The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball would need thousands of virus tests every week if those leagues can resume playing games. That remains the biggest challenge to address before most sports can resume, especially in a time where getting tested has been problematic and frustrating for many Americans. All the leagues are trying to come up with solutions that would allow them to restart play without facing massive criticism for taking up so many testing resources. Restarting sports is a key to rebooting the economy, however, none of the leagues want to be blamed for taking tests away from the general public.
Jaroslav Halak will be back for a third season in Boston. The Bruins’ backup goalie was a pending unrestricted free agent this offseason, but the team on Friday announced they signed him to an extension for the 2020-21 season. He’ll make $2.25 million next season, a slight bump down from the $2.75 million per year…
Major League Soccer is allowing players to return to outdoor team training fields for individual workouts starting Wednesday.
MLS suspended the season because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 12, closing all team facilities but asking players to remain in market with their teams. The league-wide moratorium on group and team training remains in effect through May 15.
MLS says the individual workouts must follow certain health and safety protocols. The workouts are voluntary and must also follow local public health and government policies.
MLS teams must submit a specific plan for training protocols before players are allowed to start workouts. They will include restricting facilities to essential staff, sanitizing and disinfection of all equipment after each session, screening measures including temperature checks, and staggered player and staff arrivals and departures, as well as designated parking that ensures proper distancing.
Players are still not allowed access to indoor facilities, such as locker rooms.
Players must wear personal protective equipment upon arriving and departing from the fields, while staff will be required to use such equipment — masks and gloves — at all times. Staff must also maintain a distance of 10 feet from players at all times.
Practice fields can be divided into four quadrants, allowing multiple players to train, but only under guidelines that restrict contact and ensure social distancing.
Team plans must be approved by team medical staffs and a local infectious disease expert and must be submitted to MLS and communicated to players.
Teams must also have emergency plans in place for any coronavirus-related issues that might come up, including positive tests.
While the rest of the world took serious steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Sweden stood firm. The Scandinavian country has broken the trend of nearly every other European and North American country by allowing schools, restaurants, bars and other businesses to stay open despite the pandemic. The results are still open to debate, but, at […]
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A complaint has been filed against Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs on behalf of a fan injured at Wrigley Field in 2018, according to ESPN. The fan, 28-year-old Laiah Zuniga, was struck in the face by a foul ball in the fifth inning of the Aug. 27 game while sitting in the sixth…
The view from left field 