The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is implementing new player availability reporting requirements in alignment with Big Ten and SEC standards, as announced by Commissioner Jim Phillips during the ACC media days in Charlotte.

Key Points of the New Protocol:

• Availability Reporting: Each participating school must publicly report players who will not be available for conference games. For football, reports need to be submitted two days prior to games, with updates expected on the eve of the game and again on game day. Details will be available on TheACC.com.

• Comparison with Other Conferences: The Big Ten’s policy allows injury reports to be submitted only two hours before kickoff, whereas the SEC requires them three days in advance.

“This decision is directly connected to our ongoing commitment to best protect our student-athletes and to address the impacts of sports wagering,” Phillips remarked. He emphasized the importance of diminishing pressure exerted by those seeking insider availability information from teams.

• Historical Context: This initiative marks the ACC’s first formal injury reporting policy. A previous system was in place from 2008 to 2017 where ACC football coaches voluntarily shared injury updates, which eventually was abandoned.

In tandem with the reporting changes, the ACC is tightening regulations on storming fields and courts, now requiring schools to submit third-party-reviewed security plans for safety. Failure to comply will incur significant fines, starting at $50,000 for first offenses, escalating to $100,000 and $200,000 for subsequent infractions, with fines intended to support the conference’s postgraduate scholarship fund.

Phillips also pointed out that ensuring a secure pathway for officials and visiting teams to exit the field post-game is critical, further highlighting the league’s elevated safety expectations.