Essendon Baseball Club
Its been a difficult time for everyone this year including our Baseball Club.
Please see the following message from our President Tony Cornish regarding our voluntary donation program :
If you would like to make a donation, please follow this link :
Thank you and EBCLOVE to you all.
Good news we have been given the all clear to return to baseball activity. While this is undoubtedly good news, there are some protocols and procedures we have to adhere to. Those protocols and procedures are outlined below.
You must complete the RETURN TO ACTIVITY REGISTRATION below. NO ONE will be allowed to set foot on the field without registering.
Once you have registered please use the following link to book a group at training. Places, numbers and times are STRICTLY limited so please keep to the time you have signed up to.
If you sign up and for whatever reason cant make that session, please remove your name from the list.
I cant stress this enough that places are limited so for the sake of everyone involved please keep the sign up sheet up to date.
Arrival
Sanitising station
Inside the gate, a sanitary station will be set up and each player will come to the station in turn.
A Coach or club official will be at the table, and will be wearing gloves.
Each player will be asked the following questions, which will be recorded:
The player’ s temperature is taken with digital thermometer and recorded.
If any significant symptoms are present at this point, the player will be asked to leave training and return home. It will be strongly suggested that they self-isolate until they can be medically reviewed.
The players details are then written on the Baseball Victoria Return to activity form and forwarded to Baseball Victoria.
The player then washes their hands again, using sleeve to push down dispenser, or official at the station assists. Player then moves into their allocated group.
Extra bats
If a player does not have their own bat, they will be supplied with one. All such bats will have a disposable tape applied to the handle, which will be removed at the end of training during “clean up.”
Helmets
If a player does not have their own helmet, one will be supplied for the duration of the session. At the end of the session, players are to return the borrowed helmet to their player station.
Balls
All balls except those used in shared activity will be collected into containers and stored without being cleaned, as they will only have been handled by players with gloves on.
During this process, gloves are to be worn.
Equipment
All bases, pitching machines, helmets and nets can be collected, cleaned and stored away by persons wearing gloves.
Drink bottles
Players will need to clearly mark their own drink bottle and will be advised not to share under any circumstances. The club will not provide drink bottles.
Bins
A number of bins and buckets will be distributed throughout the training area. Used tissues and gloves can be put into them.
When training is finished
After cleaning up their area and putting rubbish in the bin, they leave training through the gate near the visitors’ dugout
Clean up
Suggest that the clean up is performed by minimal staff, perhaps two. They must wear gloves.
Follow up process if any player was sent home for isolation
If a player has been sent home from training, a screening form for the event must be completed.
To All Members of EBC as Addressed (All Juniors, Senior Men & Women, Masters, Volunteers & Committee )
The announcement has been made generally heralding a return to baseball training on 1 November for metro Melbourne, although it appears the 25km travel radius for all Victorian’s may affect those that travel further than that to get to our Club. (which will hopefully be lifted prior to the anticipated start as otherwise, the competition could not operate I would envisage).
Subject to the consideration given to the travel restrictions and any other adjustments to ensure that we have 4 weeks training, BV is planning a return to competition in the first weekend of December, however, there was room in today’s announcement that should the numbers of active cases that we are currently registering remain low, these timelines may be bought forwards, BV and ourselves will plan for both outcomes.
Once the Government gives the green light to start, it will undoubtedly come with a lot of conditions, some we are starting to address, others we will not know until that time. We will also need to be given permission by MVCC prior to any training starting at Boeing Reserve.
So, at the moment we are getting closer and we hope to have all back and in training very soon.
Something important I need you all to do in the meantime.
Before ANYONE can start training you MUST have completed the online “Return to Activity” registration. This is a slightly condensed version of the normal BV online registration. You will be presented with some options, all players select BV player or for all volunteers select the appropriate option. This needs to be done not just by players but all volunteers.
It is a Government requirement and it will be enforced by Baseball Victoria.
There is Zero cost involved. It is just one of the major hoops we have to jump through.
We would appreciate it if you could please do this registration ASAP, the sooner you do this it will be appreciated by us as once we receive them we will be able to confirm teams we will be able to enter.
If you will be bringing any new players along, you will need to advise them to do this before doing so. Please ask them to click the button above to complete the online “Return to Activity” registration.
