RSL General Manager Elliot Fall Details Club’s Plan To Slowly Return To The Pitch
May 1, 2020, 5:45 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake General Manager, Elliot Fall, has detailed how the club plans on conducting the outdoor voluntary player workouts that are set to begin on May 6.
MLS to begin individual player workouts beginning May 6https://t.co/iKofpJfVu9
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) May 1, 2020
Fall admits that the individual workouts will be structured and very controlled. The club will operate exclusively out of their Herriman facility, they will not be training at Rio Tinto Stadium or any other facility that they own. Furthermore, players will arrive individually and will have their own designated parking spot. They will bring their equipment with them, they will not be entering the locker room and will not have other staff members bring equipment for them. When they arrive at the facility they will be required to wear a mask and gloves, they will also have their temperature taken upon arrival.
The players will be required to stay at least six feet apart from anybody else, which Fall does not think will be a problem given the amount of space the players will have to operate in.
The vast majority of the workout will be fitness based. Making sure the players slowly increase their cardiovascular routine is paramount for the club as they hope to limit the number of injuries upon return.
“We have not heard of any player who has decided to opt-out of them, however, we are still in the beginning stages of informing the playing group how the workouts will be conducted. The club supports any player(s) who chooses to not take part in the workouts,” Fall said regarding any decision from a player(s) to not take part in the workouts.
The decision from the league to allow voluntary workouts signifies that the 2020 season is slowly getting closer to returning. However, it is still unclear as to when a date will be made public for the regular season games to return.
Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.