The Czech Association of American Football, CAAF (Česká Asociace Amerického Fotbalu), has announced that the Czech League, which has been postponed due to the coronavirus, will now kick off in mid August.
Earlier this month, the CAAF had announced that a decision on the league would be made at the end of April.
The CAAF had originally postponed the season which was scheduled to start on March 29, for a month due to the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19. Like leagues in every other country in the world, with the situation changing almost daily and with governments planning to ease restrictions, the CAAF had been holding out hope that they can salvage some form of a season.
With the easing of restrictions in the Czech Republic, the CAAF has announced the following:
“After a meeting with the clubs, based on the majority opinion of the clubs and according to marketing priorities, the men’s competition will start in mid-August. Traditional fall leagues (women, youth, juniors) will take place with minor changes in parallel with the men’s league. All current decisions provide for the possibility of loosening government measures and the possibility of coaching and playing games. In terms of the men’s leagues, those with more than six games will start their season on August 15 and a week later leagues with fewer than seven games will start. The end of the men’s leagues is planned for the end of October/start of November. The age category of men is set for the years 2001 and older. The years 2002 will be aged even without previous experience. Junior players will not be able to play in both the men’s and junior teams at the same time.”
Coronavirus situation in Czech Republic
A total of 7,689 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in the Czech Republic with 237 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
The Czech Republic has begun to ease restrictions introduced in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Gatherings of up to 10 people in public – instead of the current two – are allowed and universities have reopened. Shops with floor space of up to 2,500 square meters will re-open, along with fitness centers or libraries. Shopping centers and hairdressers were slated to open from May 11, while restaurants, hotels, theaters and most other services on May 25. The country was one of the swiftest countries in Europe to take action against the virus’s spread in March when cases start appearing throughout the continent. The country was among the first in Europe to declare a state of emergency – which parliament had extended to April 30 – and closed borders, schools, most shops and restaurants, and restricted people’s movement.