The SEC might be mandating harm experiences quickly if latest discussions on the matter result in a brand new rule. It actually looks like that’s the place issues are headed.
Although league commissioner Greg Sankey advised reporters Monday on the SEC Spring Conferences no determination has been made, the measure has the assist of at the very least a number of coaches and athletic administrators. The legalization and proliferation of sports activities betting within reason on the middle of the potential change.
“If it helps with playing then I’m all for it,” Georgia coach Kirby Good mentioned, by way of USA TODAY Sports activities. “If it’s geared to getting data on the market that persons are making an attempt to get from our student-athletes and it protects them, I’m actually for that.”
It’s a smart consideration for the SEC, although it’s one which shouldn’t be vital on a convention stage. The NCAA ought to have mandated harm experiences for all conferences a very long time in the past.
SEC commish Greg Sankey mentioned league will focus on participant availability experiences, similar to harm experiences, at SEC spring conferences, however doesn’t count on a call this week
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) Could 27, 2024
Sports activities betting is now authorized in additional than half the U.S., with 38 states and Washington, D.C. permitting betting both on-line or in-person, if not each. That causes apparent issues on the faculty stage, which we’ve seen manifested in a number of alternative ways already.
To the NCAA’s credit score, it has carried out some adjustments in response to the brand new panorama, together with up to date penalties that strike a greater steadiness than earlier stricter guidelines towards gamers who wager on sports activities. NCAA president Charlie Baker additionally mentioned he’s working with states to attempt to ban school prop betting.
However not sufficient has been achieved to guard athletes.
Damage experiences seem to be one of many extra doable issues to assist with that. Not solely would they assist stop nefarious exercise by unhealthy actors on the crew facet, they’d give athletes and staffers a small defend from outsiders looking for data to assist with their bets.
But, the NCAA doesn’t require them. In 2023, the Large Ten was the one energy 5 convention to require harm experiences for soccer. So, even when the SEC turns into the second convention, there’s nonetheless extra work to be achieved.
There’s simply an excessive amount of cash flowing round for peole to be at nighttime about issues so simple as whether or not a participant is out there or not — which was an enormous drawback with an Air Drive recreation final season. The SEC is aware of this, which is why the convention is contemplating motion.
“Once you begin to see the variety of {dollars} being wager on legalized sports activities playing round school sports activities, not simply soccer, however males’s and ladies’s basketball, volleyball and baseball and softball, all these catch your consideration,” Sankey mentioned. “Now we have to be considerate about how data is managed.”
Now, it’s time for the NCAA to acknowledge this and make harm experiences normal throughout all school sports activities.
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