Atlanta United started voluntary small group training sessions at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on Thursday. Voluntary individual training sessions began for First Team players on May 6, while today served as the first date of small group training for the club. The team will continue group training sessions this week on Friday and Saturday.
Club President Darren Eales and midfielder Jeff Larentowicz were available to reporters via Zoom earlier in the day and discussed a variety of topics including the ratification of the new CBA. Alec Kann and Brooks Lennon were available after respective training sessions.
Upcoming Team Schedule
Friday, June 5 – Voluntary small group training sessions continue at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground.
Saturday, June 6 – Voluntary small group training sessions continue at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground.
Larentowicz commented on the negotiations between MLS and MLSPA.
Additional information on MLS teams returning to official training facilities
Major League Soccer announced May 28 that clubs may begin to use outdoor team training fields for small group training sessions in compliance with detailed health and safety protocols that were created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts. All small group training sessions are voluntary and may not be in conflict with local public health officials or government policies.
The small group training sessions will provide an opportunity for players to perform fitness and technical workouts in small groups while maintaining physical distancing protocols, even within individual groups.
Prior to initiating small group training sessions, every team must submit to MLS a club-specific plan that has been reviewed and approved by the club’s medical staff and local infectious disease expert. Building on the health and safety protocols implemented for voluntary individual workouts, club-specific plans must adhere to specific guidelines for voluntary small group sessions. Those can be found here.
Additional information on USL teams returning to official training facilities
United Soccer League announced May 6 a modification to the previously announced training moratorium that will allow Championship and League One clubs, at their option, to open outdoor fields for non-contact training in small groups as well as training rooms for player treatment.
ATL UTD 2 began individual sessions on Wednesday, May 13; however, the team will operate under the same rules as the club’s MLS players, meaning individual workouts only.