SEC adopts new football practice rules
SEC schools will adopt recent football practice recommendations by the NCAA Sports Science Institute, the conference announced on Friday.
The recommendations will change some aspects of year-round football practices like cutting down on live-contact during practices in the regular season and preseason.
“We believe these measures will enhance the health and safety procedures SEC universities have already established to support their football programs,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “Student-athlete well-being will always be a priority for SEC member institutions and, as the NCAA Sports Science Institute has developed and provided guidance on the structure for football practice, everyone associated with this great sport must continue to adapt to keep the game safe while played at the highest competitive level.”
In any given seven days these are the recommendations from the NCAA:
Preseason
- Up to three days of practice can be live contact (tackling or thud).
- There should be a minimum of three non-contact/minimal contact practices in a given week.
- A non-contact/minimal contact practice should follow a scrimmage.
- One day should be no football practice.
Inseason
- Three days of practice should be non-contact/minimal contact.
- One day of live contact/tackling should be allowed.
- One day of live contact/thud should be allowed.
The rules differ in postseason, depending on the amount of time between the last regular season game and the bowl game.
In the spring only eight of the 15 practice sessions will be allowed to involve like contact, with only three including greater than 50 percent live contact, or scrimmage. Live contact practices will be limited to two in a given week -- and not on consecutive days.
SEC to adopt NCAA practice recommendations for football https://t.co/IZTqFiwG6A
— Chuck Dunlap (@SEC_Chuck) May 5, 2017
The recommendations were supported by all SEC Athletic Directors, league Presidents and Chancellors.
The Georgia Bulldogs and 13 other member schools will manage enforcement and implementation of the changes.
