The Midget AAA Riverdogs gathering at the mound during a game in 2017 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

YOUTH SPORTS

Kamloops amateur associations still waiting for clarity from sporting bodies to move forward

May 8, 2020 | 9:34 AM

KAMLOOPS — It’s the time of year when the baseball diamonds at McArthur Island are full of young little leaguers. But they’re empty due to COVID-19.

The Kamloops Minor Baseball Association (KMBA) cancelled its spring season on Mar. 17, affecting around 700 players. Following Wednesday’s announcement by Premier John Horgan that touched on restarting certain amateur sports, KMBA is trying to navigate how to mvoe ahead with the remainder of the 2020 season.

“I think the door’s open to start planning for a return to play, and I know that’s already happening at the provincial level,” said KMBA President Chris Balison. “Right now, VIA Sport is consulting with all field sports to develop some foundation principles for return to play. Once that’s done, our governing body, Baseball BC, will be able to send us a list of protocols that we would have to abide by if we want to get back on the fields for baseball.”

The association says it would start with teams like the Kamloops AAA Riverdogs practicing together in small groups before entertaining the idea of games.

“It would be our high-performance teams, our Riverdogs teams. We hold out hope that maybe in the fall, when things relax even more, we could begin some camps or clinics,” said Balison.

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For Kamloops Youth Soccer Association (KYSA), May 15 is a key date to find out from BC Soccer how the season will look this summer.

“They still have a suspension in place until May 15, and then we’ll look and see what happens after that. But we do know that BC Soccer is working with the provincial government to forumulate a return-to-play plan,” said KYSA Executive Director Missy Cederholm.

Like minor baseball, the association cancelled its spring season and many tournaments. But KYSA is optimistic that players will be able to get back on the pitch soon.

“Likely at the very start, socially-distanced training, so individual skill development will be the focus, but just to be able to get kids back on the field and outside together with their teammates.”

Soccer Quest, like KYSA, is waiting for the green light from BC Soccer. They hope it comes next Friday, May 15. They’ll be able to start the next day with their recreational programs for players 3 to 14 years old, then it’s the academy program.

“We want to provide as much as possible and get everybody out,” said head coach at Soccer Quest Luke Ford. “I know the amouint of phone calls and emails we’ve had recently, it’s been blowing up, just people wanting to get back out on the field.”

Soccer Quest will limit practices to one ball per player to reduce contact, as well as enforce the use of individual water bottles.