The Whitehorse Co-ed Slo-pitch League is re-starting their 2021 season today. Softball Yukon Executive Director George Arcand explained what the decision was based on.

“Well, basically what we’ve heard from government. We listened to the premier yesterday, as well as… the fact that we have no cases left here, it’s diminishing considerably,so we thought it would be safe enough for everybody to go back to playing, and if there’s any concerns, then they should be taking precautions like masks and those kinds of things for themselves.”

Players and teams not coming back will be reimbursed based on expenses incurred by Softball Yukon so far.

It look like the majority of players and teams will be returning. “At this point, the indication to us is that we’ve got the majority coming back,” said Arcand. “There’s a few that have indicated they’re not. But unless I hear different by tomorrow, I think we’re going to have the majority. I think like 70 or 80 percent for sure.”

COVID-19 protocols will be virtually the same as they were before the stoppage in play.

“Well we’ve got the same things as we’ve had. We’ve got the same list. We’re asking them to wear masks if they can’t distance properly. During the game, it’s not an issue. It’s in the dugouts or up around the concession, that type of thing… so the same types of things we had before we ended up with the major wave,” said Arcand.

Arcand said masks are required in the dugout but not in the field.

“There’s no requirement to do it on the field. Everybody’s far enough apart in playing their positions, so those are not issues any more.”

Arcand said it’s going to be good to be back.

“It’s good! It’s great to see it coming back, it’s a bit of a scramble in a sense of the word, but it will be good. I think it will leave us with some closure to the summer.”

According to Arcand the season will be extended until the 23rd of August.

It was originally supposed to end August 9.

“We can’t go much past the 23rd. it’s pushing it to even go that far… It doesn’t give you back everything that you lost, but quite a bit of it.”

As for the odds of finishing the season, Arcand likes their chances.

“I’m positive the season will finish, barring anything like what happened in June. If we don’t have any other big waves, or issues I think we’ll be fine. I think they’re going to lift the emergency order in August, so I think we’ll be fine.”