Every day we get closer to see the NBA return and the league’s front office has put together a plan to take care of the players and everyone involved in the resumption of the 2019/20 season. They sent a 113-page handbook to team personnel on Tuesday, mostly focused on health and safety protocols to keep everybody safe.
As expected, they’re taking every matter very seriously and sent a list of forbidden activities during this time. They even created six tiers of personnel. Tier 1 consists of players, coaches, health and performance staff, equipment managers and referees, who will have access to the most restricted areas on campus, including locker rooms, practice and game courts, weight rooms and player lounges.
Tier 2 is filled by team security, front office personnel, team communications staff and some guests. The league made it very clear that the rest of the tiers won’t have close contact with the first two tiers.
Via The New York Times:
Failure to adhere to the protocols, according to the guide, can result in a warning, fine, suspension or dismissal from the campus. Guests of players are also liable to be kicked out for violating the protocols.
- Commissioner Adam Silver had floated the idea of restricting which coaches could sit on the bench, particularly referring to coaches who are older and at higher risk of the symptoms from the coronavirus. He backed off that statement soon after. There appear to be no restrictions on who can travel to Orlando, unless the player or coach tests positive in the phases preceding the arrival or lives with someone who “recently had Covid-19 or symptoms associated with Covid-19.”
- All players and team staff must wear face masks at all times on campus. Well, sort of. If players are doing something that is not within six feet of someone else, masks are not required. The league lists examples like walking, swimming, “relaxing outside” and “watching a movie on an iPad.”
- Players will not be allowed to shower at any of the ESPN arenas or facilities. That means no postgame showers — until players are back at their hotels.
- Disney staff members who are not staying on campus will not undergo the league’s testing regimen. Instead, they will be required by Disney to wear face coverings, as well as to maintain physical distancing. The league will aim to prevent Disney employees from being in contact with those involved with the N.B.A. restart, unless required.
- The guide says, “No one will be stopped from leaving the campus,” but that players and staff should not do so unless there are “extenuating circumstances.” Among the places that players will be allowed to go: “Auxiliary sites — either on or off Disney property — that are secured by the N.B.A. for approved use by N.B.A. players or staff (e.g., a golf course).”
- If a player does leave the campus without permission and tries to re-enter, he will be quarantined for at least 10 days.
- Players will not be allowed to spend time with one another in their hotel rooms.
- No sharing towels, clothing or deodorant. And players will also be advised to stop fiddling so much with their mouth guards.
- More from the hygiene department: The league wants players to cut down on all the high-fives, fist bumps and hugs. And to maintain at least six feet of distance from one another, at least when they’re not on the court.
- The league says it will make socially distant recreational activities available for players. Per the handbook: “Such activities are expected to include the provision of a game room or player lounge at each hotel (e.g., Ping-Pong, “NBA2K,” pool, dominoes, etc.), golf, swimming, fishing, the potential for other water sports, movie screenings, concerts, running trails, bike rides and other excursions.”
- Since physical distancing is difficult while playing cards, the N.B.A. specifically says players must wear face masks if they choose to play, say, poker. They must throw away the deck of cards after the game has concluded.
- No caddies on the golf course.
- No sharing goggles or snorkels in the swimming pool.
- There will be a bonus of sorts for teams that survive the first round of the playoffs: guests. Each team that advances into the conference semifinals will have the option of reserving up to 17 additional hotel rooms for invited guests, and those guests can be anyone — spouses, children, friends, massage therapists — provided they fulfill a litany of “participation requirements” that range from signing waivers to undergoing rigid testing protocols. They must also quarantine both before and after arriving on campus.
- And then there is the tip line: The league says it will encourage anyone on campus to report violations of any of the protocols via an anonymous hotline. Players will also be allowed to report potential violations through their teams or the players’ association. Violations, of course, are a big no-no, which could lead to disciplinary action.
There is no doubt that they got to work to make the best plan for every team that will be in Orlando next month. Teams will arrive on July 7; players and team personnel must remain in quarantine until they test negative for COVID-19 twice with a difference of 24 hours.
They have everything planned and now it’s up to the players and the rest of people going to the bubble location to respect the rules and try to have a good time while they’re not playing. Everything is falling into place for the return of the NBA and we can’t wait to see what this renewed season will bring to the table.
