SEC planning to adopt NCAA’s football practice recommendations
The Southeastern Conference announced Friday that it will adopt the football practice recommendations recently set forth by the NCAA Sports Science Institute.
That includes the elimination of two-aday practices during the 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 in a league release. “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.”
The NCAA recommendations received unanimous support of the SEC’s presidents, chancellors and athletic directors.
To make up for the loss of two-a-day practices, the NCAA is extending the preseason by one week to “help ensure that players obtain the necessary skill set for competitive play.” Alabama coach Nick Saban spoke out against this recommendation last month during a news conference before the A-Day game.
“Player safety was the reason this was discussed,” Saban said. “A decision got made by medical folks that there were more injuries at two-a-days because we condensed the practices. I guess there was some feeling that spreading the practices out more would be beneficial, but I personally think our season is way too long and that making the season longer is not a good thing for the players.”
The most notable change during the
15-practice spring session is that a live contact/tackling practice will no longer be allowed the day after a scrimmage, which hasn’t been an overly common occurrence in recent years.
Once the season kicks off, teams will be able to conduct one live contact/tackling practice during the week. Under guidelines most recently revised in 2014, two such practices had been allowed.
According to the release sent out by the league, each SEC institution will be “responsible for the implementation and adherence to the recommendations.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.