SOFTBALL BC COMMITS TO INDIGENOUS LONG-TERM PARTICIPANT DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY IMPLEMENTATION

Amidst a global reckoning about systemic racism in North America and beyond, sport organizations are increasingly looking for ways to create in-roads into under-serviced communities and to create better cultural awareness. Softball BC is one example of a provincial organization putting in the time to incorporate the Indigenous Long-Term Participant Development Pathway (ILTPD) into its programming, stemming from the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to better attract and retain Indigenous talent.

Under the guidance and mentorship of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) and Sport for Life, Softball BC has introduced their Timbits program to 12 new communities as part of a larger strategy to grow the sport and build infrastructure throughout the province of B.C. Two years ago they created an ILTPD Committee that aimed to work collaboratively with their Indigenous partners.

They’ve even adopted a new logo, designed by Indigenous artist Jamin Zuroski.

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September 16, 2020

CANADA SUMMER GAMES POSTPONEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Softball BC has just been advised by our NSO, Softball Canada, that the Canada Summer Games Council has announced the 2021 Games have been postponed until a date to be determined in 2022.

We have no further information at this time and will await further clarification and details from Softball Canada, at which time we will communicate the updates and any other information we receive.

Thank you for your patience and understanding and stay tuned for more information as we receive it.

Yours truly,

Rick Benson

Executive Director, Softball BC

September 3, 2020

To: Softball BC Members

There have been a number of inquiries recently regarding the permitted size of gatherings at a softball activity. I want to thank our members who have raised this question and asked for clarification, as it demonstrates from our general membership, the degree of caution and need for clarity of orders from the provincial health office and guidelines from Softball BC for a safe return to sport.

ViaSport Sport Development Director, Heather Beatty, has provided us with the following information:

“There is a PHO order in place that applies to all events, limiting events to 50 people. Each softball game is considered an event and therefore must adhere to this order.”

A softball game is defined as an event, so in a facility with 4 diamonds, as an example, within that venue, each diamond may have a maximum of 50 people either on the field, or watching as spectators if they are inside the venue. Where there is a multi diamond facility, start and end times have to be staggered and entry/exit points have to be clearly marked and communicated in order to avoid larger gatherings or to follow physical distancing requirements.

This is a provincial order, and if a club is found to be in violation, they may be subject to fines and closure by the police or by-law enforcement officers.

Please ensure all your members are aware of this and are following the protocols you have put in place for spectators, screening and attendance tracking.

As well, as a heads up, we are reviewing the format for the Celebration of Softball event to ensure we can comply fully with the health office orders and minimize risk for our members.

Regards

Rick Benson, Executive Director

August 28, 2020

Dear Softball BC Members,

Softball BC’s announces the Team BC Men’s Team’s Final Selection Camp scheduled for September 19-20, 2020 in Barriere, BC has been rescheduled to September 26-27, 2020, in Kelowna, BC at Kings Stadium.

The coaching staff encourage players to attend the final selection camp to ensure they have the best chance to make the team. Please note the coaching staff reserve the right to add or remove players from the team’s athlete pool at any time.

Softball BC is committed to creating a safe, and welcoming environment for its members; therefore, it will follow the COVID-19 health and safety guidelines set out by the three levels of government to protect the welfare of its members. Accordingly, if the health and safety protocols warrant changes to the ID camps, Softball BC will inform registrants as soon as possible.

If you require further details, please contact Phil Ransome, Team BC Men’s Manager via email at teambcfastball@gmail.com or d11minorcoordinator@softball.bc.ca.

Alternatively, you can contact Softball BC’s Technical Coordinator, Michael Smith via phone at 604-371-0302 ext. 3 or email at technicalcoordinator@softball.bc.ca.

Kind Regards,

Michael Smith

Phase 3 Return to Sport Guidelines

viaSport is pleased to release the Return to Sport Guidelines for Phase 3: Progressively Loosen.

