Background 

As our impacted families know, our 2020 spring teams were scheduled to begin practicing on March 30, with Opening Day and games beginning on April 27.  Due to the global health pandemic, the season was postponed in mid-March at the direction of local, state and federal officials.

As we begin to emerge from this crisis, Indiana's Governor Holcomb has developed a 5-phase plan to gradually reopen the economy and return Hoosiers to their normal activities.

On May 1, Governor Holcomb revealed a 5-phase plan.  This plan specifically states that:

• In Phase 3, beginning  5/24, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts and similar facilities are allowed to reopen with social distancing guidelines in place.  Social gatherings of up to 100 people may take place following the social distancing guidelines.  K-12 facilities remain closed.
  
  
• In Phase 4, beginning 6/14, recreational sports leagues and tournaments may resume.  Social gatherings of up to 250 people may take place following the CDC social distancing guidelines.  No large events such as conventions, sports events, fairs, festivals and parades.
  
  
• In Phase 5, beginning on 7/4, events such as conventions, sports events, fairs, festivals and parades will be allowed.

What does that mean for Little League?  

Your DeMotte Little League Board of Directors is working with local government to agree on a timeline and operations plan for resuming the season.  At this time, we have an "ideal" plan (Plan A) and a "fallback" plan (Plan B).  Local officials agree that Plan A is desirable but are working to make sure that it complies with the Governors Plan.  They have approved a Plan B, which we will implement if Plan A is ultimately not approved.

Dates for the plans are as follows:



What will the schedule look like? 

We still anticipate that during Practice Season, each team will have one weeknight practice and one Saturday practice.  During games season, each team will have two games per week.  For divisions that play interleague, we will have games with Roselawn, Wheatfield, and Hebron.
 
What about All-Stars?

Question: I had players already registered for the Spring Season, what should I do next?
Answer: Please complete this form!  It will ask whether you intend to play, are not able to play, or are not yet sure! We will issue refunds to those who are unable to play.  We will also use this to gather a little more information we will need if you are able to play.  We need everyone who was originally registered to play to complete the form! 

Question: My kids were not going to play but now we would like to! How can we get registered?
Answer: Online registration will be reopened on May 2nd and remain open until at least May 10th.  Please use the "Register" button above.  Remember that the T-Mobile program is still available for families who need financial assistance.  Read more about that program here.   

Question: I would like my kids to play but we have a vacation scheduled for a week or two during the new season dates.
Answer: We encourage you to play anyway.  The form linked above (if you were already registered) and the online registration system (if you weren't already registered) will ask about dates you might not be available.  We understand that scheduling this summer is complicated and we are prepared for more absences than usual.

Question: We were previously registered and assigned a team; will that still be my child's team?
Answer: We don't know yet.  Depending on how many players add and how many players drop, we MAY have to rearrange teams.  We won't be able to answer that until our new registration period closes.

• If we are able to follow Plan A (holding practices during Phase 3 from May 24-June 13), those practices will be designed to allow 6' social distancing to be observed.
• Each team will one volunteer to act as Safety Captain, and will be responsible for wiping down equipment, overseeing proper hygiene, and ensuring social distancing among spectators.
• Spectators will need to observe social distancing (6' between families).  This means spectators will need to be using space further down the baselines or in the outfield.
• We will not share helmets.  Any player who doesn't have one will be assigned loaned a DLL helmet for the season (at no cost, but it will need to be returned at the end of the season).
• Shared bats will be wiped down in between uses.
• Handwashing stations will be added, along with additional restrooms, near the small fields and Field 5.
• The Concession Stand will be utilizing social distancing and updating other procedures much like other take-out restaurants. 
• The "treat tickets" process will be changed to prevent large groups of players from congregating at the concession stand.
• We will not allow the consumption of sunflower seeds on the premises.  The spitting of seeds on the ground is not allowed during this time.  Bubble gum should not be spit on the ground in any circumstances.