On Tuesday, the NBA shared its detailed plan for the resumption of the 2019-20 season in Orlando, Florida.
Below are some of the biggest takeaways from the plan based on reports, including when teams will arrive in Orlando, where they will stay and what a normal game day will look like.
When will teams arrive in Florida?
The only team in the NBA based outside of the United States, the Raptors will arrive in Florida during Phase 1 (June 12-22) and use the Alico Arena at Florida Gulf Coast University as their practice facility.
Every other NBA team will arrive on a staggered basis on July 7, 8 or 9 as a part of Phase 4.A. Teams will ramp up workouts in their home markets ahead of their arrival.
Where will teams stay?
Teams will be staying at three different Disney hotels, split up based on their current positioning in their respective conference.
A players-only lounge with card tables, video games, arcade gaming, ping pong, movie screenings and DJ sets
Virtual chaplain services, yoga and meditation, and mental health services
Pools and trails
Barbers, manicures, pedicures and hair braiders by appointment
Team-sponsored outings – boating, bowling, fishing and golfing, as well as access to the NBA Experience and Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Wild Africa Trek.
For safety, players will have to maintain six feet of physical distance when playing video games and sitting by the pool, aren’t allowed to play doubles during ping pong and must dispose each deck of cards after use.
When playing golf, there will be no caddies and no sharing of clubs and balls.
Are guests allowed?
Only after the first round of the playoffs. For each team that does advance, they will be allowed to reserve a guest room for each player, the maximum being 17.
There will be a strict protocol for guests, which includes a period of self-quarantine and regular testing before they are allowed on the campus.
Where will teams play?
The Arena, HP Field House and Visa Athletic Center will be used to practice and play games.
Sources: NBA has sent teams a visual of court/workout arrangements in Orlando: pic.twitter.com/sT2rtFyKXK
The first row will be made up of players and coaches. Nobody in the first row will be required to wear masks, but the coaches are recommended to wear masks. The second row will feature other players and coaches. Masks will be required at all times unless the player is active.
Referees will not be required to wear masks.
What will a team’s game day schedule look like?
Shams Charania of The Athletic shared the breakfast, shootaround, lunch, pre-game and post-game plan for a team on game day.
No, but there will be people in stands, made up of players, media members, team executives and more.
How will players be tested?
In Phase 2 (June 23-30), teams will begin mandatory testing of all players and staff.
In Phase 4.A, which is when teams arrive in Florida, players and team staff will be tested upon arrival. They must stay isolated in their rooms until they return two negative tests 24 hours apart.
Testing will continue regularly from Phase 4.B onwards. There will also be daily temperature checks and symptom surveys.
What happens if a player tests positive?
If a player tests positive for COVID-19, they will enter “Isolation Housing,” a specially designated house, hotel or other facility away from the NBA campus. The player must remain in isolation until they are asymptomatic and return at least two consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart.
They will then have to undergo a cardiac screening before returning to play.
Will the NBA season be cancelled if a player tests positive?
No. The NBA wrote that “a small or otherwise expected number of COVID-19 cases will not require a decision to suspend or cancel the resumption of the 2019-20 season.”
What happens if a player leaves the bubble?
If a player leaves without approval, they will have to self-quarantine for 10-14 days and undergo deep nasal testing as opposed to shallow nasal or oral testing before reentering. Additionally, their pay will be reduced for the games they miss.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
