MLS training halt extended through April 3 during coronavirus pandemic

The Columbus Crew SC squad will have another full week of working out at home and juggling with toilet paper (or something) instead of soccer balls. Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday morning that the training moratorium has been extended through next Friday, April 3 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“Major League Soccer has extended the team training moratorium through, and including, Friday, April 3. MLS training facilities remain closed to all players and staff with the exception of players requiring medical treatment or rehabilitation, under the direction of the team medical staff, that cannot be performed from the safety of their residence.”

“While MLS players are expected to remain in each club’s respective market, MLS will review individual requests by players to relocate to another market by car, taking into account the totality of player’s situation.”

“MLS will remain in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on this continually evolving situation and provide further updates as they become available.”

With the MLS Season suspended till at least May, we can expect this training moratorium to possibly have further extensions as multiple states, including Ohio, have enacted a “stay-at-home” order. Even with no training, however, left back Milton Valenzuela can still go in for rehab on his torn meniscus to speed his recovery process. During this time, Crew players, staff and broadcasters have been doing all kinds of creative things in their homes during the self-quarantine.

Just yesterday, the Crew released multiple videos on the team’s official Twitter account that included assistant strength and conditioning coach Kelly Roderick demonstrating an at-home workout. Center back Vito Wormgoor and his three daughters showed off hand washing techniques, while new Crew color commentator Jordan Angeli broke down film from the opening week win over NYCFC.

On Instagram, multiple players have been putting their at-home activities on display with some participating in the aforementioned toilet paper juggling challenge that swept the soccer community worldwide. It’ll be another week for the Crew to continue searching for at-home activities while training is halted until the earliest now April 6.

Head coach Caleb Porter stated in a teleconference that he told players and staff that the top priority now is to stay healthy and not get “this nasty virus.” No Columbus Crew players or Major League Soccer players have tested positive for coronavirus as of this writing.

Time will tell when the Crew players can finally return to training at the team’s Obetz facility and get back into shape after this two-month hiatus. This weekend would have been the Black & Gold’s bye week before playing Toronto FC at home on April 4.

As of March 24, the United States has over 55,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus with over 800 deaths. The state of Ohio has over 500 confirmed cases with eight deaths. Seventy-five of those cases and two of those deaths are in Franklin County.

Massive Report will continue providing updates on this developing situation as they become available.