OYO & COVID-19 UPDATE
In late March, we provided an update about the 2020 Spring Season and a variety of scenarios that could be implemented based on when the Stay-at-Home Orders locally are lifted and the community deems it safe to resume more normal and traditional activities. Now, in mid-April, we are providing a timely update to those plans, and we believe we are still on track to hold a memorable and productive season for all our ballplayers and families.
At OYO, we continue to monitor new announcements, guidelines and recommendations daily during this health crisis. We truly hope each and every family has remained safe and healthy during this challenging pandemic. Especially as we enter the Easter weekend for most, our thoughts are with all our families, ballplayers, coaches, umpires, concession workers and volunteers. Stay strong, stay positive and stay safe. We will soon be back together on the ballfields and coming together showing the very best of The OYO Way.
In the interim, our board members continue work together virtually to develop scheduling concepts for our spring season that demonstrate responsibility, accountability and opportunity. We remain encouraged by the many emails, texts and other inquiries about your interest and support for proceeding with a baseball and softball season this spring. Below are some of the latest updates for the upcoming season.
HOW IS OYO MONITORING THE DEVELOPMENTS AND CHANGES SURROUNDING COVID-19?
Over the past several weeks, we have assessed the recommendations from our government leaders and health experts and recognized the importance of social distancing as we determined and continuously amended the best course of action surrounding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) for our volunteers, coaches, ballplayers, families and umpires. We remain steadfastly committed to keeping each of you safe and healthy during these challenging times while balancing the desire to find some normalcy through our baseball and softball experiences — when the time is right.
WHEN WILL WE START OUR 2020 SPRING SEASON?
Based on the latest directive from Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogestt, we know current Stay at Home Orders run through April 20 statewide and May 1 for the City of Indianapolis. And, it is not known when those orders will be officially lifted. We are also monitoring recommendations from Little League International and Babe Ruth Headquarters for when programs may begin. While we can’t solidify a specific date, we can provide approximate “windows” for our Spring Season schedule. Simply, practices will begin sometime between May 9-25 and games will begin on either May 30 or June 6. Once we know more about the recommendations and decisions from our leaders and health experts, we will be able to finalize a schedule.
We believe this delay — and corresponding flexibility — can ensure the safety of all OYO families and still provide a complete experience for our Spring Season’s ballplayers. Yet, we know this decision comes with many questions about the schedule, the experience and more. So, to the best of our ability, we are attempting to answer these frequently asked questions below.
HOW WILL THIS NEW DELAY IMPACT THE 2020 SPRING SEASON?
Our goal is to provide a very similar practice and game schedule as if we would have started earlier this month. To accomplish this starting mid-May, our “Spring Season” will extend into the second week into July. Although we’ve lost time to fulfill a full 12-week schedule, we will be able to honor a realistic practice schedule and a near-full game schedule. That said, based on any future safety recommendations from our local or state government officials or health departments, then the season may need to be scaled accordingly. We’ve mapped out the scenarios below week-by-week through May for each respective division starting with practices beginning as early as Saturday, May 9. Any postponements past Memorial Day; however, may result in a complete cancellation of the 2020 Spring Season. We are optimistic it will not come to that!
Challenger and Tee Ball
| PRACTICE START | GAME START | FUTURE OF OYO PARADE | NOTES | # SCHEDULED PRACTICES | # SCHEDULED GAMES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9 | May 30 | July 12 | One Saturday game, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. | 6 | 14 |
| May 16 | May 30 | July 12 | One Saturday game, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. | 6 | 12 |
| May 25 | June 6 | July 12 | One Saturday game, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. | 4 | 12 |
Junior Rookie
PRACTICE START GAME START TOURNAMENT DATES ALL-STAR GAMES NOTES # SCHEDULED PRACTICES # SCHEDULED GAMES MIN # TOURNEY GAMES
May 9 May 30 July 7-11 July 12 One Saturday game, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. 6 10 1
May 16 May 30 July 7-11 July 12 One Saturday game, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. 4 8 1
May 25 June 6 July 7-11 July 12 One Saturday game, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. 4 8 1
Rookie, Minor Super Major | 8U, 10U, 12U Softball
PRACTICE START GAME START TOURNAMENT DATES ALL-STAR GAMES NOTES # SCHEDULED PRACTICES # SCHEDULED GAMES MIN # TOURNEY GAMES
May 9 May 30 July 7-11 July 12 Doubleheaders most -- if not all -- Saturdays, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m 6 14-15 1
May 16 May 30 July 7-11 July 12 Doubleheaders most -- if not all -- Saturdays, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m 4 14-15 1
May 25 June 6 July 7-11 July 12 Doubleheaders most -- if not all -- Saturdays, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m 4 12-13 1
Junior Baseball, Senior Baseball | 14U/16U Softball
PRACTICE START GAME START TOURNAMENT DATES NOTES # SCHEDULED PRACTICES # SCHEDULED GAMES MIN # TOURNEY GAMES
May 9 May 30 July 7-11 Doubleheaders most -- if not all -- Saturdays or Sundays, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. 6 12 1
May 16 May 30 July 7-11 Doubleheaders most -- if not all -- Saturdays or Sundays, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. 4 12 1
May 25 June 6 July 7-11 Doubleheaders most -- if not all -- Saturdays or Sundays, 1-2 weeknight games, some weeknight games may begin at 5:30 p.m. 4 10 1
HOW WILL THIS IMPACT THE REC TRAVEL/ALL-STAR SEASON?
