All,
Normally the SDDL would have asked for team rosters by now, and we'd be working on Fall season schedules, but this year is far from normal. We've been getting some inquiries about the Fall Season, so we wanted to provide an update.
Based on NYS Liquor Authority guidelines (which you can find here if you're bored - https://sla.ny.gov/phase3-guidelines-for-on-premises-licenses ), restaurants and bars are still prohibited from bar games, which includes darts. The following is directly from that website, and from what I understand, all of the guidance listed there is in effect until September 5th, with the State reserving the right to extend that date:
Q: I am a licensee that offers on premises service in a Phase 2/3/4 region, can I have dancing or offer bar games such as darts, pool, or cornhole?
A: No, under the Department of Health interim guidance for outdoor dining and indoor dining, all persons who are not already seated (e.g., waiting for food, or waiting to be seated), should be encouraged to wait in their vehicle and/or leave the premises. Congregating other than persons seated at tables is not permissible. Patrons should be standing only for necessary reasons such as use of restrooms, entering, and exiting.
What I can share for now is that your league officers have looked at a lot of options for start dates. Right now, if we were to be able to start play anywhere from September 8th through September 29th, we could play a full 14 week season and playoffs and not impact the regular start of the Spring 2021 season. Any later than that, and we would have to push back the start of Spring darts, or look at a hybrid Fall/Spring season, possibly with extended playoffs to get more weeks in, or worst case, cancel the fall season and resume play in the Spring. At this point, nothing is set in stone until we get more guidance from NYS on when bars will "legally" be allowed to have bar games.
When we do resume, we may need to require that teams sit at separate tables, limit the number of players standing, and other distancing measures. The last thing we want to do is put sponsors in jeopardy with the state liquor authority.
What we would like to ask of the league at this time, is that any teams that feel they would be comfortable playing darts for a Fall Season, please have your Captain submit a preliminary roster to officers@southerndutchessdartleague.com. We're asking that Captains submit a roster to the league by August 25th, which would put us in position, if allowed, to start Sept 8th. If we can't start then, at least we would be able to do the prep work for a later start date.
If anyone has any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please reach out to me, or any of the other officers.
Thank you, and be safe.
Jack
