Season postponed due to coronavirus
League doesn’t issue a target date for when openers could happen
In a move that seemed inevitable, Major League Lacrosse announced on Friday that its season would not start on time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Major League Lacrosse was scheduled to get underway May 30 with three games. Locally, the Chesapeake Bayhawks were set to open against the Denver Outlaws at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
“This decision was made to safeguard the health of our players, fans and staff, as well as those within our MLL communities as a result of the global pandemic,” commissioner Sandy Brown said in a statement.
Brown’s statement, which was posted to the MLL website and distributed to media outlets just after noon Friday, did not include a target date for when the regular season would start.
Mark Burdett, an MLL executive who doubles as president of the Chesapeake Bayhawks and Philadelphia Barrage, is hopeful games can begin in June.
“This is a decision the MLL leadership has been considering for a couple weeks and it is no doubt the proper decision considering the current circumstances,” said Burdett, a lifelong Annapolis resident. “Hopefully, the situation will stabilize sooner rather than later, and we get the 2020 season going.”
Burdett said the Bayhawks were scheduled to start training camp the weekend of May 9-10. Coach Tom Mariano was going to bring the team together for three straight weekends (Saturday and Sunday practice sessions).
However, Burdett indicated the six franchises will likely not get that much lead time due to the unprecedented situation with COVID-19.
“As a smaller league, we are fairly flexible. We don’t have a collective bargaining agreement that mandates a training camp of a certain length in advance of games,” Burdett said.
“When the light goes green, we can move pretty quickly. Our players have always been self-conditioned and self-trained, so our teams could ramp up and play in two weeks or possibly less,” he added.
Burdett said the MLL executive team has not discussed the possibility of playing games in stadiums without fans. While the initial 2020 schedule set the championship game for Aug. 22, Burdett said the season could be extended to conduct all 10 regular-season games.
This is the 20th anniversary season for MLL. The Bayhawks and Boston Cannons are the only two original franchises still remaining.
“It’s important to note we are not canceling anything. The operative words are delayed and rescheduled,” he said. “Major League Lacrosse is still committed to the community and delivering the quality product we always have in the past.”
Mariano, who was named coach of the Bayhawks in mid-January after Dave Cottle stepped down, expected the MLL season to be postponed and was confident everyone involved would adjust. He works full-time as an athletic administrator and coach of men’s lacrosse at Pace University, which saw all spring sports canceled in midMarch.
“We’re in a time when being smart and saving lives takes precedence over sports. My greatest concern at this time is the safety and welfare of my friends, family and neighbors,” said Mariano, who lives in Connecticut. “It’s very difficult to think in terms of being a professional or collegiate coach.”
Mariano said the Bayhawks currently have a 46-man roster and would like to hold some form of tryout before cutting down to the 25-man roster.
In Major League Lacrosse, only 19 players can dress for games.
“It’s not ideal, but I can only control what I can control. We will adjust as necessary,” Mariano said.
“If the commissioner says on a Monday that we’re playing on Saturday, we’ll somehow be ready to go.”
Mariano has been communicating with Chesapeake players via email and text messages. He will likely hold a Zoom video conference in the coming weeks to bring everyone together.
“All of our players have been pretty diligent with their workouts and are staying in shape,” he said.
Annapolis resident Brian Phipps, the starting goalie last season when Chesapeake captured the MLL championship, has been working out daily using his home gymnasium or by jogging around the neighborhood.
Phipps is coach of boys lacrosse at Archbishop Spalding and has kept the goalkeeping skills sharp by sometimes stepping into the cage during practice or having players shoot on him afterward.
“Physical conditioning as far as lifting and cardiovascular isn’t a problem. Obviously, the lacrosse aspect is a little tougher,” Phipps said. “We’ll take it day-by-day and see how things go. When the restrictions are relaxed, we’ll be able to get out on the field.”