The NFL sent out a memo to their teams on Sunday regarding the rules and guidelines for the return to football during the COVID-19 pandemic, which at the earliest will likely happen when training camps open at the end of July.
Each team will need to comply to the new guidelines before opening up, and for the Eagles, that means there is likely plenty of work to be done before their entire staff and roster return to the NovaCare Complex for the 2020 season.
The plan is long, detailed and includes specific protocols the teams must follow, including how far apart lockers can be, how meals can be served and which people can enter through which parts of the facility. It seems each "football essential" employee will have to undergo daily testing under the "applicable protocol" to enter the building.
** Each team must have an Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan that is approved by NFL, NFPA and Infection Control for Sports.
** Anyone who enters the practice facility will be designated into a tier, with three separate tiers. Some examples of who will be included in each tier:
** Restricted areas that will be designated by tiers: practice fields and sidelines, stadium field and sidelines, locker room, training rooms, medical rooms, meeting rooms, players lounges and weight rooms
** There must be separate entrances for Tier 1 and Tier 2 people.
** Six-feet of distancing inside facility, including locker rooms, with lockers to be six-feet apart when possible.
** Masks at all times inside the building, or “unless a mask cannot be worn by players due to the interference with performance of athletic activities” (so basically when they are practicing and working out).
** No more than 15 players working out in the weight room at a time
** Meetings are held virtually when possible. Meeting that can’t be held virtually should be held outdoors while everyone is wearing masks and sitting apart from each other. No meeting can be held where social distancing isn’t practiced.
** No sharing water bottles or sports drinks. All bottles must be single use. No sharing towels. No sharing clothes.
** All equipment is cleaned after every practice and game
** Personnel items — phones, keys, etc — must be washed when entering the facility
** Meals from the team cafeterias must be in takeout form and individually wrapped. No Buffett styles
** Unannounced inspections by NFL
** Two-week supply of PPE equipment — masks, gloves, etc.
While the Eagles have one of the nicer team facilities and stadiums in the league, there will likely still need to be some major changes, especially when it comes to the locker rooms in both the practice facility and Lincoln Financial Field.