Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

SPORTS ARE BACK

Kamloops Minor Fastball back on the field amid COVID-19 pandemic

Aug 5, 2020 | 4:53 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Great Pause has affected many facets of our day-to-day lives – none more so than sports. With the high school sports season likely put on the shelf for this year, the opportunities for youth to participate in their regular activities seem limited. However, some local club sports have found a way to take to the field, despite the pandemic.

Usually, by this time of year, local Kamloops Minor Fastball athletes have finished their season. However, COVID-19 has made a mess of what’s normal. So, the young ballplayers are suiting up on a hot August evening and hitting the field.

“I was super happy I got to come out and see my friends and play a bit,” U16 athlete Zoe Steinke says. “It’s not like normal, but it’s still fun.”

Meira Chow wasn’t sure she’d be able to strap on the catcher’s pads this year.

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“With COVID, I didn’t think I’d be getting back onto the field,” Chow says.

However, thanks to so some hard work by the administration of Kamloops Minor Fastball in conjunction with Softball BC, these ballplayers are playing ball.

“Both Nicole, who’s the president, and I, were on task forces with Softball BC to help develop the rules that would allow us back on the field,” Yvonne Dmyterko, Vice-President of KMFA explains.

Those rules include ensuring no one who comes to practice is shows any symptoms of COVID-19, proper physical distancing, and making sure the athletes aren’t sharing equipment like bats or helmets. However, the athletes haven’t had to make any significant adjustments when it comes to the on-field flow of the game.

“The expectation is that when you make a play where you do come in close contact, that you just separate right away,” Dymterko says. “That’s really the only thing we have to be mindful of.”

When you’re young, and you haven’t seen your teammates since last season, remembering to keep enough space between you and your friends can be challenging.

“The BC tules are that you have to social distance,” Steinke says. “It gets a bit hard when you forget about it.”

Luckily, the players recognize staying a little further apart is essential. It also helps them play their position.

“With fastball, we’re not usually super close to everybody,” Chow explains. “It’s easier to social distance and play.”

So for now, these athletes will keep practicing and scrimmaging amongst themselves. The hope is in the fall, restrictions will ease just a little, and they can put those skills they’ve been practicing to use.

“The girls who are currently registered and have been practicing together are allowed to play each other, which we’re pretty pumped about,” Dymterko says. “Come the fall, we’re looking to have a season that maybe resembles our spring season. They will be able to play locally, and we hope that ViaSport will give the approval so we can play against some of the closer Interior cities, as well.”