Winding up for spring sports

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This article was published 19/03/2021 (1758 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The snow is melting, the grass is showing and spring sport registrations are opening.

Many local recreation associations plan on hosting outdoor soccer, baseball and softball seasons despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. By press deadline, the province hadn’t given official instructions regarding if and how spring sports can operate, leaving organizers planning in uncertainty.

St. Francois Xavier

St. Francois Xavier Community Club is offering a baseball and soccer season from Tue., April 27 to Thurs., June 17. If need be, the club may push the season back a week, but it won’t extend into the summer months because it’s harder to get people out, according to club president Glen Dyck.

Baseball will run on Tuesdays and is open to kids born in the years 2012 through 2017. Soccer, which is normally just held Thursdays, will also operate Wednesdays this year in order to spread kids out. Children born in 2012 through 2018 can join.

Both programs are Learn to Play, not leagues, so participants won’t mix with or travel to other associations. The club will keep teams to groups of 10, and kids will wear masks, Dyck said. However, the situation is fluid and will change as public health rules do, he said.

“The key thing is really to bring some normalcy to the kids’ lives, even to the parents,” he said.

Folks must register at sfxcc.com by Thurs., April 1. People who want to volunteer to help coach can do so while registering someone, or by emailing sfxccprograms@gmail.com

Headingley

Softball season is a go — for now.

“As with last year, I’m sure there will be some evolving things as we go forward,” said Jana More, the softball co-ordinator for the Phoenix Recreation Association.

The entity is planning for two Headingley teams, and to run the season as it typically would, beginning in late April or early May and ending in June or July.

More hadn’t had final meetings with sport organizations yet, so she couldn’t give details on what COVID-19 safety precautions might be in place this year. Last season, parents had to sit distanced, the umpire moved positions and rules around who handled fowl balls changed. Masks were not mandatory.

Phoenix Recreation Association has softball registration for U10s through U19s. Folks must sign up at phoenixrec.org by Thurs., April 1. The association is also looking for volunteers.

Elie

Elie Community Club is accepting soccer registrations, though it’s not charging anyone yet.

“We’re basically getting our ducks in a row right now so when (the province says) it’s a go, we can go,” said Tracy Carriere, Elie’s soccer club convenor.

The club runs a program for four- to eight-year-olds. Kids ages nine through 18 join Winnipeg teams through the St. Charles Soccer Association.

Folks on U9 through U18 teams must sign up by Thurs., March 25; U4 and U8 registration stays open until Thurs., April 15. If it’s confirmed that outdoor soccer can go ahead, Elie Community Club will send a mass email informing people how to pay for the season, Carriere said. 

Players must register with the Manitoba Soccer Association at the same time as they do with Elie Community Club. Registrants will pay an MSA fee for insurance.

For more information and to sign up, folks can visit eliecommunityclub.com

Macdonald

Registration is open for baseball and softball.

Like Elie Community Club, Macdonald Minor Ball Association is not collecting money until the season is confirmed by Baseball Manitoba and public health officials.

The organization has spots for four-year-olds to 18U players. It offers softball, and A and AA baseball. 

People must register by Wed., March 31 at macdonaldminorball.ca

Macdonald Soccer advertised in the Macdonald-Headingley Recreation District leisure guide that it needs coaches for the upcoming season. The association covers La Salle, Domain, Sanford, Oak Bluff and Starbuck.

Portage la Prairie

The Portage Youth Soccer Association has cancelled its season, citing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for pulling the plug.

However, Portage Cobras Soccer Club is continuing this spring. All games will be in Portage la Prairie; there will be no travel. The club is targeting a May start date, but said it could change depending on public health regulations.

It’s open to kids ages four through 14. Registration is open until Wed., April 7 and can be completed at the Portage Cobras Soccer Club’s page on LeagueLineup.

The Portage Minor Baseball Association is accepting online registrations at portageminorbaseball.com until Wed., March 31. The entity hopes teams will begin training in late April, with games starting in June.