For those looking to purchase uniform items we have our online shop.
In the meantime, Club Coach Russ Spear has today made a new update video heralding our upcoming return.
The club will be placing orders for Gaitors or also known as Neck masks
This is just one of the three different options we are offering.
Wearing of masks will still be required for a fair while yet. Be it playing or sport or just whilst being in public generally. Players both locally and overseas have favoured wearing the Gaitors as opposed to normal face masks.
Due to the lag time in receiving them we will have a cut off date of 30th Oct.
Payment will be required via Direct Deposit. In the description line enter Surname X 2 Masks. So I will use the example of “Abels x 2 Masks”
We will then match up to order forms.
We have created an online google docs form with all the details. (Thanks to Luke Abels and Leah Trebilcock)
The form has our Bank details. Make note of them and make your payment following hitting the submit button. Cost price is $25 for a single item. If you order 2 or more they will be $20 each
The online order form is https://forms.gle/jBRjsiaJE8te9hRp6
Regards,
Gary O’Brien
EBC Registrar
When future generations look back over the history of the Club, they will look at 1965 as being a successful year. After all, in that year we won our fourth State Premiership, defeating Melbourne 7-1 in the Grand Final, but a closer examination of the ‘entire’ Club’s performances that year, reveal that 1965 was indeed a banner year in the Club’s history.
The best and fairest winner in the first nine that year was Ken Morrison, one of the greatest players ever to pull on an Essendon uniform. After his retirement as a player, Ken continued to serve the Club for many years as a Committeeman and was made a Life Member of the Section in 1989. (He even made a contribution to the Club as a ‘Sire’, with his son Bruce being a long serving member of the first nine, a Club Champion and now a Life Member.)
The second nine best and fairest winner that year was a 17 year old named Robert Rowan. The seconds was merely a stepping stone for Rowan on the way to Club, State and National honours that would bring great credit to both Robert personally and to Essendon. One of the best pitchers in the history of Victorian Baseball, Robert appeared on countless State and National Teams, coached the first nine into third place in 1976 and is presently involved as a pitching coach with the Club.
The third nine best and fairest award went to a 15 year old Garry Bitmead, the current Club Coach and a Life Member of the Baseball Section. Bitmead, (a modern day ‘Doc’ Smith) seems to spend his entire life at the Club. He has been an outstanding performer on the field throughout a distinguished playing career and is virtually single handedly responsible for the development of many of the outstanding junior players to emerge in the Club over the past ten years.
The under 16 side of 1965 included a skinny kid catching with an unusual name – John (no, that’s not the unusual part!) Gavienas. Gavienas was selected in the State Under 16 Team that year and went on to play Claxton Shield ball, coached our Club for number of years, won the Club Championship and was made a Life Member in 1989. We know him now as John Pate, and his involvement in the Club continues today through his two sons, Damian and Jayson.
When the trophies were being handed out to the respective winners at the 1965 Presentation Night, I wonder if anyone present suspected that four of the recipients would still be having a profound influence on the Club nearly 50 years later.
Back Row : Troy Grady, Harish Chhabria, Bill Leropoulus, Hayden Maybury, Harley Cross, TJ Tasi, Shane Waters
Front Row : Gonzalo Toro, Josh Jedretich, Caidan Gardner, Michael Sullivan, Jack Kline
Dear Members,
We hope you are all well.
Given the latest Victorian Government announcements regarding the spike in COVID-19 numbers and postcode lockdowns, the Essendon Baseball Club have made the difficult, but responsible decision to pause existing Junior and Senior winter training at Boeing Reserve, and to no longer enter teams in the upcoming MWBL season.
This decision has been made based on the following:
Training, Juniors & Seniors, has been underway over the last few weeks and we know that our families will be disappointed, however, we anticipate that we would have your understanding and support for this decision. Once we have the go ahead, we will ensure that training will re-commence and we will focus on working towards a healthy summer and future seasons.
If you have any queries or concerns please contact Julie Jones (Seniors) on 0408170695 or Kay Ferguson (Juniors) on 0419337949.
Stay safe and we will be in touch.
