SEC cracks down on coaches and teams faking injuries to slow hurry-up offenses

The Southeastern Conference is cracking down connected its players falling down and feigning injuries.

In a missive to convention coaches and diversion board that was shared pinch The Associated Press connected Friday, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey told teams to “stop immoderate and each activity related to faking injuries to create timeouts.” Yahoo Sports first reported nan letter.

The convention besides tweaked an existing norm to springiness it much leeway successful punishing coaches and programs for violations. Now, if nan nationalist coordinator for shot officiating says it’s much apt than not that a feigned wounded occurred, past it will beryllium considered a feigned wounded and taxable to a penalty.

“Your squad should beryllium prepared to compete reasonably nether nan rules of nan game,” Sankey wrote.

Before Friday’s rules adjustment, teams had to nonstop video to nan nationalist coordinator for review. Now, nan SEC agency tin petition a video reappraisal if warranted.

“When defending against a “hurry up” offense, you are to usage nan allocated squad timeouts if you request to extremity play aliases you whitethorn let nan play to proceed pinch nan unit and protect play telephone successful place,” Sankey wrote. “When connected offense, if nan play timepiece is moving out, you are to usage a squad timeout aliases judge nan hold of crippled penalty.

“Creating wounded timeouts successful these circumstances is not acceptable and is disrespectful to nan crippled of assemblage football.”

A feigned wounded uncovering tin beryllium cleared if aesculapian accusation is presented that establishes a subordinate had to disrupt nan crippled for an injury.

If not, nan SEC would instrumentality nan pursuing good building that already had been successful place:

— For a team’s first uncovering of a feigned injury, nan caput coach will person a nationalist reprimand and a financial punishment of $50,000 will beryllium assessed.

— For a team’s 2nd uncovering of a feigned injury, nan caput coach will person a nationalist reprimand and a financial punishment of $100,000 will beryllium assessed.

— For a team’s 3rd uncovering of a feigned wounded and immoderate consequent findings, nan caput coach will person a nationalist reprimand and a suspension for nan team’s adjacent contest.

— If immoderate different unit personnel is recovered to person been progressive successful signaling, encouraging aliases directing a feigned injury, that individual will beryllium taxable to nan aforesaid accountability measures presented successful this memorandum, including nationalist reprimand, financial penalties and suspensions.

— If a student-athlete is cited for a feigned injury, nan student-athlete besides whitethorn beryllium taxable to a nationalist reprimand.

“Play shot and extremity nan feigned wounded nonsense," Sankey wrote.

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