It’s beginning to look a lot like football.
According to a memo obtained by the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, the NFL is taking steps to allow players to return to club facilities following the shutdown of facilities in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There haven’t been any dates set on a return, and offseason practices are not planned at all. However, the NFL and the NFL Players Association is attempting to work out an arrangement to where rookies and veterans who have switched teams and need physicals can return to team facilities before June 26.
Essentially there is a heavy emphasis on cleanliness and sanitary guidelines. Players are expected to where masks at all times in facilities unless it interferes with working out or practicing. The onus is on the team to supply both surgical and cloth masks.
There will be three tiers of access inside the facility. The first tier is for players, coaches, trainers, doctors, and equipment managers. The second tier is for front office, operations, and PR staffers who have to be in contact with players. The third tier involves essential facility, stadium, and event staff who aren’t in contact with players.
Certain aspects of facilities will be restricted for player and staff use only, which includes the playing fields, locker rooms, training rooms, medical exam areas, dining rooms, and meeting rooms. As such, there will be six feet of social distancing, including locker room configurations where every other locker is used, which could mean additional lockers are added.
Helmets, shoulder pads, and other player equipment will be disinfected after each practice or game.
Strength and conditioning workouts are capped at 15 players, and it is up to the training staffs to stagger player appointments.
Team meetings are to be conducted on a virtual basis. If in-person meetings are required, clubs are advised to hold the meetings outdoors with social distancing. Communal use of materials during in-person meetings is prohibited.
All individuals entering club facilities must clean and disinfect cellphones, keys, and any other items that are frequently handled. Individuals are also discouraged from sharing personal items.
“We can’t be in a rush,” Houston Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien told reporters on April 16. “I think life as we know it is going to change and we can’t be in a rush. We’ll play football at some point. We will definitely play football. When that is, who knows, but we’ll just keep doing what we have to do to stay up with the competition and when they tell us to get ready to play, we’ll try to get ready to play.”
The guidelines seem stringent, but indicate the NFL is undertaking every step to keep the 2020 regular season on schedule.