ATLANTA — The NBA will require many team employees, including coaching staff and front office personnel, to be vaccinated for the upcoming season in a policy outlined in a league memo.
The memo, obtained by 11Alive from an NBA league source, outlines how those "whose role involves in-person interaction or close proximity" to players and other designated on-court personnel, such as referees, will need to be fully vaccinated "in order to continue to have such in-person interactions."
The memo defines that as activity "conducted within 15 feet of, any (1) player, (2) referee, or (3) other team personnel who has a role that involves in-person interaction with, or activity conducted within 15 feet of, any player or referee."
The policy will affect a wide range of team employees and other types of workers, specifically identified as:
- Coaches
- Medical staff, trainers, other health-related employees
- Equipment staff
- Front office personnel
- Player development personnel
- Team security
- Arena security and local law enforcement staffing games
- PR and communications, social media and content employees
- Team attendants
- Scorer's table personnel
- Photographers
- On-site emergency medical/ambulance crew
- Food and beverage/hospitality workers
- Broadcast and game production workers
The league memo specifies that the vaccine mandate does not apply to those "who may have only transitory access" around players, "such as on an unexpected or emergency basis."
The memo does not specify how teams are expected to report employee vaccination status, or what kind of verification system will be in place to enforce the requirement.
The NBA preseason starts on Oct. 3, with the Hawks playing their first preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets the next day.