After the National Women’s Soccer League made its decision to begin small-group training sessions, Major League Soccer announced a similar move on May 28. MLS announced all clubs are permitted to use their outdoor facilities for small-group trainings so long as they are in compliance with protocols “created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts.”
All sessions are voluntary and must not conflict with local public health officials or government policies.
Teams must submit a club-specific plan that has been approved by the club’s medical staff and the local infectious-disease expert to MLS before small-group training sessions can begin. Clubs must abide by the following rules during small-group training:
- Clubs must utilize outdoor fields, as indoor training facilities remain closed to all players with the exception of those requiring medical treatment or rehabilitation, under the direction of the team medical staff, that cannot be performed from the safety of their residences
- Clubs may divide each full field into a maximum of two equal halves and may assign a group of players to each full or half field
- Clubs may clearly define up to six zones per half field, spaced at least 10 feet apart
- Only one player may be in a zone at any given time in order to maintain physical distancing standards throughout the session
- For clarity, a maximum of six players may be assigned to a single group with each player accommodated in a separate zone
- During training sessions, players may switch zones within their own group only if another player is not currently in that zone, and players must maintain a physical distance of at least 10 feet from all other players and coaches while moving between zones
- Within a single group, players may pass the ball and shoot on goal; however,a ll training exercises must allow players to maintain a physical distance of at least 10 feet from one another
- Players may only train with the other players within their own group and may not interact with other groups
- While the groups may not be rearranged during a single training session, clubs may rearrange the combination of players in each group from session to session
- Coaches and technical staff must wear a facemask at all times and may direct players from the perimeter of the field, never entering the field, while maintaining at least 10 feet of distance from other staff and players
- Only approved equipment may be used during training sessions, including balls, small and regular goals, rubber dots, small discs and cones, rebounders, rings, GPS pods and personal equipment that is not shared between players
- Mannequins, poles, bands, weights and ball machines may not be used
- Goalkeepers may not spit on their gloves and must clean, disinfect and sanitize their gloves after each training
Safety protocols implemented when voluntary individual workouts were permitted will also continue to be in place. They include:
- Restricting training-ground access to essential staff only, with specific staff listed in the plan
- Sanitizing and disinfecting plans for all training equipment and spaces, including disinfecting any equipment used by players (e.g., balls, cones, goals) between every session
- Completion of a standard-screening questionnaire by each player prior to every arrival at the training site and temperature checks upon arrival at the facility
- Staggered player and staff arrivals and departures, with designated parking spaces to maintain maximum distance between vehicles
- Player use of personal-protective equipment from the parking lot to his designated position on the field and again on return to the parking lot
- Staff use of the appropriate personal-protective equipment throughout training while also maintaining a minimum distance of 10 feet from players at all times
- Hand-washing and disinfectant stations for required use before and after sessions
- An emergency action plan for all COVID-19-related issues
MLS’s league-wide moratorium on full-team training sessions will be in place through June 1.
—
Prior to the indefinite suspension of the 2020 season, Orlando City SC went 0-1-1 (1 point) in two matches. The Lions drew 0-0 in the opener against Real Salt Lake at home on February 29 and lost 2-1 on the road to the Colorado Rapids.
For more on the Lions and the Pride, as the coronavirus situation continues to evolve, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
To contact Victor for tips and/or memes (happy to send or receive), you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com, or you can tweet at him.
