Strict rules for softball as league returns
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 5, 2020 10:05
The league has been suspended since March due to COVID-19 outbreak, but would return in July.
The BSA would discuss the draft guidelines today, as players prepare to return to the pitch.
Amongst the changes, players would not be allowed to lick their fingers during a game, and are expected to keep a distance of one metre in the dugout.
Some of the proposed rules are that there should be use of different set of official balls for home and visiting teams, while on defence. Ball in play should be taken out for appropriate cleaning or disinfection after play is finished.
“Ball handlers should wear protective gloves and apply sanitiser every half inning,” read the draft regulations.
Under the proposal, sharing of dressing rooms has to be avoided. Only 10 people would be allowed to attend training and handling of equipment must be minimum.
The targeted venues to be used are National Diamond, Lobatse, Jwaneng, Serowe, Selebi- Phikwe area two and Itekeng. Spectators would not be allowed during the games or training.
Coaches are expected to implement phased game simulation drills. The rules state that contact must be avoided and discourages drills that include contact.
BSA vice president, Gontlafetse Batsetswe said the National Executive Committee (NEC), technical committee and competitions committee met over the weekend to agree on ways of resuming the league.
“We have been given the green light to start our activities and we met to set out COVID-19 compliance manual and checklists for all our clubs,” he said.
Rail Giants coach, Pako Maforaga said they have received the COVID-19 rule change from BSA. He said some of them are doable such as wearing of masks and sanitising. He said the challenge would be issues such as transport and accommodation, as social distancing has to apply.
“Those are going to be quite difficult and clubs would have to be innovative. We would need players to help from time to time,” he said.
Maforaga said to keep the sport going, there was need for innovation. He said there would be many challenges moving forward.
“They are saying spectators would not be allowed. The league would be played in tournament format where many clubs converge in one place to play one game after the other. This effectively means clubs must vacate the pitch after every game. That is about three times a day. There are too many gaps,” he said.
Maforaga said softball does not have gated facilities that could keep spectators away. He suggested the deployment of police officers at matches.