SEC schools will provide public reports on player availability for conference games in football, men's and women's basketball and baseball beginning this season, the league announced Thursday.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said the new policy is designed to limit people who might try to seek information about student-athlete injuries and suspensions for betting purposes.
“This availability reporting policy is intended to reduce pressure from outside entities seeking participation information and represents a commitment by our 16 institutions to provide greater transparency to support efforts to protect our student-athletes and the integrity of competition,” Sankey said in a statement.
Under the new policy, SEC schools will be required to provide availability reports three days before each conference football game and then daily updates, including a final one 90 minutes before kickoff.
In basketball and baseball, availability reports will be submitted to the SEC office the night before games with an additional update on game day.
Under the terms of the policy, student-athletes will be considered “available,” “probable,” “questionable,” “doubtful” or “out” on pre-game day reports. On the final report, players will be designated as “available,” “game-time decision” or “out” to provide clarity.
No details could be given as to why student-athletes would appear on the report, whether due to injuries or another reason.
If schools fail to comply with the new rules, they will face potential penalties ranging from $25,000 for a first violation to $100,000 for a third or subsequent violation. Maximum penalties in the other sports subject to the rules range from $15,000 to $25,000.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart said earlier this week that Ron Courson, the program's executive associate director of athletics for sports medicine, would handle the Bulldogs' availability reports.
“I just want to say, 'Can the guy play or not?'” Smart said. “And if it's a last-minute decision and he comes out and [it] “If it turns out he can't, then he can't. We've had countless players come out before the game to practice to see if they can play or not. We'll abide by whatever rules they give us. It's the same as the NFL. They've done it for years.”
Smart said he supported the SEC's new policy.
“If this prevents our children from being pressured by people trying to contact them, get information from gambling sites and get information, there's no gain in having accurate information,” Smart said. “So it protects our children. I'm all for it.”
Football availability reports will be posted on the SECsports.com website.
