The NFL Players Association’s proposed changes to the offseason calendar sent the football world into a frenzy, with players, coaches, executives, and NFL alumni weighing in on the potential impact on the start of organized team activities, minicamps, and the offseason workout program.
Though the player-led proposal would eliminate the voluntary workouts conducted throughout the spring, the gradual ramp-up to training camp starting in June or July has drawn the ire of traditionalists preferring the traditional flow of the established calendar.
Under the current calendar, players report for offseason workouts in mid-April for a voluntary nine-week program that is broken down into three phases. These phases include meetings (Phase One), on-field individual drills (Phase Two), and organized team activities (Phase Three). Teams can also conduct one mandatory minicamp for veterans during Phase Three.
After Phase Three, players have a six-week summer break around mid-June until training camp kicks off in mid-to-late July.
While the pre-training camp sabbatical enables players and coaches to relax and recharge before a marathon-like season that runs through February, the NFLPA is attempting to reduce some of the soft-tissue injuries that plague some players during training camp under the current structure.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFLPA has consulted with medical and performance experts to create a solution for reducing injuries and maximizing players’ recovery time. Under the current proposal, virtual classroom work would still be permitted in the spring, but no practices would be allowed until camp.
Abolishing “spring football” might make some old-school coaches cringe, but savvy coaches could take advantage of a revised offseason calendar to improve the execution of their respective squads at the beginning of the season. With a 10-plus week program leading into the season, teams could put together a comprehensive plan that…
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Publish date : 2024-05-30 18:00:54
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