Vikings fans asked not to film training camp practices

Chris Tomasson, Pioneer Press
·3 min read
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There were plenty of highlights at Vikings training camp on Saturday. K.J. Osborn caught a long pass for a touchdown. Adam Thielen made a diving catch. Camryn Bynum had a nifty interception.

But don’t expect to see as many highlights from training camp on social media this summer.

The Vikings are asking fans not to take videos of practice sessions, posting seven signs for fans to see on the first day they were allowed at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan. “Do not record practice,” the signs said. A message on the scoreboard read in part, “Please help our team, not the opponents, and refrain from taking videos of practice.”

There are no apparent plans for the Vikings do anything with fans who shoot video, or those who put it on social media, but first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell is asking fans not to give opponents additional material to study.

The Vikings open the regular season Sept. 11 against NFC North rival Green Bay.

“It ultimately comes down to whatever competitive advantage or disadvantage we may be able to put ourselves in from a situational standpoint,” O’Connell said. “You can go back and study a lot. We’ll do the same thing throughout the year as we build up inventory of our opponents. … Ultimately, the goal is … for our fans to understand that they’re a part of this.”

“I’m not going to tell anybody sitting in those bleachers what they can and can’t do,” O’Connell said, “but (to) understand there’s a reason behind it. It’s not just coach-speak. And ultimately, we’ll continue to invite folks in as long as we possibly can before we have to start closing things down and start getting ready for our first game.”

A visit to the stands at one point on Saturday revealed a few dozen fans apparently filming practice, and some videos have shown up on social media of plays from the workout. One man filming practice, who asked to remain anonymous, said he won’t follow the suggested rule but added he doesn’t post his videos on social media.

“I want to shoot videos for my family,” he said. “What are they going to do, tell all the people here to stop doing it?”

Opinions on the new policy varied among fans. Dustin Klug, 22, of Beaver Dam, Wis., said he filmed videos and put them on social media last year but will stop.

“I think it’s smart,” he said of the new rule. “Other teams can use it to their advantage. Better safe than sorry.”

But avid fan Scott Asplund, 58, of Plymouth believes the team is taking things too far. Asplund dubs himself “Sir Skolt” and was dressed in a Viking costume on Saturday. He carried a shield and sword while leading fans in several “Skol” chants.

“This is their business, this is their work day,” Asplund said. “We’re here as spectators, so they certainly have the right to do what they’re doing. … Teams can be a little paranoid (and) might be a little more worried than they need to be.

“… I can’t see that the Packers, the Bears, the Lions are going to see anything from practice that they’re going to pick up and utilize to beat us during the season. That ain’t happening.”

Asplund said he never has posted videos from a Vikings training camp practice on social media. Neither has fan Steve Madsen, 37, even though he is a photographer from Garner, Iowa.

“If my kid is talking to (running back) Dalvin Cook, I’d love to get a little video of it, but I do understand from an NFL standpoint there’s all that kind of stuff that goes on, and you don’t want to take those risks,” Madsen said.

Since the signs say not to film “practice,” other videos taken apparently will not be frowned upon.

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