Players Spitting?!!

[David Hankey]

Now that we are to restart football again what guidance has been given to players regarding their habitual spitting behaviour? Bearing in mind the Coronavirus disease has a propensity to spread like wildfire will it change this revolting habit or can we expect a spike in players being tested positive?

[Leeds Fox]

20 minutes ago, David Hankey said:

Now that we are to restart football again what guidance has been given to players regarding their habitual spitting behaviour? Bearing in mind the Coronavirus disease has a propensity to spread like wildfire will it change this revolting habit or can we expect a spike in players being tested positive?

The likelihood of someone’s hand (or other susceptible body part) coming into contact with someone’s spit on a field of about 7,500m2 is negligible. Compared with the likelihood of them breathing on each other, touching each other etc. 

[Guest]

It should be stopped anyway. Nothing to do with covid but to do with respect.

[Fox92]

Spitting is disgusting regardless of a virus or not.

[urban.spaceman]

They should have spittoons at the side of the pitch like in old western films. And modern day Texas.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong but I've never been convinced athletes spitting is necessary. Basketball players can't do it because they'd be slipping over on each others phlegm on the wooden floor, and they seem to manage just fine.

[David Hankey]

31 minutes ago, Leeds Fox said:

The likelihood of someone’s hand (or other susceptible body part) coming into contact with someone’s spit on a field of about 7,500m2 is negligible. Compared with the likelihood of them breathing on each other, touching each other etc. 

Even if their slide into a tackle just where a player has happened to spit? I wouldn't want to risk it. I'm sure some folk just don't realise or understand how easily this virus is spread.

[Leeds Fox]

5 minutes ago, David Hankey said:

Even if their slide into a tackle just where a player has happened to spit? I wouldn't want to risk it. I'm sure some folk just don't realise or understand how easily this virus is spread.

I get that, I also do realise easy the virus spreads. Spitting is unnecessary, I agree with that, especially right now. I just think that with all the contact that will happen during a game, the likelihood of contact with spit is minuscule. However if they banned it, or the players use common sense and don’t do it, then the problem is completely negated. 

[walkerleeds]

Always find it ridiculous you see managers on the touchline do it.

[Izzy]

24 minutes ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong but I've never been convinced athletes spitting is necessary. Basketball players can't do it because they'd be slipping over on each others phlegm on the wooden floor, and they seem to manage just fine.

I notice a lot of Basketball players chew gum. I wonder if this helps/stops them spitting?

[filbertway]

 

[SouthStandUpperTier]

1 hour ago, Izzy said:

I notice a lot of Basketball players chew gum. I wonder if this helps/stops them spitting?

A lot do. Quite a few players wear gum shields (which they will often take out during a break in play, thereby getting saliva onto their hands and then onto the ball - so it'll be interesting to see how sports that use gum shields manage that situation).