Santa Margarita Little League

13

Dec, 2020

SMLL Spring 2021 Update from President Ryan Chessman

On behalf of our SMLL board, I want to wish our SMLL family a very happy and healthy Holidays! I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to bidding farewell to 2020.

As we approach 2021, it is impossible not to be apprehensive about the current Covid-19 reality. Given this backdrop, I wanted to provide everyone with a more in-depth update on where we are as a league and our 2021 season.

We are resolved to make one thing happen for Spring 2021 – PLAY BALL!

I cannot stress this enough. Santa Margarita Little League is doing EVERYTHING possible to get back to playing baseball this season and we have the full support of Little League Intl. and District 68. Whether the Covid situation allows play as usual, or if there are state restrictions like we are in now, we are going to plan for every conceivable possibility and get as close to normal as we are allowed under state guidelines. Manager interviews and selections are already taking place. We are planning to hold player evaluations, draft teams, begin practices and yes, even play competitive baseball. We envision that the season will still culminate with a TOC tournament and All-Stars. Let’s be honest, the game may look slightly different, depending on where we are at the time. As long as we have fields, we will work within the guidelines to remain safe and play baseball. SAMLARC has been a fantastic partner in finding solutions so we will have fields to play on this year.

So, where does all this leave us right now? Well, none of us have a crystal ball for what early 2021 will bring but we are continuing to move forward with planning for the Spring season, whether it is business as usual or with some creative adjustments. We also understand that uncertainty is challenging. So, to help as we move forward, we have done the following:

REGISTRATION

1) “Early Bird” Pricing is Back: The discounted Early Bird registration pricing has been re-instituted and extended until January 9tht. Anyone who registered after the previous Early Bird deadline is being issued a refund for the pricing difference. If you have a financial hardship that is preventing you from registering your child, please send an email to [email protected] for assistance.

2) 2-Payment Option: You can now opt to have your registration fees processed as two payments. The first payment will be processed immediately when you register and the balance will be processed on January 1st, 2021.

3) Refund Extension: We have extended full refunds up until teams are finalized and uniforms are ordered. If the season is cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions after it begins, a pro-rated amount (minus the cost of uniforms and field costs) will still be refunded based on how much of the season has been played. You can register for this season by visiting our website at http://smllbaseball.org.

CALENDAR

As of today, we continue to move forward as originally scheduled. Player Evaluations, league age 7 and up, are scheduled for Saturday, January 9th, with the player draft in mid-January. Opening Day is scheduled for Saturday, February 27th. We will continue to keep you updated on any changes to our league calendar.

SAFETY

Safety is our number one priority. Period. Our league will continue to follow current guidelines around hygiene, distancing and mask wearing as we successfully executed during our Fall Season. That said, each family is in the unique position to make decisions that are best for you. If your family is concerned for your personal safety or that of a loved one – or you just feel that playing at this time is not right for you – SMLL will welcome you back when you are ready.

Finally, I want to thank all of you for your patience and for making SMLL your home for baseball! I am so grateful for this Little League family. In the spirit of transparency during these challenging times, we will continue to provide regular email and social media updates. In the meantime, I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday season. I can’t wait to see all of you back on the fields in 2021!

We are SM!
Ryan Chessman, Santa Margarita Little League President

Website Manager

Santa Margarita LL

News Detail

13

Dec, 2020

SMLL Spring 2021 Update from President Ryan Chessman

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