Premier League stars have already learned to stay away from each other during training sessions.
Statistics from 11 top flight clubs show players are no longer getting close to each other during water breaks and before free kick routines.
STATSports, who provide GPS data analysis for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, have revealed the “player incursion” time when players would stand within two metres of each other has reduced massively compared to before the season was suspended.
Players were told to try and keep their distance during training and will also be told to do the same when the Premier League restarts on June 17.
The warnings appear to be working as there were no positives from the last round of Premier League tests as all 1195 were negative.
STATSports director and co-founder Sean O’Connor said: “I suppose the obvious things that are changing in that are things like the longer durations, where they're maybe having a water break, sat and chatting to each other or having certain technical or tactical drills where you're in close proximity, or coaches stopping and breaking down drills.
"So, that's, I'd imagine, where we're seeing a big chunk of the positive change coming."
The average time of incursion has almost halved - dropping from 3.3 seconds before lockdown to 1.8 seconds during the first week of full contact training.
STATSports are allowing teams to analyse the latest average rate and number of incursions.
“The clubs are actively looking at this,” O’Connor added. "Because they’re getting the data back to us, we’re able to turn it around within an hour and provide them with an overview of today’s session.
"They’re looking at their normal data in terms of performance and where players are at physically and trying to get them to peak for games next week, but we’re able to then add that second layer.
“So, within an hour of the data coming to us from the team, we’re sending back the breakdown in terms of the full session and for each of the drills and what the incursion time was and number of incursions.
"They’re looking at this on a daily basis and on a drill basis to make sure that they keep on top of it.”
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