Vote Could Dramatically Change Ohio HS Transfer Rules

The mandatory sit-out period for high school student transfers will change if an amendment to the Ohio High School Athletic Association transfer bylaw is approved by association members in a vote this spring.

If approved, transfers would sit out the second half of the regular season and the postseason. However, a transfer would be eligible in the preseason and the first half of the regular season.

OHSAA transfer rules apply only to sports a transfer participated in at another school the previous 12 months. Sit-out rules do not apply to transfers who participate in another sport.

Currently, transfers who don't meet any of the exceptions to the OHSAA transfer bylaw are required to sit out all the preseason and the first half of the regular season, then become eligible for the second half of the regular season and the postseason.

"Much of the feedback we have received from the membership indicates that the current consequence - sitting out the first half of the regular season - is not a significant deterrent," OHSAA commissioner Dr. Dan Ross said in a statement.

"If a student knows that the end of the regular season and the tournament will still be available, they are more likely to transfer. We don't believe that a high number of transfers is good for education-based athletics."

Transferring for athletic reasons among boys and girls has become a hot-button national issue and has dramatically increased among high school students in the last decade, although no combined statistics are available. This coincides with a transfer spike in collegiate football and basketball players during the same period.

The online site verbalcommits.com tracked 882 men's basketball players who transferred to new college programs this season.

The National Federation of State High School Associations governs all 50 state organizations such as the OHSAA. According to the NFHS, most states have amended their transfer bylaws in the last decade and most of those changes have lessened a transfer's sit-out period before becoming eligible to participate in sports.

There are 11 exceptions to the OHSAA's transfer bylaw. Themostcommonisachange of residency. If that happens, a transfer is immediately eligible in all sports.

Another exception to the current transfer bylaw is if a student transfers to a school 50 or more miles away, yet maintains the same residence. There also is no sit-out period in that case and the transfer is immediately eligible to participate in all sports.

The new transfer proposal was one of seven items the OHSAA Board of Directors approved during their monthly meeting on Thursday at Columbus. Member schools will vote on those items from May 1-15. A majority vote among the 819 OHSAA members is needed for each proposal to pass.

If approved, the new transfer bylaw would be immediately effective and apply to students who transfer after May 16.

Contact this reporter at 937-225-2381 or email Marc.

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