Limiting contact

Promoting Player Health and Safety: CFL Limits Contact For 2013 Training Camps

Contact, and use of shoulder pads, to be restricted to one practice a day

TORONTO – The Canadian Football League, in conjunction with the Canadian Football League Players’ Association, took another important step to protect the health and safety of its players today by limiting the amount of contact allowed at training camps this year.

“Our players are our greatest asset, and we want to do all we can to protect them, while also protecting the essence and spirit of our game,” said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League.

Under the new regulations, contact will be restricted to a maximum of one practice a day during training camp, as will the use of shoulder pads and other protective equipment in addition to helmets.

Only helmets can be worn for the other practice on the same day, and contact is not allowed.

Previously, coaches had the option of staging two practices featuring full pads and contact during training camp.

Players asked for the change in a recent meeting with the Commissioner’s office, who then consulted CFL team presidents as well as head coaches, who supported the change.

“This change is another step toward ensuring the long term health and safety of our members,” said Mike Morreale, President of the CFLPA.  “We are pleased that the League has taken this action and that the move is supported across all levels of the CFL.”

“This change required cooperation from all sides, as it is being made outside of the negotiation of a new collective agreement,” said Kevin McDonald, Vice-President of Football Operations for the CFL. “The responsiveness shown by the Commissioner, and the support expressed by our teams and coaches, speaks to a commitment to players’ health and safety, one we share with the players’ association.”

Previously, the CFL has put in place an internationally recognized protocol designed to assess head injuries, identify concussions, and keep players who are recovering from concussions off the field unless they are symptom free.

It has also distributed educational material to CFL teams, and in recent years, throughout amateur football, on concussion prevention through proper tackling and concussion assessment and treatment.

The CFL performs baseline testing on all players, at the start of the season, so it can accurately measure any change over the course of the year.

It keeps amending its’ rules to promote safety. And it disciplines players for reckless and dangerous play through fines and suspensions.

“Health and safety is paramount for us. And we continue to work with our doctors, and athletes, to find new ways to safeguard against and properly treat all injuries, including concussions,” Cohon said.

“As we sit down to discuss our next collective bargaining agreement with our players, no doubt it will be a point of emphasis for both sides. Ours is a physical game, and it involves some risk. But we all share a responsibility to manage that risk, and we all value the health and safety of our tremendous athletes.”

 

Rookies report to CFL training camps today, with full teams reporting on June 2nd. The CFL regular season kicks off June 27th when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Montreal Alouettes on an historic evening that marks the official opening of beautiful new Investors’ Group Field.