NJ Pro Sports Teams Allowed To Resume Practices, Games

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey's professional sports teams can begin practices and games in the state if their leagues permit it, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday.

Youth sports leagues, however, remain sidelined for now.

The order issued Friday explicitly allowed professional athletes which train and/or play in New Jersey to fulfill their job duties. It allows teams to use their New Jersey-based facilities for practice, training, and other purposes where team personnel have to be on location and cannot work remotely.

That order came as the National Women's Soccer League announced it would allow its member teams — including Sky Blue FC, which is owned by Murphy and plays at Red Bull Arena in Harrison — to begin small-group training.

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The NWSL's announcement noted its "Return to Play Phased Protocol" was subject to state and local government restrictions.

New Jersey has a number of professional sports teams, including five minor league baseball teams (the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Trenton Thunder, the Somerset Patriots, the Sussex County Miners and the New Jersey Jackals), the New Jersey Devils, the New York Red Bulls (who play in Harrison), and a number of semi-pro teams.

Of the pro sports leagues with teams in New Jersey, only the NWSL has resumed training. The Major League Baseball Owners Association has approved a plan to resume games in July, but Minor League Baseball has not announced any decisions on the 2020 season. The NFL released its 2020 season game schedule but has not yet said when players and staff might start practicing.

For parents and children who want to return to baseball and softball, soccer and lacrosse and other team sports, the wait continues. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

"I realize of course that not all of our sports are back," Murphy said Tuesday. He said discussions with the many youth sports leagues continue, and he hopes "to see their resumption in the near future."

Murphy said his order on Friday allows professional athletes whose teams train and/or play in New Jersey to fulfill their job duties, similarly to other employees who are not able to work from home.

"While leagues make their own decisions about operations, I am confident that teams are equipped to practice and eventually play in a responsible manner, protecting the health and safety of players, coaches, and team personnel," Murphy said.

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