NCAA to require player availability reports for March Madness
The pilot initiative is intended to reduce betting-related pressure, solicitations and harassment for student-athletes and other team personnel.
US.- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees have announced the implementation of the March Madness player availability reporting programme. Reports will be implemented in the NCAA championships as a pilot initiative in a bid to reduce betting-related pressure, solicitations and harassment for student-athletes and other team personnel.
Teams will have to submit initial reports the night before the competition and provide any updates by two hours before the start of play. Sudent-athletes will be designated as available (more than a 75 per cent chance to play), questionable (up to a 75 per cent chance to play), or out (will not play).
The reporting service provider will be HD Intelligence (HDI), which is already used by several conferences. Failure to adhere to the policy or misconduct violations may result in penalties. For the 2026 championships, a first offence will result in a penalty of up to $10,000, a second offence of up to $25,000, and a third and any successive offences of up to $30,000 for the institution and up to $10,000 for the head coach.
In January, NCAA President Charlie Baker called on state gambling commissions to adjust state laws and regulations to eliminate gambling on individual player prop bets.
