Return-to-workout rules delayed for league
The NBA on Monday modified its guidance to teams regarding the earliest that workouts can resume at arenas, with such sessions now not allowed sooner than May 8.
In the wake of initial plans that could have allowed Miami Heat players to return to AmericanAirlines Arena as soon as Friday, the league instead pushed the re-opening of facilities back at least one week, amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
Had the NBA remained with its May 1 guidance, a source familiar with the situation told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that that the Heat likely would not have been allowed by Miami-Dade to open the facility at that time.
According to the NBA’s guidance issued Monday, if/when arenas are open for player workouts:
■ No more than four players would be permitted at a facility at any one time.
■ No head or assistant coaches could participate.
■ Group activity remains prohibited, including practices or scrimmages.
■ Players remain prohibited from using non-team facilities such as public health clubs, fitness centers, or gyms.
Under the guidance, the Heat would not be allowed to have coach Erik Spoelstra or bench assistants Dan Craig, Chris Quinn or Malik Allen involved in such sessions. However, assistant coaches who do not work on the bench on game nights would be allowed, which, for the Heat would include assistant coaches Anthony Carter, Octavio De La Grana, who typically sit behind the
bench on game nights, and shooting coach Rob Fodor. Only one such staff member can be in attendance for any player session.
AmericanAirlines Arena, according to a source familiar with the situation, is currently being manned by a skeleton work staff to maintain the facility. It is not expected that a significant amount of additional employees would need to be utilized if the Heat practice facility, which is located east of a main bowl, would open to players.
In addition to those working out players, a member of the training staff would also be present to tape ankles and assist in other aspects, as well as someone designated to make sure the facility is properly sanitized.
In Monday’s update, the league said, “The NBA informed its teams today that, as numerous state and local governments have announced modificaallowed, tions of stay-at-home orders and other restrictions on non-essential business activity beginning this week, the league is planning to modify its guidance regarding the use of team practice facilities and player training. The purpose of these changes is to allow for safe and controlled environments for players to train in states that allow them to do so, and to create a process for identifying safe training options for players located in other states.”
Players who participate in the workouts at team facilities would be required to wear masks at all times other than when involved in physical activities, with accompanying staffers required to wear gloves. Those working with players would have to be spaced at least 12 feet away, twice the accepted social-distancing basis wide in use. The training and medical staff would be allowed closer contact.
The NBA, in its release, said that the situation is fluid and that the opening of practice facilities, where may be pushed back “if developments warrant.”
The NBA said in its statement, “The potential rules changes would allow teams to make their practice facilities available for use by the team’s players for workouts or treatment on a voluntary, individual basis if the team’s facility is in a city that is no longer subject to a government restriction. For any team that, due to a government restriction, is prohibited from making its facility available for use by the team’s players, the league will work with the team to identify alternatives.”
The reality is that many players already have resumed workouts either in private sessions with trainers away from their residences, or have begun to participate in competitive drilling with other players.
The Heat’s season came to a sudden stop after its March 11 loss to the visiting Charlotte Hornets, with facilities at AmericanAirlines Arena closed the following week.