The Chattanooga Red Wolves have returned to the practice field for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut down most sports worldwide in mid-March, with their sessions at CHI Memorial Stadium in East Ridge far from typical but still a move toward playing soccer in 2020.
The United Soccer League announced May 6 that its teams could begin training in small groups starting this past Monday, and the Red Wolves did just that Friday, setting up predetermined time slots for players to maintain appropriate social distance within a practice environment. Each individual was given a designated area of the field to work on soccer and fitness activities that were provided by the coaching staff.
According to the USL’s guideline, a small group means no more than four players, one athletic trainer and one member of a team’s technical staff. The USL also said such training is voluntary for players and that teams should follow local and state government orders.
“We’re one step closer to soccer,” Red Wolves general manager Sean McDaniel said in a team release. “After the training moratorium was lifted by the USL, we developed a plan under the regulations and guidelines of local and state health authorities to allow our players and technical staff to safely return to training in small groups. The players have been on an intense individual training regimen since the lockdown but now have the ability to safely continue that training at CHI Memorial Stadium per USL regulations.
“It’s great to get the guys back out on the pitch to start prepping for what we hope will lead to the return to the 2020 USL season.”