Jim Phillips addresses new ACC policy on field, court storming in 2025

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips addressed the new policy on field and court storming for the upcoming academic year. During ACC Media Days, Phillips expressed the need for safety for student athletes and all those involved on the field and court.

Phillips revealed there is a new fine structure in place for those in violation of this policy. However, he did not reveal specifics.

There have been issues in recent years in terms of field and court storming. Notably, Duke basketball star Kyle Filipowski was apparently injured due to a court storming following an upset loss to Wake Forest. With situations like that in mind, Phillips wanted to ensure the ACC took this protocol seriously.

“In the sports of football and men’s and women’s basketball, our conference has elevated its expectations around court and field safety,” Phillips said Tuesday. “Members are required to continue developing event security plans, which will now include a review by a third party independently, and to ensure that only participants, coaches, officials and authorized personnel are allowed in the competition area before, during and at the conclusion of any competition.

“The plan may allow spectators to access the competition area following a contest, but only after the visiting team and officials have safely exited the area with the elevated safety expectations, it’s critical. There’s critical importance to ensure that adequate time for all members of the visiting team to safely leave the field of play. In addition to these elevated expectations, there is a corresponding fine structure in place, should a school have a breach in this new policy.”

Phillips isn’t the only one to react to field and court stormings recently. Back in February, over in the SEC at least, Alabama AD Greg Byrne suggested forfeits as a fix to field and court storming.

“I think from a safety standpoint, keeping people off the fields and courts is a good thing for everybody involved,” Byrne told ESPN. “If we said that the home team, if they storm the field or the court, they’re going to lose the game right then and there, that will stop it.”

Instead of rushing the playing surface, Byrne said fans should instead have a good time in the stands. But he also suggested letting the players leave before allowing those in attendance to celebrate on the field or court, pointing again to the safety side of his argument, similar to the policy Phillips had put into place for the ACC.

“Let’s celebrate up in the stands,” Byrne said. “Let’s have a great environment. I’d even be fine if you say, let’s give it three minutes to get the team off the field. Then, if they want to come down and celebrate, great.”