MOTION TO CHANGE SPECIAL OPERATING RULES – DECEMBER 20, 2020

The Minor Advisory Council has approved three (3) motions for changes to special operating rules to be posted on the Softball BC website for final member review. The motions will be posted  here until Monday, January 4th, 2021. Members who wish to provide input or feedback to the Minor Advisory Council are asked to contact their local Minor District Coordinator, or Lavaughn Larson, minordirector@softball.bc.ca

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS OF INTEREST TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE INDIGENOUS LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Monday, December-14-20

Dear Softball BC Members,

Softball BC invites expressions of interest to become a volunteer member of the Indigenous Long Term Development Committee.

Goals

1. Provide input and recommendations on the implementation plan of the Softball BC ILTD program as created with ISPARC and Sport4Life
2. Identify where there are deficiencies and opportunities within the framework of the LTD to recommend new programmes, or changes to existing programmes
3. Liaison with other advisory committees who are involved with the development of softball in BC, to provide insight from an Indigenous perspective. The liaison will be appointed by the chair of the committee.
4. Assist staff in communicating and promoting LTD principles and programmes by creating or sharing content.

 Membership

1. Chair –Appointed by the President of Softball BC for a term of two (2) years.
2. Secretary – responsible for minutes and scheduling of meetings (performed by a staff member when the position is open)
3. Member at Large – the committee will be made up of not less than 3 and not more than 5 members.

The composition of the committee may include non-members of Softball BC. Committee should make every attempt to be representative of the Indigenous communities, from a geographical, gender, and participation perspective.

Call for applications will be posted by Softball BC, and final selections will be made by the appointed members from the Board of Directors

Application Process

Please provide a maximum 2-page profile, which includes the following:

• Name, address, daytime and evening phone numbers, email address, best contact time
• Reason for expression of interest, and what you feel you can contribute to Softball BC’s Indigenous Long Term Development Committee
• Softball and/or sport accomplishments
• Application deadline January 15, 2021

Please submit your expression of interest to Michael Smith, Softball BC’s Technical Coordinator at technicalcoordinator@softball.bc.ca.

For further information about the Indigenous Long Term Development Committee, please click the following link Terms of Reference for the Indigenous Long Term Development Committee.

Dear Softball BC Members,

Softball BC will provide an update on Team BC Women’s team selection for the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara in mid-January 2021.

As always Softball BC is excited to continue preparing for the Games, and we look forward to supporting our athletes and coaching staff in their pursuit of excellence.

If anyone has questions or concerns, please contact Softball BC’s Technical Coordinator, Michael Smith via e-mail at technicalcoordinator@softball.bc.ca or phone at 604-371-0302 extension 3.

Kind Regards,

Michael Smith

December 8, 2020

As per the announcement from the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Henry, the current restrictions in place for softball activities will remain in effect until midnight, January 8^th, 2021.

As a reminder, these restrictions include, but are not limited to;

• Inning One protocols are in place
• Indoor facility protocols now include mandatory mask use except when engaged in a softball activity
• No adult sanctioned softball activity
• No team travel outside their community
• No live coach clinics

Dear Softball Members,

Softball BC is pleased to announce the Canada Games Council has resolved the softball age eligibility criteria for the 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Where practical, sports have adjusted their age categories so that the same cohort of athletes that is eligible for the Games in 2021 will remain eligible for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Therefore, BC softball player age eligibility is as follows:

• Male eligibility — birth years – 2000 or later
• Female eligibility – birth years – 2003 or later

With the Canada Games Council age eligibility announcement for the 2022 Canada Summer Games, Softball BC is excited to continue preparation towards the Games, and we look forward to supporting our athletes and coaching staff in their pursuit of excellence. Softball BC and the coaching staff will continue to monitor the progress of athletes throughout the coming year, and look forward to our participation at the Canada Summer Games in Niagara, Ontario.

If anyone has questions or concerns, please contact Softball BC’s Technical Coordinator, Michael Smith via e-mail at technicalcoordinator@softball.bc.ca or phone at 604-371-0302 extension 3.

