Bison Families,
Unfortunately, on behalf of the NCYBA Board of Directors, we are announcing that the 2020 Spring Recreational Baseball Season is canceled.
Over the last two months, we have closely monitored the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding directives from both the State of New York and the Town of Colonie. Our goal throughout this process was to safely get back on the field and deliver a quality recreational program for our players, coaches, and families.
Ultimately, a combination of factors led us to make this difficult decision. Per Governor Cuomo’s phased reopening of New York State, the earliest we would be eligible to play is during phase 4, sometime following the 4th of July Holiday. That date is still only a best guess because we have no definitive word from state or local officials on the viability of youth sports.
Each year, our rec program enjoys a high number of teams at all age levels. Trying to follow proper social distancing guidelines for players and spectators would make scheduling extremely difficult. The necessary health and safety guidelines needed to play would be challenging to enforce and particularly tough with the younger age groups.
In a normal year, the rec program would be concluding in roughly three weeks. Starting a program in July faces several obstacles. Family vacations, other sports, availability of our youth umpires, and the potential of continued gathering limitations all limit our ability to execute a meaningful program.
In the end, there are too many unknowns to move forward. If conditions continue to improve, we may launch a summer sandlot league for any interested players in July; stay tuned for details. Families have a choice of obtaining a registration refund or maintaining a credit with the program for the 2021 Spring Rec Season. Please remain patient with your refund or credit, as we will be dealing with this on a much larger level than usual.
To indicate whether you would like a refund or a credit towards next season, please email [email protected] and put "REFUND" or "CREDIT" in the subject line. The email should contain the players name and age group.
We love baseball and watching the kids play; no one is happy about losing a season, but the health and safety of our players, coaches and families must be our driving force. Spring and summer will not be the same without the sounds of the ballpark.
Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Stay safe and be well.
NCYBA Board of Directors
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