Ivy Football to Set Limits on Full-Contact Practices

[www.nytimes.com]

"The Ivy League will announce on Wednesday that, in an effort to minimize head injuries among its football players, it will sharply reduce the number of allowable full-contact practices teams can hold."

"According to the new rules, teams will be able to hold only two full-contact practices per week during the season, compared with a maximum of five under N.C.A.A. guidelines. On the other days of the week, practices cannot include contact or live tackles, and no player may be “taken to the ground.”"

I'm not trying to get into an argument about concussions and head injuries in general, but doesn't this seem like a fairly extreme change? You're cutting full speed practice time by 60%. I would assume that most teams use all of the practice time they were allotted.

KeithK
I'm not trying to get into an argument about concussions and head injuries in general, but doesn't this seem like a fairly extreme change? You're cutting full speed practice time by 60%. I would assume that most teams use all of the practice time they were allotted.

Apparently the coaches were kept apprised of the rules discussion and based upon comments from some coaches it won't have a big impact on their practices.

Princeton coach Bob Surace said the new rules would not cause him to change much, noting he usually had two full-contact practices a week and didn't have two contact sessions during two-a-days in the preseason.

Looks like President Skorton was a driving force behind the move.

[www.news.cornell.edu]

KeithK
I'm not trying to get into an argument about concussions and head injuries in general, but doesn't this seem like a fairly extreme change? You're cutting full speed practice time by 60%. I would assume that most teams use all of the practice time they were allotted.

Apparently Steve Spurrier already does this. If Steve Spurrier can run an SEC team on this practice schedule, there can't be too much of a competitive disadvantage. There is a hugh machismo disadvantage, though - ask Bart Scott.

ugarte

KeithK
I'm not trying to get into an argument about concussions and head injuries in general, but doesn't this seem like a fairly extreme change? You're cutting full speed practice time by 60%. I would assume that most teams use all of the practice time they were allotted.

Apparently Steve Spurrier already does this. If Steve Spurrier can run an SEC team on this practice schedule, there can't be too much of a competitive disadvantage. There is a hugh machismo disadvantage, though - ask Bart Scott.

Spurrier's record at USC is 44-33, and 1-4 in bowl games. The 44 wins of course include the requisite 2+ SEC lay-ups per year against the likes of Furman, South Carolina State, Wofford, Middle Tennessee, etc, so against true BCS competition he's right around .500. While this is actually great strides for South Carolina, it only shows how low the program was when he started - USC is certainly not among the "elite" SEC teams (yet)...

Apparently this isn't as much of a change from current practice as it sounds on paper.

KeithK
Apparently this isn't as much of a change from current practice as it sounds on paper.

It's not.

KeithK
Apparently this isn't as much of a change from current practice as it sounds on paper.

I printed it out on paper and it didn't make a sound.

(Sorry. It is the off season and I am itchin' for a scuffle.)

Robb

ugarte

KeithK
I'm not trying to get into an argument about concussions and head injuries in general, but doesn't this seem like a fairly extreme change? You're cutting full speed practice time by 60%. I would assume that most teams use all of the practice time they were allotted.

Apparently Steve Spurrier already does this. If Steve Spurrier can run an SEC team on this practice schedule, there can't be too much of a competitive disadvantage. There is a hugh machismo disadvantage, though - ask Bart Scott.

Spurrier's record at USC is 44-33, and 1-4 in bowl games. The 44 wins of course include the requisite 2+ SEC lay-ups per year against the likes of Furman, South Carolina State, Wofford, Middle Tennessee, etc, so against true BCS competition he's right around .500. While this is actually great strides for South Carolina, it only shows how low the program was when he started - USC is certainly not among the "elite" SEC teams (yet)...

That's all I'm saying. Steve Spurrier wouldn't voluntarily screw himself. If he chose to do this it is probably because he thinks laying off during the week gives him an advantage come Saturday. Or maybe he cares about the health of the kids. Sounds crazy but it might be true.