Major League Soccer took a big step toward returning to competitive play. On June 4, MLS announced it has lifted its league-wide full-team training moratorium that was implemented on March 12. Each club must submit its own team-specific plan to return to training to MLS that must first be reviewed by the club’s medical staff and the local infectious-disease expert.
Per the league’s official statement, full-team training is mandatory for all players. Furthermore, MLS is still reviewing opportunities to lift the training moratorium for club academy teams.
Players and staff are to remain in compliance with local health and government polices as well as any further safety protocols created by the medical staff and the local infectious-disease expert. The policies regard facility and equipment use, testing and player and staff safety processes.
—
Testing
- Players must complete a physical examination, and all players and staff must complete two Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests 24 hours apart, 72 hours prior to the start of training and undergo one baseline antibody (serology) test
- Players will be cleared to train by their medical staff only after they have successfully completed their interim physical, completed two negative PCR tests and the serology test
- Players, coaches and select staff must complete PCR tests every other day, and only those with negative results will be allowed to attend training
- Serology testing will be performed once every three months
- Individual club test providers must be authorized by the FDA and Health Canada; turnaround time for tests must be no more than 24 hours
- If a player or staff member tests positive, the individual will be isolated
- The isolated individual will be tested again at least 24 hours later to ensure the result was not a false positive
- All close contacts will be tested immediately
- Contact tracing will be performed at the direction of the club’s COVID-19 task force and local authorities
- A player or staff member that tests positive for COVID-19 may return to training only when cleared by the club’s chief medical officer in consultation with the league medical team
- Any player or staff considered to be in a high-risk category for severe illness related to COVID-19 will not be permitted to participate in team training unless cleared by the club’s chief medical officer
Facilities and equipment use
- Clubs will have the full use of their training facilities
- Entry points should remain open to avoid repeated contact with doorknobs or door exit bars
- The training room, gyms and fitness areas will be restricted to no more than five individuals at any time while maintaining physical-distancing standards
- Clubs should use multiple dressing rooms and assign players to the same dressing room for each training session
- Individual lockers should be spaced at least 10 feet apart
- The training room, gyms and fitness areas as well as dressing rooms and showers must be cleaned, sanitized and disinfected following every session in accordance with MLS protocols
- All equipment and laundry must be cleaned and disinfected after each use and in accordance with MLS and EPA protocols
- Clubs must provide individual hydration bottles to players at all times
- Communal water or hydration devices are strictly prohibited
- Only individual, prepackaged meals and individually wrapped utensils may be provided to players and staff
- Players and staff must maintain 10 feet of physical distancing while eating
Player and staff safety processes
- Individual club plans must include an emergency-action plan for all COVID-19-related issues
- Training access is restricted to essential staff only, with specific staff listed in the individual club plan
- 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 or gym
- Players should keep their facemask on when in the training room
- Staff use of the appropriate personal protective equipment at all times, including throughout training
- Hand-washing and disinfectant stations for required use before and after sessions
—
Orlando City SC started its 2020 campaign 0-1-1 before MLS suspended the season indefinitely. The Lions drew Real Salt Lake 0-0 in the season- and home-opener before falling 2-1 to the Colorado Rapids on the road on March 7.
For more on the Lions and the rest of MLS, as the league makes strides to return to play, 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.