Our goal is to continue provide opportunities for our rec travel/all-star program to continue. We understand some neighboring youth baseball programs are either altering or canceling their rec travel plans. As a result, the pool of teams available may decrease, but our goal is to continue providing these competitive experiences for ballplayers on Sundays and host our own rec travel tournaments (albeit with modifications). While we are dedicated to ensuring a complete rec league season for all 800 of our young baseball and softball players, we believe there will be rec travel opportunities for interested players so long as the practice season can begin by mid-May. If so, then rec travel coaches and teams will be encouraged to hold tryouts on the first Sunday after practices begin — and only a minimum of one tryout will be required (although more may be conducted). So, tryout dates will adopt the following schedule:
- Practices Begin Saturday, May 9 | Bombers and Red Storm Tryouts Conducted Sunday, May 10 and Sunday, May 17
- Practices Begin Saturday, May 16 | Bombers and Red Storm Tryouts Conducted Sunday, May 17
- Practices Begin after May 23 | Bombers and Red Storm program will be reassessed for viability in 2020
Along the lines of our rec travel/all-star team activity, OYO traditionally hosts two annual rec travel/all-star tournaments — the David Manlove Memorial Tournament, which donates proceeds to The 24 Group to help create awareness about youth addictions, and the Bill Sturm Memorial Tournament, which funds OYO’s annual scholarship program. We plan to proceed with these tournaments in 2020; however, the format and scheduling for the tournaments will change to better accommodate our rec league season. The revised schedules will resemble:
| REC PRACTICE START | REC GAME START | REC TOURNAMENT DATES | REC LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAMES | DAVID MANLOVE TOURNAMENT STATUS | BILL STURM TOURNAMENT STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9 | May 30 | July 7-11 | July 12 | YES | July 4-5 (expanded concept) | YES | July 17-19 (revised format) |
| May 16 | May 30 | July 7-11 | July 12 | YES | July 4-5 (expanded concept) | YES | July 17-19 (revised format) |
| May 25 | June 6 | July 7-11 | July 12 | YES | July 4-5 (expanded concept) | YES | July 17-19 (revised format) |
More information about our rec travel program and related OYO-hosted travel tournaments will be available in late April.
WHAT ABOUT OUR PAYMENTS, PAYMENT PLANS OR BALANCES?
At this time, our plan is to provide a complete season by deferring the start date, leveraging creative scheduling options, maximizing daylight savings time and field access and ensuring a memorable experience for all ballplayers and families. We are confident the season will take place in 2020, and we have submitted our uniform order for all our younger divisions and older divisions (JBB, SBB, 14U/16U) will follow in the weeks ahead. At this time, we are asking our families and ballplayers to remain part of our program this spring. For those currently on a payment plan, please know we have suspended and deferred all future payments to May 11, 2020, unlesss otherwise notified. Rest assured, no further payments will be collected until we are confident the season will proceed. So if additional adjustments to the date are neccesary, then we will extend the date accordingly. Thank you for your understanding.
WILL OYO ISSUE REFUNDS FOR THE SEASON?
Yes, if needed! At this time OYO is asking all families to remain onboard with our plans for the Spring Season. We look forward to a safe, memorable and engaging experience for all our families and ballplayers following this critical and effective period of social distancing. In fact, we’ve heard from countless families over the past three weeks, and the vast majority of those families are encouraging us to play the season when the time is right. We want to afford your ballplayer the chance to make that decision at that time, too. And, to remain on the roster as an eligible player until early May gives you and your family the opportunity to do so. However, if we determine a season cannot be conducted this spring, then absolutely we will afford options for each and every family to determine how their funds should be refunded or credited for a future season.
IS THERE STILL TIME AND SPACE FOR BALLPLAYERS TO REGISTER FOR THE 2020 SPRING SEASON?
Absolutely! We understand a lot of changes are in the works for a lot of families. Our board members have learned about canceled travel seasons outside of OYO, delayed vacations, missed school ball experiences, etc. During the past few weeks, we’ve slowed down the overall communications and registration marketing emails as we’ve focused on keeping our families safe. Now, with the light at the end of the tunnel now surfacing, it’s important to remind you — and your friends — registration is still open! If you know about a ballplayer who is interested in joining an OYO squad this spring, then simply register online today!
GOT QUESTIONS?
We understand many families will continue to have many questions about the 2020 Spring Season and the schedules and information provided here. To help get your questions answered, feel free to email our general OYO emailbox or contact the OYO Board Member who might best be able to help you during this break in the action. We will reply as soon as we are able, and we appreciate your understanding and support during these evolving times.
STAY SAFE AND STAY HEALTHY!
We wish you all the best of health during this time. The volunteer OYO Board of Directors is here for you. On behalf of all of us at OYO, please know we are committed to our community and our families, and we we will navigate through this time together with you. We will keep you updated as our plans for the 2020 Spring Season become clearer. As always, thank you for choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball, and your continued trust and support in OYO.
See you soon!
The OYO Board of Directors