Portsmouth reveal solution to ensure players' safe training ground return
Kenny Jackett has revealed how Pompey’s players are adhering to training time slots to ensure social distancing is maintained.
The Blues’ Copnor Road training base has remained open throughout the eight weeks since football’s March suspension.
In the absence of group fitness sessions, players have instead followed individual programmes monitored by club staff.
In addition, there has been the option of using training facilities, albeit while maintaining government guidelines.
The past fortnight has seen a number of players return to the south coast following time with their families, as Pompey prepare for a potential return to action.
Following a Football League meeting yesterday, member clubs have been advised there will be no full training return until May 25 at the earliest.
In the meantime, the Blues are operating with WhatsApp arranged time slots to ensure those visiting the training ground don’t overlap.
Jackett said: ‘We have kept on with the individual guidelines for exercise as we haven’t had the all-clear to step it up to group work.
‘How we vary everybody’s individual program is something we have worked hard at as a staff.
‘The training ground has been available right the way through, it’s just making sure you book an individual slot.
‘It hasn’t been like that all of the time, some people have been back home, such as Ronan Curtis, Tom Naylor, Andy Cannon, guys like that. Now they have returned.
‘We’ve put a slot and appointment system in place so we can keep it organised and not too many turn up at once or there is an overlap.
‘It is agreed through a group chat on WhatsApp, with people taking a slot as and when they come up. It’s the best way.
‘It’s something you can do without coming across people. There is more privacy at the training ground and it’s easier to social distance, rather than if you went out to train on Southsea Common.’