As we move to the next phase, viaSport has consulted with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the BC Centre for Disease Control to outline the activities that will now be allowed for sport. This addition to the Return to Sport Guidelines will help guide sport organizations in creating or updating their own safety plans.

Check out what’s new for Phase 3 on our Return to Sport page. This includes:

• The Phase 3 Return to Sport Guidelines for B.C.
• An updated list of FAQs
• A communications toolkit – contains key messages and graphics to help organizations communicate this new sport phase to their communities and members
• A Sport Activity Chart – outlines the types of activities that can be considered as we transition through each return phase

For more details, join us for a public webinar to provide an overview of the Progressively Loosen phase and answer your questions.

When: Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 10:30 a.m
Who: Municipal and recreation leaders, local sport organizations, facility operators, community stakeholders, interested members of the sport
community
How: Register for the webinar here. Pre-submit questions using this form.
Returning to sport safely requires a coordinated effort across all levels of the sport community. Please take a moment to share this message with anyone you think may benefit from receiving updates on the return to sport process. Join our mailing list here.

From all of us at viaSport, we hope you are all keeping safe and healthy.

August 12, 2020

The terms of office for District Minor Coordinators expires as of the 2020 AGM.  If anyone wishes to stand for the position, you are required to notify both the incumbent coordinator and Rick Benson no later than September 1^st, 2020.

For 2020, the Softball BC Board of Directors has passed a resolution allowing the number of votes to be based on the 2019 team registered, should an election be necessary.

Minor Coordinator Job Description:  MC Job Description

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Zeone Andrijaszyn on July 13th in Richmond, BC.

Zeone’s passing leaves a deep sense of loss with everyone who was fortunate enough to have known him. The legacy he leaves to our Fastpitch community can never be overstated. Zeone’s passion for the sport began in Richmond as a coach and carried on to volunteering with the RGSA executive, until accepting a position with the board of directors for Softball BC in 2007.

Zeone served the entire membership selflessly as the Vice President of Finance for the past 13 years, working tirelessly towards the betterment of softball and Softball BC. While volunteering on the Board of Directors, Zeone made many friends and gained the respect of the softball community across Canada, who joins us in mourning his passing.

June 10, 2020

(Langley, BC) Softball BC releases ‘Back to Bases – Softball BC’s Return to Play Guidelines’

“Softball BC Return to Play Guidelines are based on an overriding principle of encouraging the maximum participation of members of the organization while respecting the safety of members and the public from the COVID-19 virus.

These guidelines are to be used along with the following government and sport sector requirements:

• BC guidelines from WorkSafeBC and BC Health Authority
• Municipal requirements (https://www.bcrpa.bc.ca/COVIDGuideline)
• viaSport Return to Sport Guidelines for BC

As well as compliance from Local Sports Organizations (“LSOs”) with Softball BC safety protocols as set out in these Return to Play Guidelines and as otherwise communicated to them.

The purpose of these guidelines is to create minimum standards for a safe return to play of softball while maintaining the integrity of the game.

These best practices do not supersede any protocols, guidelines, or restrictions outlined by Regional, Provincial and/or Federal Health Authorities.  All Softball BC participants are expected to continue to follow the guidelines outlined by Regional, Provincial and/or Federal Health Authorities.

As areas begin to open and return to play resumes, we strongly urge any Softball BC participant to share with us details of any and all challenges that may arise and which may not be addressed in this document.  Once an issue is identified, those assigned by the President and Executive Director will work on how to address the identified issue and then share that information with all involved with Softball BC.

Due to the uncertain aspects in returning to play, these guidelines are expected to change based on new/updated safety procedures outlined by Provincial and/or Local Health Authorities or feedback to Softball BC Directors.

Softball BC Directors are advised to revisit these guidelines as new requirements are announced by the respective Provincial and/or Federal Health Authorities.

In the event of any conflict in language between any printed version of the Return to Play Guidelines and the online version found on the Softball BC website, the online version shall prevail.”

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