The sports world is slowly starting to get back in action, with leagues either putting the finishing touches on their return-to-play plans or already in beginning stages of resuming competition.
While the logistical and safety concerns of the coronavirus pandemic have taken up much of the discussion around what happens when leagues get back out the field, the protests around the country over the death of George Floyd have put a renewed focus on leagues’ national anthem policies.
As teams get ready to play again, with the NWSL and MLS being among the first, here’s a look at every major sports league’s policy on the national anthem.
NWSL
The National Women’s Soccer League will host the Challenge Cup tournament in Utah in late June. There has been no change from their previous policy, per Sports Illustrated.
“The national anthem is an opportunity to celebrate our country’s freedom while honoring the many sacrifices borne by the men and women who have done so much to protect that freedom. We will continue to encourage our players to participate in honoring our nation during the national anthem and we support the right of everyone in our league to exercise their right to peacefully protest.”
MLS
The MLS will support players who decide to protest during the anthem.
“Major League Soccer stands by the ideals of freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest that are the hallmarks of the United States and Canada,” the professional North American league said in a statement.
“If players or staff decide to stand, kneel or otherwise exercise their right to peaceful protest during the playing of the national anthems before league games, we support them.”
U.S. Soccer
The U.S. Soccer Federation voted to repeal their previous policy, implemented in 2017 and a reaction to Megan Rapinoe taking a knee to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, requiring players to stand during the national anthem.
Here is the Federation’s statement, per ESPN.
The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted yesterday afternoon to repeal Policy 604-1, which required our players to stand during the national anthem. The policy was put in place after Megan Rapinoe kneeled in solidarity with the peaceful protest inspired by Colin Kaepernick, who was protesting police brutality and the systematic oppression of Black people and people of color in America.
“It has become clear that this policy was wrong and detracted from the important message of Black Lives Matter.”
NASCAR
In addition to finally banning the Confederate flag at races, NASCAR has removed this section on conduct during the national anthem from their pre-race guidelines, opening the way for peaceful protest.
DRIVERS AND CREW CHIEFS, please advise all your Team members: Conduct during the playing of the National Anthem, taken from the US Flag Code. When the flag is displayed – all persons should face and stand at attention with their right hand over their heart – persons should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart – when the flag is not displayed – all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
NBA
The NBA has long had a rule that requires players to stand during the national anthem. From their 2019-2020 rule book.
PLAYER/TEAM CONDUCT AND DRESS
(2) Players, coaches and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem.
WNBA
The WNBA has the same policy as the NBA, but players have protested in the past and no punishment has been meted out for players’ decision to take a knee.
PLAYER/TEAM CONDUCT AND DRESS
(2) Players, coaches and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem.
MLB
There are no official guidelines in the MLB rule book governing player actions during the national anthem.
NHL
The NHL’s rule book has no guidelines in place governing athlete behavior during the national anthem.
NFL
The NFL revised their national anthem polices in 2018, after Kaepernick’s protest spread. Their policies have not been updated.
All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.
The Game Operations Manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the anthem.
Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the anthem has been performed.
A club will be fined by the league if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.
Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles, regarding its personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.
The commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.