The rules for the general may be abundantly unclear as to what we are actually allowed to do or to not do after Boris Johnson’s most recent COVID-19 update, but the Premier League has been given the all clear to begin training ahead of a June 1st return to action. And it seems that teams have been given much clearer instructions on how to prevent the spread than the rest of us.
Official protocols were sent to both managers and players at each of the twenty premier League teams on Tuesday May 12. League bosses are hoping that training can get underway on Monday – under the following restrictions.
Those restrictions include a ban on tackling, training sessions limited to 75 minutes, and a disinfection schedule that includes corner flags, balls, cones, goalposts and even the pitch itself between each training sessions.
All players and managers will have to undergo ongoing testing which includes testing for the virus twice a week as well as daily temperature checks and a pre-training questionnaire to be completed before each and every training session.
Specific testing will take place with anyone with underlying heart or lung conditions and anyone that is adjudged to have contracted the virus will be placed in immediate 14-day quarantine.
Individual players will also be given recommended “control measures” which include PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) such as masks and gloves as well as “meticulous personal hygiene”, to avoid congregation in communal areas such as gymnasiums and medical rooms and that no players, managers or other staff should share transport to and from the training ground. All vehicles should also be cleaned regularly to disinfect surfaces that could cause the spread of the virus.
June 1 is the date given by the government that football can resume as long as all precautions are taken and a degree of safety can be guaranteed to all players and non-playing staff.