A prime example: Big Ten athletic directors’ recent proposal to create a first-ever national injury reporting system in reaction to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows states to legalize sports gambling.
While a uniform reporting policy is a noble notion, there are gaping holes that ultimately make such a creation a long shot. The biggest hole: How would programs navigate student privacy laws — specifically, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Student-athletes would have to consent to have their injury information released publicly. It’s difficult to imagine everyone being OK with that.
Plus, who would be responsible for policing and taking action against a coach/school that fails to uphold the integrity of the weekly injury report?