How Bellefonte Little League is gearing up to resume play in a socially distanced world
Bellefonte Little League was running out of time to get its season started. Unlike other local leagues, Bellefonte had a tight window to get its season in. Commissioner Bill Carey previously told the Centre Daily Times the season had to be over by Aug. 1 in order to allow players to play football.
The league’s chances of having a season decreased as each day passed, but earlier this week, the good news finally came. Centre County would be entering the green phase of the state’s response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on May 29. After frustration with the county’s original decision to delay the change to green until June 5, Carey was thrilled to see the alteration.
“Unbelievable elation,” Carey said describing how he felt when he heard the news. “I’ve been waiting to hear the word ‘green’ for a long time.”
The change allowed the league to have a season for its players, even though there are still plenty of rules to decipher and details to suss out.
From there, Carey and the rest of the league’s board got to work to figure out the details.
What followed was a long Thursday night meeting to work through all of the guidelines and issues presented by the coronavirus. Players, coaches and parents must social distance unless a ball is put in play, which presents a set of issues the league’s leaders aren’t used to dealing with.
They were able to put together a set of rules for the league to move forward with a season. The full list of rules, which includes mandated social distancing, along with restrictions on how much time can be spent at the field, who can travel together to the field, and a required waiver for players to take part in the league, can be found on the Bellefonte Little League Facebook page.
While the restrictions are in place, Carey knows there will be some difficulties, specifically with social distancing at the lowest levels of the leagues.
“I think we’re all going to struggle with social distancing the kids,” he said. “It’s not going to be as hard at the upper levels, but I want you to imagine trying to keep six-, seven-, eight-year-old kids off each other. We’re going to be herding cats.”
His concern about social distancing is real, and a positive COVID-19 test in the league would shut it down immediately, but that hasn’t changed Carey’s excitement to get the league started. He and the board agreed to a June 12 start date, with some teams beginning practice Friday, the first day the county entered the green phase.
With the league’s practice starting immediately, and the need to get rosters and schedules sorted out, families must inform the league by June 1 if their children intend to play this season. While Carey is hopeful they’ll get the same turnout they always do, he understands that’s not likely.
That’s why families have several options for their dues that have already been paid, he said.
They can donate the funds to the league, they can roll the money over to next year and cover the dues ahead of time for next season or they can receive a full refund from the league.
While the regulations will make the league operate unusually, no restriction will hurt the league more than the ban on concession stands, which is part of the reason a league donation is an option for paid dues.
The ban will leave the league $25,000 short of its usual funding that goes to keeping the league running, Carey said. Carey has a simple message for those who are interested in helping the league out.
“If people in the community see somebody from the Bellefonte Little League doing a fundraiser,” he said, “if they can afford to, help us out.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2020 at 2:48 PM.
