our town representatives to get their opinion on field availability and safety precaution requirements. I will share some of our thoughts with you now.
Today, Connecticut started down the path of reopening in Phase 1. We need to be in Phase 2 to consider having kids on our fields to play a game. The current projected timeline for Phase 2 is June 20th. So far during this crisis, every date has shifted. We expect this date to shift as well. Assuming Phase 2 does start at the end of June, we would be on the fields sometime after July 5th. We feel this potential start date is challenging for the Spring season. However, this is only one factor.
Once in Phase 2, there are a series of safety precautions that will need to be put in place to allow players on a field. No dugouts, players will have to remain 6 feet apart between innings. Balls will have to be sanitized every time they are put in play. No bucket of balls on the field. No concession stands. Bathrooms will have to be sanitized at a very high frequency. Parents will have to remain in outfield if at all. Players will have to wear masks. This is just a subset of the precautions. Additional guidelines for youth sports are expected from the State in the next few days. The management of these and other precautions will be a logistical challenge. It was determined the risk of a precaution not being followed and someone contracting Corona is too high at this time.
Finally, we are all aware of the economic impact of the pandemic. BLL has done our best to postpone this announcement in the hope that we can safely put on a season for the kids of this town. However, we don’t want to hold your registration fees indefinitely. We are working with our website to create a refund option that directly credits your card or mail a check. Additional refund plans will be available. BLL will be emailing you a form that outlines the refund options. It will be available this week.
Although we are cancelling Spring 2020 season, we are not giving up on baseball this year. BLL will continue to work with Town officials and Little League International to get our kids on the field. Our plan is to create a late summer or fall season. It will include a new registration process for anyone who wishes to participate. The goal will be to get our kids outside and playing. Any 12-year olds who will age out this year will be eligible to play. You will have the option of rolling your Spring registration over to the summer/fall season.
BLL understands this is a trying time for all of us including our children. We will continue to work with the Town leadership and Little League International to find a way to safely play games this year. Pleaser feel free to contact me at
if you have any questions.
Thank You,
Scott Villa
President
Branford Little League
