SEC adopts comprehensive system for player availability reports: How will it work each week?

The SEC, despite its famously secretive football coaches, has adopted an NFL-style comprehensive system for player availability reports.

The system goes much further than the Big Ten, the only other power conference with an availability report system. But the Big Ten only requires teams to announce who is and is not available two hours before kickoff of every game.

The SEC plan, which has been in the works for awhile, was announced Thursday afternoon. It will only cover conference games, of which there are none this week, but beginning next week here are the rules:

• • Each team will be required to submit an availability report on each player three days before a conference game. If a team is playing on Saturday, it would need to submit the report on Wednesday.
  • Daily updates are required afterwards, including two days before the game, the day before the game and then 90 minutes before kickoff.
  • For the three days leading up to the game, each player on the roster will be categorized as available, probable, questionable, doubtful or out.
  • For the game day report, players will be categorized as available, out or a game-time decision.

The availability reports will be posted on the SEC’s website, so the public and media can see them, a big change from years of secrecy over injuries. The SEC will also fine teams if their reports are found not to be “accurate and timely.” The first fine will be $25,000. That doubles to $50,000 for a second offense and then increases to $100,000 on the third.

The main difference between the SEC’s new system and the NFL is the SEC will not require teams to say what the injury is. Other than that it closely mirrors the system the NFL has used for years.

This actually did not happen over the objection of the football coaches, who for years have said they favored a system as long as it applied to everyone. Georgia coach Kirby Smart was the latest to say so on Tuesday night, when he confirmed that he was told such a system was set to be announced.

“We’ll abide by the rules they give us. It’s the same as the NFL’s. They’ve done it for years,” Smart said. “And it keeps the pressure off our kids from people reaching out to them to try to get information from them for betting sites and trying to gain information. There is no gain if you’ve got accurate information. So if it protects our kids, then I’m for it.”

The reporting system will also include basketball and baseball, where reports will be filed the night before each conference game, then updated on game day.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has pushed for a system for several years, amid concerns over gamblers seeking injury or suspension information not privy to the public.

“The availability reporting policy is intended to reduce pressure from outside entities seeking participation information and represents a commitment from our 16 institutions to provide enhanced transparency to support efforts to protect our student athletes and the integrity of competition,” Sankey in a statement Thursday.

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(Photo: Eakin Howard / Getty Images)