Ready to play ball safely

What happens on the field will be normal this summer for Iowa high school baseball and softball players. The differences will be between innings, games and off the diamonds.

We’ll start playing ball on June 15 with a condensed schedule because of the delay to the season by the coronavirus pandemic. Restrictions and guidelines are outlined for all involved — players, coaches, umpires, administrators, parents, spectators and media — to combat spread of COVID-19.

Following Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ announcement allowing the summer sports seasons to get underway, the two high school activity governing bodies voted to get things started on June 1. So, teams have completed the first of two weeks of practice.

The Newton News sports staff has adhered to the guidelines issued by the Iowa State High School Athletic Association and Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union. One is media is not allowed at practices.

We are preparing previews for each of our 10 teams from Newton, Prairie City-Monroe, Baxter, Colfax-Mingo and Lynnville-Sully. Previews are expected to begin running in the Newton News next week.

Local school districts and the different conferences hammered out how to proceed with schedules. Also each school district will follow guidelines for admission and possible limitations on attendance at their facilities. Each has their own approach to how to handle the COVID-19 situation.

For the Little Hawkeye Conference, Newton High Athletic Director Ryan Rump said it was decided to just pick up schedules as of June 15. Some of the earlier scheduled games were switched by schools if there were open dates before postseasons would start.

“It was decided not to have conference champions this season in baseball or softball. We’d play a schedule but not all teams would play the same amount of conference games. We might play a school twice or maybe just once,” Rump explained.

Newton will have signs up at the baseball field at Woodland Park and at the Newton Softball Field near H.A. Lynn Stadium concerning the guidelines to social distancing, public health and sanitization. Rump said there are no limits to the number of people who can attend games and the LHC schools agreed no admission will be charged but donation boxes will be at the admission gates.

Newton will close the bleachers at the softball field to spectators. Rump said because of the social distancing guidelines for dugouts, the grandstand will be used for additional team seating areas.

Players should spread out as much as possible unless they are actively participating in the game. NFHS rules allow for dugouts/media areas to be extended down the foul lines, outside of the playing area. Additionally, bleachers can be placed directly behind the dugouts for additional seating for team personnel.

Essential personnel only are permitted on the field of play. These are defined as players, coaches, trainers and umpires. All others, i.e., ball/bat boys, managers, statisticians, pitch count designees, media and photographers are considered non-essential personnel and are not to be in the dugout or extended dugout area. This is in effect for the regular season and post season.

Fans are encouraged to bring chairs to sit in the outfield areas. Please follow the guidelines at each facility — home and away — as fans. And if you are not feeling well, stay home until you are better.

It’s important we all do our part to allow the high school players have as an enjoyable season as possible under these different circumstances. Let them play the game. Let coaches coach the game and allow umpires to call the games as they see it.

High school sports are about the boys and girls who participate in whatever role they are doing so.

For some, the next two months will be their final high school sports experiences. Let them have good memories of it — win or lose on the field.

Let’s play ball!

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at jsheets@newtondailynews.com