The Canadian Football League has set a firm date for making the call whether to proceed with the targeted August 5 regular season kick-off.
CFL Players’ Association president Solomon Elimimian sent a memo to update the membership.
We anticipate a decision on an August 5 season start from the League by June 14. Below are the critical dates you would have received previously if/when a decision is made to start the season on August 5, 2021:
June 15,16,17
- 2021 Health and Safety Education Seminars – All Tier Personnel
- Symptoms of COVID-19 & how the disease is transmitted.
- Specific transmission topics as it pertains to football.
- Hygiene and Prevention of transmission.
- 2021 Health and Safety COVID-19 protocols.
- Traveling to the club city protocol, & quarantine period for all personnel located outside of Canada.
- 2021 CFL COVID-19 Declaration required after training and before travel.
June 25
- 7 Day Home self-isolation begins for international and domestic travelers.
June 26
- Local Tier 1 personnel start Work Quarantine period.
Friday July 2
- Arrival day and quarantine start.
Friday July 2 to 9
- Medicals for all players in quarantine or work quarantine.
Friday July 9
- Quarantine ends.
Saturday July 10
- Training Camp start
These dates remain tentative until the CFL confirms we are operational and the government direction is given. The CFL has confirmed this direction will be given no later than June 14th, 2021.
There is no doubt that this has been a challenging 15+ months, but please rest assured that your CFLPA Executive, Bargaining Committee, Player Reps, Staff, and Advisors have been working diligently to insure a return to work.
We continue to have discussions with the league on the process of amending the collective agreement to accommodate a COVID-restricted environment. Dialogue also continues with the provincial and federal health authorities, who still have the last word on when we can start training camp, the 2021 season and allow fan attendance.
The CFL delayed its start date with a 14-game schedule targeted to kick-off on August 5, culminating in a currently planned December 12 Grey Cup. For the timeline to be met, the league requires ‘a significant number of fans’ to be allowed in stadiums by municipal, provincial, and federal governments.
The league and players’ union began meetings during the second week of February with a focus on playing football this year. The two sides have submitted return to play health and safety plans to various levels of government in Canada and are working to finalize the details in hopes of getting the final stamp from the nation’s capital.
