Major League Soccer coaches welcome the chance to use five substitutes when play resumes in Florida next month, out of concern for both the conditioning of the players and the demands of summer heat.
The adoption of the rule and the expansion of game-day rosters are especially important given the relatively short preparation teams have had for the MLS Is Back Tournament, which starts July 8 at the sports complex at Walt Disney World.
Teams were able to go to full training on June 4, provided local jurisdictions approved. But some teams in states or communities with more strict stay-at-home orders were already behind in returning to practice.