Concerns have already arisen regarding if/how to include COVID-19 cases on injury reports
Athletics Veritas is a weekly series aimed at helping higher education executives, faculty, and other stakeholders stay tuned in on trending national issues impacting college athletics, especially NCAA Division I. Athletics Veritas is created by senior DI athletic administrators around the nation.
How the Pandemic, College Football & Sport Betting Lines May Co-Exist
Concerns have already arisen regarding if/how to include COVID-19 cases on injury reports
The increasing prevalence of legalized gambling is amplifying the issue
The NCAA has so far deferred to member conferences and institutions on how it handles injury reporting
Division I schools consider increased restrictions on access around their football programs including who may watch practices
A sprinkling of college football games are already in the books with more on the way, and one segment of the sports industry is keeping a particularly watchful eye on the health and depth of the competing squads: sports gamblers.
With the permeation of COVID-19 across the globe, the jittery and unpredictable restart of college sports, especially college football, has been well-chronicled. As we enter September, a few Division I conferences continue forging ahead to play college football this fall, and one reason college grid-iron is a popular American pastime is its appeal among gamblers.
Policy wise, those within the NCAA legislative scope are not only restricted when it comes to placing wagers, they must also not be feeding inside information to those participating in sports wagering. NCAA Bylaw 10.3 prescribes that the following individuals shall not knowingly participate in sports wagering activities or provide information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition:
Staff members of an institution's athletics department;
Nonathletics department staff members who have responsibilities within or over the athletics department (e.g., chancellor or president, faculty athletics representative, individual to whom athletics reports);
Staff members of a conference office; and
Student-athletes.
How Division I athletic programs, their football programs and sports medicine staff members protect player availability information tied to COVID-19 positives and contact tracing is drawing deservedly heightened awareness this fall.
The NCAA has not set a national standard in injury reporting, instead deferring to conferences and institutions to navigate.
High-profile head coaches of major football programs have publicly recognized how COVID-19 positives and contact tracing will impact their player availability, and coaches are still reticent about being too transparent with their injury/illness reporting due to concerns regarding gamesmanship.
The expectation of not providing information to individuals associated with sports gambling becomes a bit of a tightrope walk when it comes to, for example, Division I college football student-athletes being unavailable to compete when they either test positive for COVID-19, show symptoms of COVID-19, or need to be quarantined due to contact tracing tied to another individual who has tested positive. When it comes to positive COIVD-19 tests and contact tracing, there are some 'need to know' individuals in college sports including between competing institutions.
Bettors are always looking for any information or data point to give them an edge to guide their wagering, yet it becomes less predictable or accessible for the gambling public to pinpoint player availability for a college football game for student-athletes that test positive the day of a game -- even a few hours or less before kickoff. The late availability of information may be a blessing.
There is an intentional effort within conferences for league members to share COVID-19 positive test results with opponents before and after the competitions, but with safeguarding the names of the student-athletes and using the Chief Medical Officers as primary points of contact between schools.
According to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Medical Advisory Group’s August 28, 2020, report, the ACC’s guidelines for opponents to exchange positive test information reads as follows:
“Standard for reporting of positive test results of Team Members to opponents and/or Conference In all sports, positive test results of any Team Member who came into close contact (within six (6) feet for at least 15 minutes) with any member(s) of any opposing team(s) played during the preceding 48 hours shall be shared as quickly as possible and no later than 24 hours following receipt of the test result, to any such opponent(s). The infected individual’s role as a Team Member (e.g., setter, offensive lineman, quarterback, assistant coach, athletic trainer) and a summary of their interactions with the opposing team (e.g., played in the second half) shall be included in the information sharing. Unless authorized by the individual or otherwise required by law, the individual’s name may not be shared with the opposing team(s). The Chief Medical Officer (or his or her medical designee) of the school of the infected individual shall share this information with the prior opponent’s Chief Medical Officer (or his or her medical designee).”
The ACC’s policy speaks to the timeliness of exchanging information once it's confirmed -- an important variable when others’ health is impacted by recent competitions.
As CBS Sports reported earlier this summer, athletics administrators and coaches are seeing the potential moral-dilemma underpinnings of whether or not to share COVID-19 positive test results. The game around the game is more about protecting the student-athletes, coaches, and staff, including from the opposing school. However, head coaches have demonstrated their willingness to withold as many details about their game plan (including their roster) as possible.
In terms of being cautious about the outside world including the gambling sector, there’s a proclivity for college football programs to be more protective about who has access to the program including restricting who can watch practices. We will see how the pandemic, college football, and sports gambling continue intersecting in the weeks to come.
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
