NWSL: 3 takeaways from 2020 season plans

2. How will the players remain safe?

With the league’s statement announcing their return, it also announced the health and safety protocols to keep all involved as safe as possible. In those protocols, the league has emphasized testing players and coaches before preseason training sessions and before teams travel to Utah.

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The NWSL is currently in phase two of their preseason plan to return. This involves small group training of a maximum of eight players. On May 30, clubs can resume full team training only if it does not violate state or local laws and the club has completed five days of small group training. During this period, players and coaches are tested weekly and will be tested again 48-72 hours before traveling to Utah.  Once the competition begins, testing will happen 24-48 hours before every game.

In addition to the testing, the NWSL has announced plans if a player or staff member were to test positive for COVID-19. If a test comes back positive, the facilities would close immediately and all contacts would be quarantined according to league policy.

One of the biggest concerns fans have is how to keep the players safe and what to do if a test comes back positive. Any return to action will require strict safety protocols to keep all involved safe while the season resumes. Whether the NWSL’s plans are sufficient or not remains to be seen, but the league is clear in its priority to protect those involved.