The SEC made an announcement Friday outlining new changes to the way schools can conduct practice heading into the 2017 season. Following the structured guidelines created by the NCAA Sports Science Institute, the SEC’s ADs, presidents, and chancellors unanimously agreed to the changes, according to a statement put out by the league office.

With the SEC adopting the recommended changes to the practice schedule, two-a-day practices are now forbidden from taking place. Live-contact practices in the preseason and regular season will also be limited moving forward.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey released the following statement in regards to the rule changes:

“We believe these measures will enhance the health and safety procedures SEC universities have already established to support their football programs. 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.”

Via the NCAA’s official website, here is a listing of the changes that will go into effect for each SEC’s preseason program:

In any given seven days following the five-day acclimation period:

  • Up to three days of practice can be live contact (tackling or thud).
  • There should be a minimum of three non-contact/minimal contact practices in a given week.
  • A non-contact/minimal contact practice should follow a scrimmage.
  • One day should be no football practice.

Difference from the 2014 guidelines:

  1. Recommendation to discontinue two-a-day practices.
  2. Recommendation to allow an extension of the preseason by one week. This requires a legislative change if the pre-season begins one week earlier.
  3. Recommendation to reduce weekly live contact practices from four to three.
  4. Non-contact/minimal contact practice recommendations have been added.
  5. Non-contact/minimal contact practice recommendation the day following a scrimmage has been added.
  6. One day of no football practice recommendation has been added.
  7. Legislation 17.10.2.1. would need to be updated if the pre-season practice time begins one week earlier.

As well as the changes that will go into effect for each school during the season:

Inseason is defined as the period between six days prior to the first regular-season game and the final regular-season game or conference championship game (for participating institutions).  In any given week:

  • Three days of practice should be non-contact/minimal contact.
  • One day of live contact/tackling should be allowed.
  • One day of live contact/thud should be allowed.

Difference from the 2014 guidelines:

Recommendation to no longer allow two live contact/tackling days per week.

Non-contactminimal contact recommendations have been added.