Wornel Simpson on high school transfers

Wornel Simpson

Team Sage Co-founder and Coach

Transfer rules should be relaxed further
   
The current CIF transfer rules are an improvement. However, many believe they should be relaxed even further. Why is it that a student-athlete who has never competed on the varsity level, is cut from his team in his junior year, then transfers - why does he have to sit out for 30 days before being eligible at his new school?

Why is it that a team member who gets very little playing time due to "coaches' decision" would have to sit out 30 days the following year if they decide to transfer?

Why is it that a freshman playing at the varsity level would have to sit out 30 days upon transfer to another school? Now, let's take it a step further; after their sophomore year and they decided to transfer again, they would have to sit out a full year?

I am not an expert on the CIF By-Laws, however I have reviewed them in the recent past and this is what I recall. I urge everyone to familiarize yourselves with what the transfer rules actually are, because in trusting an uninformed article like this one or heresay, you might find yourself in a quandary.

A bonafide family move can help you achieve immediate eligibility upon transfer, but how many families have the ability to pick up and move so their child can play a high school sport? Education and academic achievement should always be first and foremost, but so much money, time, energy and resources have gone into these kids for many years prior to them even getting to high school, that they should be given an opportunity to improve and play at the high school level.

After watching many present and former players I've coached perform at the various high schools, it's quite obvious not all high school programs are created equal and as long as the kids are performing academically, they should have the ability to transfer and be eligible to play with less stringent requirements. I believe there is an NCAA proposal on the table right now that would allow a student-athlete the ability to transfer and be eligible to play immediately if they are maintaining a minimum 2.6 GPA.

There are always rules for rules, but when it comes to high school transfer/eligibility rules, further exceptions should be developed.