Softball Ireland have updated the Return to Play Protocol to version 3.1. To view the protocol you can follow this link: http://www.softball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/si-rtpp-v3.1.pdf or visit the COVID-19 Hub using the menu above. The FAQ section of the COVID-19 Hub has also been updated today, with more information on what events are permitted in both ROI and NI.
For all COVID-19 related queries, you can email covid@softball.ie for more information.
To assist teams as Softball continues to return to normality, Softball Ireland have issued a downloadable poster with the Top 5 tips to stay safe whilst playing softball in 2021. Teams are ecouraged to display the poster at venue’s / in dugouts over the course of the season.
Further to the confirmation of the Government that sports clubs in the Republic of Ireland may return to training in groups of up to 15 from May 10, 2021. We are delighted to confirm that having considered the recommendation of the Medical Committee, the Softball Ireland Board have confirmed that softball training may return in Republic of Ireland from May 10, 2021 subject to the following conditions:
(I) The Government continue to permit sports teams to partake in training sessions; and
(II) All teams in the Republic of Ireland to continue to train in accordance with Government advice and restrictions; and
(III) All training sessions are held in accordance with the updated Softball Ireland Return to Play Protocol set out on the Softball Ireland website; and
(IV) Players are only permitted to attend and train with teams (clubs) they are registered with.
To further assist Teams return to play, a COVID-19 Risk Assessment Guidance and a downloadable COVID-19 Risk Assessment Template have been prepared by the Softball Ireland Medical Committee and are available on the Softball Ireland website.
To assist the Medical Committee with its constant review of Protocols and Guidelines, we would be appreciative of feedback on these from all Teams to allow us to improve and support the return to softball further.
We can confirm, that subject to Government restrictions remaining unchanged, the Softball Ireland insurance policy will be re-activated with effect from May 10, 2021 for Republic of Ireland Team for training only.
Based on the Government announcement, competition/leagues may be permitted to commence from June 7, 2021 and Softball Ireland will continue to liaise with Sport Ireland on the matter.
As part of the roadmap to return to play, with effect from today certain sporting activities may return. Unfortunately, Softball is not one of these sports just yet. Softball Ireland continues to liaise with with Sport Ireland on the pathway to return to training and return to games timelines.
Softball Ireland wish to remind teams that no organised formal team training is permitted in the Republic of Ireland and the Softball Ireland insurane policy remians suspended in the Republic of Ireland.
In anticipation of the government green lisht for return to play, the Softball Ireland COVID-19 Hub has been updated with the 2021 Protocol together with risk assesment guidelines have been updated by the Medical Committee, to assess the hub, please click here.
From Monday the 26th of April
Outdoor sports facilities can reopen (for example: pitches, golf courses and tennis courts, other facilities as appropriate).
Activities should take place between a maximum of two households. Facilities including club houses and any indoor facilities (for example: changing rooms, showers, kitchens, meeting rooms), apart from essential toilet facilities must remain closed. There should not be any return to team sports or training activities.
Underage non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15 can resume.
Softball Ireland is pleased to announce that the COVID-19 Hub has now been updated for the 2021 season. The COVID-19 Hub is accessible from the ‘Resources’ tab above or by clicking here.
The latest updates to the COVID-19 Hub include:
The COVID-19 Hub will be updated regularly throughout the season, including document updates and FAQs. If there is anything you would like to see on the hub, please get in touch with us.
Due to government restrictions, please note that teams in the Republic of Ireland continue to be restricted from training or playing games and the insurance policy remains suspended.
For all COVID-19 enquiries, Softball Ireland continue to have a dedicated email: covid@softball.ie.
Further to the recommendation of the Softball Ireland Medical Committee, the Softball Ireland Board on March 15, 2021 agreed to withdraw all Softball Ireland National Teams and Club Teams from International Competition up to and including August 2021. The decision of the Board is athlete welfare driven to ensure those representing Ireland may do so in the safest way possible
The rationale for the recommendation of the Softball Ireland Medical Committee and the decision of our Board is as follows:
1. Ireland continues to be in a Level 5 (highest level) lock down which restricts movement and does not permit sport to be played bar for a very l imited number of sports. Softball (and Baseball) does not meet the criteria of elite sport in Ireland. At this point, we do not foresee Softball recommencing in Ireland before May 2021 earliest and therefore do not believe our athletes can be adequately conditioned or prepared to participate in an international tournament.
2. The continued spiking of COVID -19 across Europe together with the inconsistent vaccination roll out (including Ireland) has concerned our Medical Committee who formed the opinion that the risk of inf ection and the subsequent 14 day quarantining of infected player/staff continued to be too high a risk for amateur athletes. The concerns of the Medical Committee have been reconfirmed by the recent snap lockdowns in Italy and other European Countries coupled with the positive tests of an Irish athlete returning from the recent European Indoor Championships in Poland.
3. The on-going uncertainty around travel restrictions for athletes entering and exiting Italy, irrespective of nationality and the financial risk s associated with this.
4. In addition to the medical and logistical risks identified by the Medical Committee, the Irish government has also introduced a €2,000 travel fine ( per person) for non-essential International travel. We have been advised that travelling to compete in Softball European Championships does not meet the requirements to be deemed essential travel.
The decision to withdraw from international competition in 2021 was not a decision taken lightly by the Softball Ireland Board. However after discussions with the Medical Committee, HSE, coaches and athletes, the Softball Ireland Board has taken the position that our decisions would be taken with an abundance of caution and medically led by our Medical Committee.