Tony Cornish
President
To all EBC members as addressed,
With yesterday’s announcement of the return to baseball activity commencing Monday 25 May, we hope to answer some of your questions…
Baseball Victoria along with the Winter Leagues has agreed that Winter baseball training (as far as they are concerned) can start as of this coming Monday the 25th of May.
We are still to be informed of any details as to how the shortened Winter season will operate and when it will commence and finish and we will advise once we become aware.
We have only just been informed of the situation and we will now need to meet and put a plan together for how we as a club will handle things going forward. We will then be in a position to advise training sessions, dates and times and how they will operate.
HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH BASEBALL VICTORIA HAS GIVEN APPROVAL, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO ANY TRAINING OR USE THE GROUND UNTIL WE RECEIVE APPROVAL OF THE CITY OF MOONEE VALLEY.
We have submitted our request for the use of the ground and should be in a position to let you know when training by mid-next week.
Baseball Victoria have declared that All players, coaches and committee members will need to register with SportsTG to Return to Activity.
Click HERE for Winter Return to Activity Registration by club. (This is the same system that you would normally use to register to play, Use your normal login ID and Password. They only difference is that there is no cost associated with completing the form at this stage. I repeat, it may look the same but you will note it has no cost associated with it.
As it gets closer to an actual season getting underway BV and the club will advise a revised registration cost and process that will need to be done prior to 1st game. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT NO PLAYER, COACH, OFFICIAL ETC WILL BE ABLE TO BE ON THE TRAINING FIELD UNLESS THEY HAVE REGISTERED TO DO SO VIA THE RETURN TO ACTIVITY LINK ABOVE. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
NO PLAYER OR OFFICIAL CAN TAKE ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY TRAINING SESSION UNLESS THEY HAVE FIRST COMPLETED THEIR ONLINE RETURN TO ACTIVITY REGISTRATION FORM. (Required for insurance and liability coverage.)
NOTE : We also need to advise that Baseball Victoria have informed us that we are not allowed to use the clubs batting cage (not allowed to use any batting cages that have a roof, as well dugouts will not be opened for use during these training sessions so as to keep safe distancing)
It is urgent that we here from all players, juniors and seniors who are still intending to play this Winter. Could you please reply URGENTLY so we are aware. We need to know numbers to confirm that there is still enough interest to entering teams this winter.
Whilst a number of you indicated previously that you were looking at playing this winter, this was before the Covid-19 virus situation arose. We appreciate that some of those who indicated that were going to play may have had second thoughts so this is why we are asking again for those looking at playing to please advise us again.
Yours,
Julie Jones EBC Secretary
Can I train with my team?
Groups of up to 10 athletes can train together, plus two coaches. There can be two groups on the field, one in the diamond and one in the outfield with approximately 20 metres in between them. Each group may have 10 athletes and two coaching staff; however the groups may not swap over at any time and need to remain in their section for the entire training session.
How many people can be at training?
20 athletes can be at training on one baseball field, in groups of 10. There can be two coaches in addition to the 10 athletes. Each group must remain separated, with one in the diamond and one in the outfield with approximately 20 metres in between. These groups may not leave their section or swap over at any time during the training session.
Can we use the dugout?
No, dugouts cannot be used at this stage. You need to maintain a 1.5 metre distance at all times.
Can we use the batting cages?
If the batting cage is enclosed i.e. it has a roof, it cannot be used. If the batting cage is open air, you can use it while maintaining the 1.5 metres distance.
Can we use the changeroom facilities?
No, changerooms may only be used for access to the toilet facilities. Participants should arrive at the venue ready to train and leave the venue in their training gear to change and shower at home.
Can my parents come to training?
Yes, one parent or guardian is permitted at training. Those attending will need to maintain the 1.5 metre social distancing guidelines and we advise that when possible, these individuals should remain in their vehicle at the venue. Parents should not be on the field of play at any time.
Can my partner come to training?
Yes, one person for each athlete is permitted. Those attending will need to maintain the 1.5 metre social distancing guidelines and we advise that when possible, these individuals should remain in their vehicle at the venue. Please note that parents/partners cannot access the field, or they are considered part of the group and will count towards the maximum 10 people.
Can my young kids come to training?
Yes, kids are permitted at training if they are supervised by a guardian. Children may not be on the field or they will contribute to the 10-person maximum.
