(Ituna and District Regional Park/Facebook)

By CKOM News

Play ball!: Outdoor sports get green light to start Sunday

May 25, 2021 | 11:28 AM

The Saskatchewan government may have scored some points with a number of athletes Tuesday.

The provincial government announced public health measures that currently are in place for outdoor sports will be eased starting Sunday, when Step One of the Re-Opening Roadmap kicks in. Outdoor sports initially were to be included in Step Two of the plan.

The restrictions surrounding indoor sports are still part of Step Two, which is tentatively set to begin June 20.

According to a government media release, the change is being made due to the lowered risk of COVID-19 transmission in outdoor settings and because of the number of people getting vaccinated against the virus in the province.

“Saskatchewan people have reduced the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated,” Premier Scott Moe said in the release. “So the next time you drive by a field of happy kids playing softball or football or soccer, please know that you made that possible.

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“Saskatchewan people are putting those kids back on to the field by doing their part, by rolling up their sleeves and sticking it to COVID.”

Starting Sunday, those who play outdoor sports can do so under certain conditions. Those include:

• Participants can’t compete if they’re not feeling well.
• Leagues can begin play, but tournaments aren’t permitted. That’s to be revisited in Step Two;
• Interprovincial travel isn’t allowed. Teams competing in regional interprovincial leagues need to contact the Business Response Team prior to beginning play;
• Capacity has to follow the public health order for outdoor gatherings for each playing surface, with a maximum of 150 people. Common areas, such as those where there are multiple playing surfaces, must also follow the gathering limits set out in the public health order;
• Individual and protective equipment shouldn’t be shared. When equipment like bats or helmets are shared, cleaning and disinfecting is required between each use;
• Commonly touched equipment used for games (like footballs or baseballs) has to be routinely replaced or disinfected during practices or games;
• Coaches, officials, umpires, referees and players who are not on the field aren’t required to wear masks outdoors under the public health order;
• Participants can’t shake hands of offer high-fives;
• Spectators not from the same household should maintain two metres of physical distancing and should stay in designated areas. Masks aren’t required outdoors;
• Hand sanitizer approved by Health Canada or handwashing stations should be available for participants and spectators; and,
• Contact information of the coaches, officials and players should be recorded by the home team and kept to assist with contact tracing in case there’s a confirmed case of COVID-19.