USL Championship, USL League One and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) have opened training fields for individuals and limited group workouts, where local regulations permit.
USL Championship and League One clubs, at their option, can as of May 11 open outdoor fields for non-contact training in small groups as well as training rooms for player treatment.
Small group settings will be limited to up to four players, with no more than one athletic trainer and one member of a club’s technical staff allowed on each field during a session. Teams in areas where local and state recommendations for stay-at-home orders have not been lifted should not train or allow treatment that is prohibited by their jurisdiction. In addition, all clubs will notify the league of their plans to return to the team’s training facility prior to re-opening and training is voluntary for players.
The USL previously extended its training moratorium through May 15 for all of its professional clubs.
The NWSL is moving forward with outdoor training fields open to individual players (no groups) as of today. The decision comes under circumstances outlined by the NWSL medical task force in the league’s “Return to Play Phased Protocol.” The “Return to Play Phased Protocol” details all health and safety guidelines and requires clubs to respect all federal, state, and local mandates. The league will control the progression through each phase, and clubs must have the approval of their medical team to advance.
Clubs will confirm with the league all communication to players and staff members on when they may begin training on team fields and will provide detailed procedures and scheduling information specific to their market. An essential staff member will be allowed to oversee training in this phase while maintaining a proper social distance and with the sole purpose of ensuring players are following all league and team protocols.
The league-wide moratorium on full team training remains in place through, and including, Friday, May 15.
Photo courtesy San Diego Loyal.