MLS to Start Individual Player Workouts

Photo by: Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Major League Soccer announced Friday players may begin using outdoor team training fields for individual workouts beginning next week, while also staying in compliance with health and safety protocols “that were created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts.”

The league said in their release the workouts, which can start May 6, are voluntary and cannot conflict with local public health official or government policies.

MLS clarified players will not be allowed access to club facilities, including “but not limited to locker rooms, team gyms and team training rooms.” However, players who need “post-operative and rehabilitation treatment” can still access team gyms and training rooms, “as directed by the club’s Chief Medical Officer.”

Before teams can start individual player workouts, the club must “submit to MLS a club-specific plan that outlines how the team will implement health and safety protocols,” which includes:

Restricting training facility access to essential staff only, with specific staff listed in the plan.
Sanitization and disinfection plans for all training equipment and spaces, including disinfection of any equipment used by players (balls, cones, goals) between every session.
Completion of a Standard Screening Assessment survey 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 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 individual workouts.
Clubs will have the use of the outdoor fields at their training facility, divided into a maximum of four quadrants per field. A maximum of one player per quadrant may participate per training session with no equipment sharing or playing (passing, shooting) between players.
An Emergency Action Plan for all COVID-19 related issues.