Kind Regards,

Michael Smith

CRITERIA FOR TRAVELLING TO SOFTBALL PRACTICES

NOVEMBER 23, 2020

 ** Effective immediately**

Individual travel to attend team practices/training sessions – Under the current provincial health order, Softball BC is revising their definition for travel by coaches and/or athletes to team activities. Until midnight, December 7^th, or as advised by the Provincial Health Office (PHO), individuals may not travel outside their own community to attend team activities. Community is defined as your principal residence. For clarity, areas such as Langley and Township of Langley, or Coquitlam, Port Moody, and Port Coquitlam will be considered the same community when attending team activities. The intent of the public health order is to restrict travel to remaining local. At this time, we have not received a definition on local travel for individuals, and so we have decided to remain cautious in our interpretation. If we do receive further clarification from ViaSport, we will advise the membership accordingly.

Team training sessions are restricted to the community in which the team is registered. Teams may not travel outside their local community to take part in practices or training sessions under the requirements of this health order.

As a reminder

Inning Three protocols are still in place and should be carefully followed

• Attendance tracking
• Screening before entry to the facility
• Physical distancing whenever possible
• Frequent sanitizing
• For indoor activities masks are mandatory for all participants
• For indoor activities, no spectators allowed

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO BECOME A MEN’S & WOMEN’S COORDINATOR: DISTRICTS 4, 11, 12, AND 13

November 16, 2020

Dear Softball BC Members,

Softball BC invites expressions of interest to become a volunteer Men’s & Women’s Coordinator for one of the following districts: 4, 11, 12, and 13.

Application Process

 Please provide a 1-page profile, which includes the following:

• Name, address, daytime and evening phone numbers, email address, best contact time
• Reason for expression of interest
• Application deadline December 1, 2020

Please submit your expression of interest to Michael Smith, Softball BC’s Technical Coordinator at technicalcoordinator@softball.bc.ca.

Job Description

1. To promote and encourage the game of softball in your
2. To promote and encourage membership in Softball BC in your
3. To represent Softball BC in your District, and the District to Softball BC, and to abide by the
4. To be available as a District representative for part of each month during the year and establish a time schedule of availability during critical times.
5. To assist any team in your District in finding adequate
6. In cooperation with the Minor Coordinator and Umpire-in-Chief, acts as a liaison for Softball BC with Coaching and Umpire clinics within your
7. Attend Annual General Meetings and Extra-Ordinary Special Meetings as a voting
8. Distribute the Softball BC Constitution and Operating Rules Handbook to all teams in your
9. To approve Softball BC Player Roster Forms and Softball BC Team Registration forms by the registration deadlines as outlined in the
10. Report to the Softball BC Men’s & Women’s Director, any dispute over the movement of
11. To make recommendations to the Softball BC Men’s & Women’s Director for discipline of players and/or coaches that do not abide by Softball BC
12. To inform all teams who will be attending Provincial Championships of requirements, plus supply any and all materials
13. The District Coordinator sits as a member of the Senior Advisory Council
14. Provide Softball BC and Softball Canada Operating Rules and Constitution interpretation to teams attending Provincial Championships who do not abide by the above during league play.
15. To sit as a liaison or member of the Committee hosting a Provincial Championship in your District.
16. To attend Men’s & Women’s Association meetings and bring forth all recommendations from those Associations to the Softball BC Board of
17. Submit to Softball BC Provincial office, names, accommodation and travel requirements of voting delegates for the Annual General Meeting or any extraordinary meeting. The Men’s and Women’s voting delegates per District consist of one vote for District Senior Coordinator, one vote each registered discipline (fastpitch/ortho/slo-pitch).
18. To appoint a representative in his/her place when leaving the District for any reason including holidays, sickness, To keep the Director and Softball BC Office aware of such replacement.
19. To utilize the Men, Women and Mixed representatives within the District
20. To assist and promote all Softball BC approved fundraising
21. To set up meetings within the District to discuss and organize District
22. To submit articles from your District for the Softball BC
23. To keep all registered Men’s & Women’s teams in your District up to date on Softball BC
24. To oversee the classification of teams within your District in consultation with the
25. To submit a written report 40 days prior to the AGM, outlining the past year’s events to be included in the Pre AGM
26. Submit an expense form for expenses incurred in administering your district, with receipts attached to the Softball BC office no later than September 30th. (AGM expenses will be paid separately from your annual expense report)
27. To submit an operational budget by November 30, to the Softball BC office, for the following
28. Secure Association/League Executive names, addresses and telephone numbers, and submit to the Director annually, along with a copy to the Softball BC Office.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS OF INTEREST TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S ADVISORY COUNCIL

November 12, 2020

Dear Softball BC Members,

Softball BC invites expressions of interest to become a volunteer member of Softball BC’s Men’s and Women’s Advisory Council.

