Several MLS teams were back on the training fields on throughout the last part of the week, after the league cleared the start of voluntary individual workouts in line with local public health or government policies. More teams will be joining them on a rolling basis over the coming days.
All player workouts are voluntary and must be conducted in compliance with detailed health and safety protocols created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts (see full list of safety protocols). This video illustrates the protocol, which provides players with a controlled training environment.
These were the first training sessions held at club facilities since MLS instituted a full team training moratorium following the suspension of league play on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium is currently set to run through May 15 and matches are suspended until at least June 8.
Here are the clubs that have kicked off individual player workouts:
Atlanta United
Atlanta United was the first MLS team to announce players will be returning to individual workouts, announcing sessions on Wednesday, May 6 and Friday, May 8 at its Children Healthcare of Atlanta training ground.
The sessions were designed to include 6-7 players to allow the maximum amount of space needed for players to comply with safety protocols.
Safety first.
Bird’s eye view of the first session back
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After training on Wednesday, Argentine playmaker Pity Martinez explained the importance of being able to return to the training field.
"Very happy," he said. "They took important measures at the club to take care of us and take care of the [team] personnel. As long as it's done with caution, it's perfect.
"At home we have families and we want to protect them. It's a good start given everything that we're going through, which is difficult. I was training well at home. But being back on the field and seeing teammates is very gratifying. It does good for us mentally and we hope this all passes soon. In the United States things are really complicated."
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati returned to training on Friday, May 8, and the mood was good in camp, as Greg Garza discussed the impact of a return to training from a team chemistry perspective.
“Even though you still maintain that social distancing I think just to be around everybody, to get that camaraderie once again, to build that chemistry — something you haven’t had for the past few months — is very important for all of us,” he said on Friday. “Even just to chat and scream from afar and get those inside jokes going again, that’s very important for all of us.”
Colorado Rapids
Rapids head coach Robin Fraser confirmed on a call with reporters Thursday that his team would return to individual workouts on Monday, May 11.
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo returned for voluntary individual workouts at Houston Sports Park on Thursday morning.
The protocols and timeline presented to the players for the voluntary individual workouts were approved by the league and local authorities. The players return to organized activity at HSP for the first time since March 12, when MLS suspended the regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami CF also began voluntary individual training sessions at Inter Miami CF Training Complex on Wednesday, May 6, in compliance with health and safety protocols created in consultation with infectious disease experts and the medical team at Baptist Health.
LAFC
Sixteen players appeared for voluntary workouts as LAFC became the first Los Angeles-based sports team to begin practicing. Among those practicing were defenders Jordan Harvey, Mohamed El-Munir and Diego Palacios and midfielders Mark-Anthony Kaye and Eduard Atuesta.
Nashville SC
Nashville GM Mike Jacobs confirmed that the club will open its facilities for voluntary player workouts beginning on Thursday, May 7.
“How well our players and staff execute this first phase we’re using as a league will be critical for us getting to stage two, small group training, then ultimately stage three, full team training," Jacobs said. "It’s really important to make sure our support staff is really buttoned up with protocols. I think we’re doing a good job of that.”
Orlando City SC
Orlando City SC began voluntary individual training sessions on May 6 at their Orlando City Training Ground.
Players participated utilizing two fields, divided into eight training spots. The club is following all the CDC guidelines, and they are coordinating with their partner Orlando Health to help maintain health and safety protocols at the facility.
Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers confirmed they will be holding individual workouts at the Timbers Training Center with sessions on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8.
Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese confirmed the news while taking part in Wednesday's MLS Classics: Remix show on MLSsoccer.com.
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake returned for voluntary individual workouts at the Zions Bank Training Center on Thursday, May 7.
After training for the first time, midfielder Damir Kreilach said it was an important initial step.
"For the last two months we were able just to run outside and do some stuff in the garage," he told reporters on a conference call. "So after two months to be the first time on the field, it was great. We did technical stuff, some conditioning stuff with the ball, some sprints. It was a decent tempo, high level, so every one of us was very very happy to be back on the field with other teammates. It will be good to do more sessions per week but it was the first step and now we have to take care and go step by step forward."
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City players began voluntary individual workouts on Wednesday, May 6 at Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City, adhering to the detailed safety protocols and social distancing measures.
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