COVID19 De-registration FAQ

FAQ – June 19^th De-registration

In response to the questions we have heard over the last 48 hours, here is some additional information.

What if too many players on the team de-register? Will our team fold?

• We will have a team for all of our players to participate on when competition resumes. Some rosters may need to be merged. In addition to merging rosters, we do have players from other centres who have folded their season waiting to fill any vacancies on our rosters.

The credit is for 75% of the KMBA registration fee. What did the 25% you held back cover?

• Our Board of Directors approved covering all overhead costs for the 2020 season (in grey below) in order to maximize the credit available for families at this time
• The 25% covered the Winter training received, along with coaching support – clinics, certifications and training

Will there be other credits available later this summer?

• In the event that league play isn’t scheduled (the season is cancelled) all rostered players will be released at that time and a credit will be applied to player accounts based on KMBA expenditures at that time (diamond costs, league fees, umpires and tournament registration expenses are still unknown at this time). We will be doing all we can to limit all expenditures between now and when a final decision is made.
• If the decision to cancel league play is made, KMBA is committing to a modified baseball program until October – players wanting to participate will be able to register for that program and use their account credit towards the registration fee

Why is it a credit and not a refund?

• We rarely have players leave the Panthers program, therefore we feel a credit to 2021 is an appropriate policy at this time. If families require a refund, they can complete this form after submitting their de-registration

Will there be a refund on uniforms? When are the uniforms going to be available?

• Uniforms are individual purchase – there will be no refund, and you will receive your uniform
• Our Board of Directors did direct the supplier not to sublimate the last names on the backs of the jerseys (last names can be added later if desired) and KMBA is committing to the facilitation of a buy/trade system for jerseys in the event that you would like to sell/trade for another size
• Uniforms are expected to arrive this week, and will be distributed by coaches

If I was an import player on a release, is my roster spot still guaranteed for 2021?

• As a rostered Panther for 2020, you are guaranteed a Kitchener spot on a 2021 roster and are no longer considered an import player

Will the ICBA loops change? What will a season look like?

• It is possible that the league loops may change. Some new centres have asked to participate in our league after their league folded, and some teams may need to be merged to have a full roster
• At this point all ICBA centres are providing their diamond availability and then a schedule may be determined with that information. A best case scenario could have us play close to a full season, just pushed back a few months.

When will tryouts be held?

• If we have league play, tryouts will start once league play has finished
• If we don’t have league play, tryouts will overlap the modified baseball program

COVID19 Update – June 8th, 2020

KMBA Stage 2 Update – Provincial Announcement June 8^th, 2020

Today the Provincial Government announced that as of Friday, June 12^th at 12:01am team sport training can begin with the following regulations:

• Physically distanced, for training only and with no scrimmages or games
• Limited access to facilities (no locker rooms, no change rooms and no showers)
• Access to clubhouse and other amenities will be limited to washrooms, emergency aid and equipment management

This is an important step in our return to play plan. We look forward to hearing from Baseball Ontario and the City of Kitchener shortly to confirm when we can begin our team training.

Currently, Baseball Ontario has suspended in person activity until June 15^th and the City of Kitchener sports fields do not have permit options until July 1^st.

Our team is working to confirm these dates, and what next steps we need to take to get our Panther teams training again. Until confirmation is received and communicated, our teams are not permitted to train in person.

At this time, it is important for all of our baseball families to become familiar with the Baseball Ontario Return to Play document. It will take all of us working together to ensure that the new rules and regulations in the document are followed at all times.

We will continue to update our baseball community as quickly as possible as new information is provided to us. Stay hopeful.

A Message from the President – WR Record Article

A Message from the President

In Response to the Waterloo Region Record Article

In response to the article published in the Waterloo Region Record, Kitchener Minor Baseball Association (KMBA) would like to clarify our position on the 2020 baseball season. Although KMBA was interviewed for this piece, our statements were not included. As the region’s largest baseball association, this is disappointing, and I am writing this statement to ensure that our position is clear.

At KMBA, the safety of our players, coaches, and families is paramount and is a key driver of our decision-making, not just during this pandemic, but always. We regularly review and ensure we follow the health and safety recommendations provided by Public Health officials. This has not and will not change as we navigate the COVID-19 situation.

We are in close, regular contact with our fantastic partners at the City of Kitchener. They have been clear that there is no concern pertaining to the safety or conditions of our diamonds if and when they will be opened for use. We also continue to work closely with them on improvements at our facilities. For example, the construction of our new batting cage facility at Breithaupt Park this year, and the installation of lights at Breithaupt Park last year which has given us the ability to play later into the evenings all summer as well as later into the fall season when daylight is at a premium.

In the article, there was a statement that a decision is required by June 1^st in order to move ahead with a season. KMBA holds the opinion that we will offer baseball to our community whenever that becomes possible. We are preparing for all possibilities, including any start date up to and including dates in September. We are no strangers to fall baseball. Our Panthers Fall Ball program unites players from associations around Waterloo Region and beyond with play in September and October. A modified Fall Ball program (without travel outside of Canada) is only one of the options we are considering in order to be able to offer baseball in 2020.

All our conversations with Baseball Ontario and the local Intercounty Baseball Association have been focused on delivering some sort of season in 2020. Many municipalities are dealing with the same issues and it is clear that most are fully on board with plans to make the most out of what we are given in 2020.

Of course, we are realistic and are also preparing for a full cancellation if that becomes the requirement, however we are hopeful that this will not be the case. We do recognize that an amended season may require adjustments to our teams and we do intend to address the financial ramifications of a season that looks different than originally planned. Our guiding principles are that we will provide baseball to our players if and when it becomes safe to do so, and that we will treat our families and community fairly. Thanks in part to fundraising, grants, and subsidies, we are in a healthy financial position and are confident we will be able to balance any program we may deliver in 2020 with the fees required to do so. If we are told or determine that we are not able to deliver any baseball program in 2020, we will ensure an equitable pro-rated credit or refund will be issued to our members.

Another statement in the article indicated that everybody will lose players for 2021. This is not a statement that KMBA supports or believes. We understand that families are facing challenges this year and that there are many unknowns. What is known is that our players and families love baseball and Kitchener has built an outstanding program that draws players to participate in large numbers. We will increase our efforts heading into 2021 to market our great sport to the community and we intend to come back from whatever 2020 brings to us stronger and better than ever. If the Coronavirus situation shows us anything, it shows us that people want to be outside with others participating in activities; we will deliver a baseball program that will be there to welcome them.

Kitchener Minor Baseball remains committed as always to the health and safety of our players, coaches, and families. We also remain committed to delivering a baseball program that provides much more than just something for the kids to do. We continue to nurture our athletes to make them better members of our community, as well as better ball players. This current situation is no doubt a curve ball, but our training as an organization and our commitment to our community makes us ready to handle curve balls. We will be here in 2020, 2021, and every year beyond that to deliver strong baseball programs to serve our community.

Thank you and stay safe!
Ron Mooibroek

President, Kitchener Minor Baseball Association