Goals

• Review existing special operating rules as they relate to Men’s and Women’s play and provide recommendations on change, addition or deletion of same
• Provide guidance and direction on existing and new rules of play for Men’s and Women’s Fastpitch
• Provide guidance and direction on format of Provincial Championships for Men’s and Women’s categories and classifications

Membership

1. Chair – Elected Men’s and Women’s Director
2. Vice Chair
3. Elected Men’s and Women’s Coordinators
4. Regional Representative – (4) Members at large, elected by a vote of registered Men’s and Women’s teams from the previous playing season. Each duly registered team to have one vote.
5. Softball BC staff support

The council will make every attempt to be representative of the membership from a geographical, gender, and participation perspective.

Application Process

Please provide a maximum 2-page profile, which includes the following:

• Name, address, daytime and evening phone numbers, email address, best contact time
• Reason for expression of interest, and what you feel you can contribute to Softball BC’s Men’s and Women’s Advisory Council
• Softball and/or sport accomplishments
• Application deadline December 1, 2020

Please submit your expression of interest to Michael Smith, Softball BC’s Technical Coordinator at technicalcoordinator@softball.bc.ca.

For further information about the Men’s and Women’s Advisory Council, please click the following link Terms of Reference for the Men’s and Women’s Advisory Council.

LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO BECOME A MEMBER

November 10, 2020

Dear Softball BC Members,

Softball BC invites expressions of interest to become a volunteer member of Softball BC’s Long-term Development Committee.

Long-term Development Committee Goals

1. Develop an implementation plan of the Softball Canada LTD program at the provincial and local (LSO) level.
2. Identify where there are deficiencies and opportunities within the framework of the LTD to recommend new programmes or changes to existing programmes
3. Provide liaisons to other advisory committees who are involved with changes to the development of softball in BC, to ensure they align with approved LTD principles. The liaison will be appointed by the chair of the committee.
4. Develop an evaluation/measurement tool to determine the extent of implementation of the LTD principles provincially and by LSO (local sports association)
5. Assist staff in communicating and promoting LTD principles and programmes by creating or sharing content.

 Long-term Development Committee Membership

1. Chair –Appointed by the President of Softball BC for a term of two (2) years.
2. Secretary – responsible for minutes and scheduling of meetings
3. Member at Large – the committee will be made up of not less than five and not more than nine members.

The composition of the committee may include non-members of Softball BC. The committee will make every attempt to be representative of the membership from a geographical, gender, and participation perspective.

Application Process

Please provide a maximum 2-page profile, which includes the following:

• Name, address, daytime and evening phone numbers, email address, best contact time
• Reason for expression of interest, and what you feel you can contribute to Softball BC’s Long-term Development Committee
• Softball and/or sport accomplishments
• Application deadline December 1, 2020

Please submit your expression of interest to Michael Smith, Softball BC’s Technical Coordinator at technicalcoordinator@softball.bc.ca.

Final selections will be made by a panel consisting of three members of the current Board of Directors as appointed by the President.

For further information about the Long-term Development Committee, please click the following link Terms of Reference Long-term Development Committee.

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

SOFTBALL BC ANNOUNCES NEW RESTRICTIONS FOR SOFTBALL ACTIVITIES

With the announcement today from Dr. Bonnie Henry on new restrictions in place, we are announcing the following changes to sanctioned softball activities effective Sunday, November 8^th, 2020. These changes will remain in effect until further notice.

For all clubs and members of Softball BC registered in Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15, all sanctioning for softball activities is being moved back to Inning One protocols. This restriction on sanctioned softball activities will be in effect for those districts only, which comprise the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions.

All other districts in BC can continue to operate, at this time, under your current sanction permissions for softball activities.

Inning One protocols include

• Physical distancing should be followed at all times during softball activities
• Minimize shared use of equipment, and when equipment must be shared, frequent sanitizing is required
• Practice and skill development only, no games or scrimmages

Rick Benson, Executive Director

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.”

READ MORE….

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.

READ MORE….

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.

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