Softball Ireland can confirm that the following teams have been withdrawn from 2021 events:
• Ireland National Team withdrawn from the Co- ed Slowpitch European Championships 2021
• Ireland National Team withdrawn from the Women’s European Championships 2021
• Dodder Softball Club withdrawn from the Co- Ed Slowpitch Super Cup 2021
Island of Ireland Restrictions
In accordance with the restrictions as set out by the Northern Ireland Executive and the decision of the Irish Government set the Republic of Ireland to Level 5, all Softball activities inclusive of training continue to be suspended to at least March 5, 2021.
Please note that during this period no softball activities are covered by the Softball Ireland insurance policy. Please note that the suspension of activities inludes but is not limited to leagues, tournament, inter-team games, practices and training in any sized grouping.
Softball Ireland woud encourage our members to follow all public health guidelines and continue to work together to reduce the spread of the virus.
Softball Ireland continues to liase with Softball Leinster, Softball Ulster and Galway Tribes to plan and prepare for international tournaments, leagues and club tournaments in 2021. Updates will be issued to Club contacts in the coming weeks.
The Board wishes continued good health to all our members and their families.
Island of Ireland Restrictions
In accordance with the restrictions as set out by the Northern Ireland Executive and the decision of the Irish Government to move the Republic of Ireland to Level 5, all Softball activities inclusive of training is suspended for a period of six weeks from Thursday October 22, 2020.
Please note that during this period no softball activities are covered by the Softball Ireland insurance policy. Please note that the suspension of activities inludes but is not limited to leagues, tournament, inter-team games, practices and training in any sized grouping.
Softball Ireland woud encourage our members to follow all public health guidelines and continue to work together to reduce the spread of the virus.
The Board wishes continued good health to all our members and their families.
Further to the announcement of the Government (Irish Republic), Dublin County has been moved to Level 3 under the framework for Restrictive Measures.
What does this mean for Softball in Dublin?
With effect from September 19, 2020, to such time as the Government changes the Level applied to Dublin County, no softball matches/friendlies/pick-up games may be played in the County of Dublin. Please note, should any Club arrange/play a match/friendy/pick-up game during this period the participating teams will not be insured.
Can our Club still practice in Dublin?
Level 3 permits for non contact training only in pods of up to 15 for this period. For softball, the Medical Committee has defined a Club as a Pod.
With effect from September 19, 2020 to such time as the Government changes the Level applied to Dublin County, Dublin based Clubs may host outdoor practice to a maximum of 15 attendees who must be Club members only (non-club members may not be invited to practice sessions). All practices must be conducted in accordance with the Softball Ireland Return to Play Protocol.
What about Clubs outside of Dublin County?
For all other Clubs (Irish Republic) outside the County of Dublin, matches and training may be held in accordance with the current Government advice and Softball Ireland Return to Play Protocol.
For Clubs based in Northern Ireland, Softball is permitted if the conditions set out by the Northern Ireland Executive are met.
We would ask all our memebers to continue to follow the Softball Ireland Return to Play Protocol and respect the restrictions put in place by the respective Governments.
All the latest information for Softball Ireland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and return to play are available here.
The Softball Ireland Medical Committee has confirmed that Softball Leinster teams may return to training with effect from August 23, 2020 in groups of no more than 15 in accordance with the recently released government guidelines.
The Softball Leinster League will return on August 24, 2020 and teams are encouraged to review the Softball Ireland Return To Play Protocol which is available here. All training and games must be held in compliance with the Softball Ireland protocol.
Spectators
In accordance with the Government Guidelines, spectators are not permitted to attend games or training sessions before September 13, 2020 (this restriction includes player family members or non-rostered players).
Softball Ireland will issue updated guidelines and processes should a player receive a positive test within the next 24 hours.
Please see the below statement issued on behalf of the Hippetys Softball Club
Just a quick note to let everyone know that the player who contracted COVID-19 is doing well and showing no symptoms. The player’s family is also doing well. We would like to thank all the teams and players for taking this news with grace and respect.
The Club would like to assure Softball Ireland members that the contact with COVID-19 does not seem to have come from playing softball or softball related activities. The player, who showed no symptoms, was exposed to suspected contact through work. Everyone at their workplace was tested after COVID-19 emerged there. The player was involved in that testing and tested positive for COVID-19.
On confirmation of a positive result, the club immediately alerted Softball Ireland (S.I.) who took action and responded with a plan within a few hours at which point all players were informed. We would like to thank S.I. for their help with a very difficult situation.
In regard to rumours and speculation, we were contacted about pictures of players, in a pub, on Facebook. This was done in relation to players not social distancing at a social gathering of softball players. We feel this is unfair to both softball clubs involved as well as the player. While we will never know definitively how the COVID-19 was contracted but as mentioned before it seems highly unlikely that softball or softball related social activities contributed to the positive COVID-19 test.
In relation to the player’s request for anonymity, we realize that some players and teams will know who the player who contracted COVID-19 is. Please keep this information to yourself and if you are asked any questions about COVID-19 or the player, please direct all questions to your COVID-19 officer or Softball Ireland.
Finally, we would also like to thank all the teams and players who sent well wishes and messages of support.
Softball Ireland have been advised this afternoon of a positive COVID-19 test from a player who played in the Hippies v Dodder Premier Division game on August 4, 2020.
The Softball Ireland Medical Committee were notified of the positive case and the Committee have considered the impact of the positive result noting in particular player movement within the Softball Leinster League during the 2020 season.
The Softball Ireland Board recognise the efforts taken by all teams to ensure a safe playing environment for all participants to date and urge clubs to continue following the Protocols available on www.softball.ie.
The Board, having noted the recommendation of the Medical Committee, this evening AGREED that:
All players are reminded to follow the HSE guidance with regards to COVID-19 and monitor for symptoms. If you concerned that you may require a test, please follow the HSE process detailed on the following link: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing/how-to-get-tested.html
The Softball Ireland Board appreciate the ongoing support of the Softball Leinster Committee and the impacted teams at this time.