Can my siblings come to training?
Yes, siblings may come to training if they are with a parent or guardian and maintain the 1.5 metre social distancing guidelines. We advise that, when possible, these people should remain in their vehicle at the venue.
Do I need to wear a face mask?
No, you are not required to wear one as face masks are currently optional in Victoria, however, if you wish to do so that is acceptable. Click HERE for more information from the Victorian government on wearing a face mask and other ways to reduce your risk of coronavirus.
Do coaches need to wear face masks?
No, coaches are not required to wear face masks, but they can if they wish to do so.
Can I take a shower before or after training in the changerooms?
No, shower facilities at venues will be closed.
Can we have a group huddle to address the team?
No, you can move together as a group, but you must maintain the 1.5 metres between each person.
What kind of training drills are prohibited?
Training drills involving close physical contact are prohibited. Regular catching, throwing and hitting drills are allowed so long as all participants remain at least 1.5 metres apart.
Can we play Baseball?
No, there is no team on team activity.
Can we put two groups of 10 on the same field?
Yes, two groups of 10 are permitted on the same field if one group is positioned in the diamond and the other in the outfield, with approximately 20 metres in between the two groups. These groups cannot move from their sections or switch over at any time during the training session.
Can I share bats?
No, bats should not be shared whenever possible. Bats provided by the club must be wiped down with a disinfectant wipe or solution before and after use.
Can I tag the player during training?
No, tagging will not be permitted during training. Players are to have no physical contact with one anther and remain 1.5 metres apart at all times.
Seniors & U18s Presentation Night has been cancelled
After careful consideration and consultation with health experts, tonight we have made the difficult decision to defer tomorrow night’s Senior & U18 Presentation Night at Windy Hill. (Sat 14th Mar)
The health and safety of our members is paramount and although some may consider this action to be conservative, we’d prefer that than to suffer even one unnecessary risk with a large gathering in an inside venue.
Your ticket for the night will be transferable to our next function, details of which will be relayed to you in due course.
Thank you for your understanding.
Anyone with questions or concerns feel free to contact me direct.
0411055050 or tonycornish8@gmail.com
Tony Cornish, EBC President
Date : Saturday 14th of March
Venue : Windy Hill, Cnr Napier & Brewster Streets Essendon
Time : 6.30pm for 7pm Start
Cost : $50 per head, 3 Course Meal
RSVP Strictly Required by 6/03/20 to Leanne Wilson 0407841727 or leanne_wilson@optusnet.com.au
Payment required prior to the night by Direct Deposit
Acc Name : Essendon Baseball Club
BSB No : 633-000
Account # : 144339538
Use your Surname as ref and number tkts req : IE: J Jones X 2
Also please send email to confirm when payment made to essendonbc@gmail.com
Regards
Julie Jones
EBC Secretary
The Essendon Baseball Club have would like our members to follow the advice from the Australian Government in relation to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The following is the latest advice updated on 30 January 2020 and published on the Federal Government Department of Health website:
Updated Australian Government advice to Australians about the novel coronavirus, based on the latest medical advice.
Please note that this is advice can change quickly and for the latest update, please check the following websites:
For national updates: https://www.health.gov.au/news/latest-information-about-novel-coronavirus
For Victorian updates to the current incident, go to: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/
Date: This Sunday the 2nd of February
Time: 8am Start
Starting Point: Boeing Reserve
Athletics Essendon in partnership with the Red and Black Running Team and Essendon Baseball Club invite you to join in a community fun run to raise much needed funds for those affected by the Australian Bushfires.
This event is being run entirely by volunteers, with all proceeds going to the Victoria Bushfire Appeal.
When: Sunday 2nd February, 8:00 am. 7:30 am for 8 am start.
Where: Boeing Reserve, Boeing Road, Strathmore Heights 3041
Distance: 5km (long course) or 2km (short course for walkers)
Sausage Sizzle at the completion. Register at: https://brfr.eventbrite.com.au
All funds raised through this event will be donated and split between the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, Victorian Country Fire Authority and the Wildlife Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
Any inquiries regarding the event can be directed to Sarah Keating, President Red and Black Running Team by emailing redandblacks.inc@gmail.com