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Thread: Lancaster Re-Openings, Phase 3: No Baseball Until July 6: Burstein

  1. #1
    Member mark blazejewski's Avatar
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    Lancaster Re-Openings, Phase 3: No Baseball Until July 6: Burstein

    As I understand the Phase 3 Guidlines, Baseball has been designated a "Moderate" sport, and individual and distanced group training and activity can not commence until July 6...

    Click Attachment:

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    Click Attachment:

    image (45).jpg

    Reference: https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/SportsAndRecreationSummaryGuidance.pdf



    Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein seems to have confirmed my understanding on June 17, 2020...


    "We were informed by the Empire State Development this morning youth sports can only begin on July 6th, and that is not only to play sports but to play games. It also includes for practices, so no practices and no games until July 6th," Commissioner Gale Burstein said.
    Reference: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/niagara-falls-lawmaker-calls-on-new-york-state-to-allow-youth-sports-to-resume-now/71-4dbada24-111e-4688-bbc7-3c060c01e87e

    Based on the information communicated above, anyone who has been, or is, advising Lancaster residents to the contrary would seem to be incorrect, and if residents are violating those guidelines, they may be subject to "punishment."
    Last edited by mark blazejewski; June 19th, 2020 at 04:33 PM.
    LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"

  2. #2
    Member gorja's Avatar
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    I hope the Lancaster-Depew Baseball Association is paying their 2020 mortgage payment on the training facility.

    Georgia L Schlager

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    Member gorja's Avatar
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    I wonder why the state waited until June 18th to send out an advisement after the new phase opening.

    https://lancasterny.gov/document-cen...ties/file.html

    But it does say, "Please note that where guidance in this document differs from other guidance documents issued by New
    York State, the more recent guidance shall apply."

    Georgia L Schlager

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    Member gorja's Avatar
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    Apparently everyone was confused by the state's phase openings communication or miscommunication.

    From the Clarence Bee -

    Confusion over state mandates on youth sports leads to complaint in Clarence
    June 23, 2020

    by ETHAN POWERS
    Editor

    A string of emails, layers of arcane bureaucracy and an undefined hierarchy of answers led to the Town of Clarence declaring, and then undeclaring, the resumption of youth sports last week.

    Clarence officials received correspondence from the Erie County health Department, taking cues from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office, identifying when and how municipalities could resume youth sports activity as part of the state’s phase three reopening guidelines. Clarence Supervisor Patrick Casilio admitted that the town initially misinterpreted those guidelines and did allow some of its baseball teams to resume practices.

    On June 13, Casilio received a call from the Erie County Health Department concerning Clarence teams illegally practicing on town fields. When Clarence officials were made aware of the error, they were left even further astray when seeking clarification on Cuomo’s mandate that competitive practices were not to begin until July 6.

    In an email to Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein, Casilio noted that a colleague in Niagara County had mentioned that some sports teams were resuming full practices.

    “We were informed by Amanda Mays from NYS ESD by email today, ‘only activities on the list (Baseball, Softball, Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Cross Country, and Crew).’ And they are not permitted to start, even practices, before July 6,” responded Burstein.

    In a further email, Jennifer Hibit, chief of staff for Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, told Casilio that “competitive tournaments of multiple games, meets, matches, or scrimmages requiring travel – Are NOT currently allowed with any sports. I am unsure if this means that will change with phase 4, that guidance has not been provided.”

    “I don’t even want to say it’s changing daily. It seems like it’s changing hourly,” Casilio told the Clarence Bee on Monday.

    The vagaries of state-issued guidance on certain components of New York’s reopening phases have caused headaches for some municipalities that have been in violation of rules they may not have received guidance on.

    Last week, the Town of Clarence issued updates on openings within the town.

    A press release issued by the town noted that Clarence would open the baseball, soccer fields, football fields and basketball courts, and that per the Erie County Health Department, only 10 or fewer people could be on the field at one time.

    The town was forced to walk back that announcement when Albany released further guidance last week on the resumption of youth sports.

    For any indoor sport or recreational activity, capacity must be limited to 50%. No more than two spectators are allowed per player and 6 feet of distance must be maintained for those not on the field.

    The new state guidance separates sports into three “risk” categories – higher risk, moderate risk and low risk.

    Higher risk sports include football, wrestling, ice hockey, rugby, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, and competitive cheer/dance. Those sports are allowed to resume low-contact practices on July 6, although no games, tournaments or scrimmages are permitted.

    Moderate risk sports include baseball/softball, gymnastics, field hockey, swimming, crew and soccer. Sports in this category can resume practices, games and scrimmages on July 6. Tournaments or scrimmages requiring travel are still not authorized.

    At a press conference on June 17, Burstein told reporters that schools and municipalities should tread lightly if they are unsure of what is allowed under the state mandates, as they could be in violation of insurance policies should they resume activities prior to July 6.

