As the sports world continues to monitor the NFL’s progress in opening up the league in time for training camp, one thing that stands out is the steady flow of communication. The league is sending out constant memos to each of the 32 teams, and as a result the vision and direction of the league is clear. Now, we have the first bits of information on what a 2020 NFL season will look like amid the COVID-19 pandemic — including new policies and procedures that will become commonplace in every facility across the country.
If football is going to bounce back in 2020, this is going to need to be the new normal.
Among the highlights here:
– Locker rooms reconfigured to permit people being 6 feet apart
– Meetings must be conducted virtually when possible
– Helmets, shoulder pads, etc. disinfected after each game
– Masks required except when interfering with "athletic activities" https://t.co/AvNO7Si2Gt
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 8, 2020
Based on what is known about coronavirus, the standards put in place make sense — the league is directing each of the teams to take persistent, aggressive action to diminish any cross contamination between players at practice, in meetings or on the field. That is an important difference between the NFL’s efforts to reboot and the actual sports shutdown that was seen in March — the NFL has the chance to set procedures based on research to wall off the virus, where as the NBA was already heavily into their season and forced to shut down without needed knowledge on the science behind the virus.
The full extent of changes will bring some logistics challenges, including how teams will properly fit their full rosters if 6-feet of spacing is required between lockers in the locker room; especially on game day for opposing teams playing on the road. But, like before, the league’s teams have time on their side to come up with necessary adjustments. Expect more updates on the re-opening front in the coming days from the league — the week is young.