Premier League vote RECAP: What the latest rules will mean for Brighton, Watford and Aston Villa

Premier League clubs voted unanimously to resume contact training on a day when four further individuals from three clubs tested positive for coronavirus.
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Phase two of 'Project Restart' will allow players to train in groups and tackle each other but it will also minimise unnecessary close contact.

Premier League players and staff will be tested twice a week and anyone who is positive must self-isolate for seven days.

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A return to contact training was agreed after gathering the thoughts of clubs, players, managers, the PFA, the Managers' Association and the government.

Brighton and Hove Albion head coach Graham PotterBrighton and Hove Albion head coach Graham Potter
Brighton and Hove Albion head coach Graham Potter

If all goes to plan, phase three of Project Restart will kick-in which will include steps to more normal training and the build-up to competitive games.

Brighton were last in competitive action during the 0-0 draw at Wolves on March 7. With nine games remaining, Graham Potter's men are just two points above the relegation zone. The league in total has 92 fixtures still to play.

Another key meeting is set to take place today where clubs will discuss the potential use of neutral stadiums and the thorny and complex issue of rebates to broadcasters.

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They are also expected to look at how best to conclude the season in the event of a curtailment.

The Premier League also held talks with sports technology company STATSports to help shape training sessions ahead of the move to contact training.

Clubs have been doing non-contact training in small groups but are preparing to move to the next phase.

STATSports technology is able to provide data on the movement of players and how often they come into contact with each other, enabling clubs to assess the risk of different aspects of training.

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Sean O'Connor, co-founder of STATSports, said, "We looked at pre-Covid sessions and imagined a two-metre circle around someone's feet.

"You can then evaluate how many times players incurred on other players. So, looking at pre-Covid, we had an average of just over three seconds.

"People did not realise it was that low. We published a white paper and let the Premier League know what we were doing and they were really excited as it gave them the black-and-white data to come up

with a phased protocol for training.

"So they can understand the effects of the session and how they can have a positive training session that is influencing tactically, physically and also safe.

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"What we were able to do was work with the Premier League and looked at specific drills pre-Covid and worked out which types of drills will have higher incursions.

"It is things like water breaks when players stand chatting next to each other. The average time was three seconds pre-Covid including water breaks and tactical drills, including small-sided games.

"We took the approach of taking out factors that increase the chances so we will see an even lower number of incursions."

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