During the May 14 Friends of Brookings Baseball Board meeting, the Brookings Friends of Baseball Board of Directors voted to approve a plan for returning to play under current COVID-19 guidelines. For the summer 2020 season, Brookings Friends of Baseball will sponsor the following teams:

• Bandits (18U)
• Chutes (16U)
• Bullets (16U) - if enough players are available
• Bombers Black (14U)
• Bombers Maroon (13U)
• Bombers Gray (14U/13U) - if enough players are available
• 12U Traveling Team
• 11U Traveling Team
• 10U Traveling Team
• 9U Traveling Team

The Bandits, Chutes, Bullets, and Bombers will be playing in 2 tournaments (1 relatively local in-state tournament and the state tournament). The 12U through 9U teams will only be playing in the state tournament (due to cancellations, minimal other options exist). However, we will work to get them some double header games with other communities. Players that want to be eligible for the 12U through 9U traveling teams, must also participate in the Brookings Baseball Academy (described below). Fees for all of these teams will remain the same as what they were at the beginning of the season, including the additional fees for the traveling teams.

Prior to the beginning of the season, a portion of the registration fees for each of the players registered for the Bandits, Chutes, Bullets, and Bombers was designated for purchase of a batting helmet. We will proceed with those orders for players that will be playing summer baseball.

Players on the 12U through 9U teams must provide their own batting helmet. For players of the appropriate age to play on these teams this summer, simply indicate "yes" on the survey.

Due to concerns regarding facility availability and a limit on the number of people per field, the Board of Directors has elected to not have our regular 12U to 7U in-house teams (e.g., Majors, Minors, and Juniors). However, we would still like to offer these players an opportunity to get some baseball in this summer.

As such, we will be offering the Brookings Baseball Academy. Players in the Academy will meet twice per week in the afternoons (days and times are to be determined). At each session, we will have paid coaches and some of our upper league players on hand to work with the players on skill development. We will also provide the opportunity for them to play in some modified scrimmages. In this format, we can keep groups smaller which facilitates social distancing protocols and allows for more effective instruction. In the event that facilities become available, we will explore opportunities for evening sessions.

Facilities for the Academy will not be available until at least June 1, but once we begin, we will work to provide sessions through June and July. Registration fees paid for summer league play will be used to cover the cost of the Academy. There will be no additional cost; however, players must provide their own equipment (e.g., bat, glove, and batting helmet). Balls and catching gear will be provided by the organization.

We are excited about this opportunity and feel like it will be a tremendous value both in terms of cost and skill development.

Reminder, players that want to be eligible for the 12U through 9U traveling teams, must also participate in the Brookings Baseball Academy. For 12U through 7U players to participate in the Academy, simply indicate "yes" on the survey.

We understand that there may be concerns regarding the COVID-19 risk. To address the risk, we will be following rigorous guidelines relative to social distancing and sanitizing protocols. Those guidelines will be approved by the city prior to us being able to utilize their facilities.

What we need to know ASAP is if the players will be continuing with their summer registration or if they would prefer to not play and get a refund. This survey is designed for each parent or guardian to indicate what their players choice will be. Although this e-mail invitation was sent to all of the primary and secondary contacts, we need only one response...there will be an opportunity to respond for 3 different players in 1 survey.

To reiterate, if a player chooses to play summer baseball, their entire registration fee will be used to cover expenses. If a player chooses to not play, the parents or guardians will be able to choose whether the 2020 registration fee will be refunded or carried forward and applied to the 2021 registration (details on that second option will be forthcoming).

Time is of the essence, so we are asking that each of you complete the survey by Sunday, May 17 at noon.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6MZTJGV

Please contact csccwright@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you,

Cody Wright, President