    “[Localities] have to be careful because if there is an injury, they could be held liable,” she said.

    While the Town of Clarence had to retreat on earlier plans to resume youth sports, it might be forced to do the same with plans to restart pavilion bookings.

    Last week, the town noted that it planned to reopen the Town Park Clubhouse and Legion Hall during the first week in July under the state’s phase four reopening plan. Casilio told The Bee on Monday that those plans are now on hold as the town looks for authorization from the state.

    Even without events in the town parks, state mandates on youth sports have proven difficult to enforce, said Jim Burkard, parks crew chief for the Town of Clarence.

    “Right now, it has to fall on the coaches and the baseball associations to monitor it. They’ve all been sent copies of the rules and we’re asking them to abide by them. We just don’t have the staff to go around checking every ball diamond.”

    Georgia L Schlager

  5. #5
    Member mark blazejewski's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gorja View Post
    Apparently everyone was confused by the state's phase openings communication or miscommunication.

    From the Clarence Bee -

    Confusion over state mandates on youth sports leads to complaint in Clarence
    June 23, 2020

    by ETHAN POWERS
    Editor

    A string of emails, layers of arcane bureaucracy and an undefined hierarchy of answers led to the Town of Clarence declaring, and then undeclaring, the resumption of youth sports last week.

    Clarence officials received correspondence from the Erie County health Department, taking cues from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office, identifying when and how municipalities could resume youth sports activity as part of the state’s phase three reopening guidelines. Clarence Supervisor Patrick Casilio admitted that the town initially misinterpreted those guidelines and did allow some of its baseball teams to resume practices.

    On June 13, Casilio received a call from the Erie County Health Department concerning Clarence teams illegally practicing on town fields. When Clarence officials were made aware of the error, they were left even further astray when seeking clarification on Cuomo’s mandate that competitive practices were not to begin until July 6.

    In an email to Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein, Casilio noted that a colleague in Niagara County had mentioned that some sports teams were resuming full practices.

    “We were informed by Amanda Mays from NYS ESD by email today, ‘only activities on the list (Baseball, Softball, Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Cross Country, and Crew).’ And they are not permitted to start, even practices, before July 6,” responded Burstein.

    In a further email, Jennifer Hibit, chief of staff for Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, told Casilio that “competitive tournaments of multiple games, meets, matches, or scrimmages requiring travel – Are NOT currently allowed with any sports. I am unsure if this means that will change with phase 4, that guidance has not been provided.”

    “I don’t even want to say it’s changing daily. It seems like it’s changing hourly,” Casilio told the Clarence Bee on Monday.

    The vagaries of state-issued guidance on certain components of New York’s reopening phases have caused headaches for some municipalities that have been in violation of rules they may not have received guidance on.

    Last week, the Town of Clarence issued updates on openings within the town.

    A press release issued by the town noted that Clarence would open the baseball, soccer fields, football fields and basketball courts, and that per the Erie County Health Department, only 10 or fewer people could be on the field at one time.

    The town was forced to walk back that announcement when Albany released further guidance last week on the resumption of youth sports.

    For any indoor sport or recreational activity, capacity must be limited to 50%. No more than two spectators are allowed per player and 6 feet of distance must be maintained for those not on the field.

    The new state guidance separates sports into three “risk” categories – higher risk, moderate risk and low risk.

    Higher risk sports include football, wrestling, ice hockey, rugby, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, and competitive cheer/dance. Those sports are allowed to resume low-contact practices on July 6, although no games, tournaments or scrimmages are permitted.

    Moderate risk sports include baseball/softball, gymnastics, field hockey, swimming, crew and soccer. Sports in this category can resume practices, games and scrimmages on July 6. Tournaments or scrimmages requiring travel are still not authorized.

    At a press conference on June 17, Burstein told reporters that schools and municipalities should tread lightly if they are unsure of what is allowed under the state mandates, as they could be in violation of insurance policies should they resume activities prior to July 6.

    “[Localities] have to be careful because if there is an injury, they could be held liable,” she said.

    While the Town of Clarence had to retreat on earlier plans to resume youth sports, it might be forced to do the same with plans to restart pavilion bookings.

    Last week, the town noted that it planned to reopen the Town Park Clubhouse and Legion Hall during the first week in July under the state’s phase four reopening plan. Casilio told The Bee on Monday that those plans are now on hold as the town looks for authorization from the state.

    Even without events in the town parks, state mandates on youth sports have proven difficult to enforce, said Jim Burkard, parks crew chief for the Town of Clarence.

    “Right now, it has to fall on the coaches and the baseball associations to monitor it. They’ve all been sent copies of the rules and we’re asking them to abide by them. We just don’t have the staff to go around checking every ball diamond.”
    That is why we speaking authoritatively, best follow the admonishment, "When in doubt, don't."
    LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"

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