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The membership will determine if transfers in their junior year of high school will be afforded non-varsity eligibility by voting on the amendment at the 2016 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Annual Meeting Wednesday, April 20 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Stevens Point.

The transfer rules have seen a fair number of revisions over the last 14 years. The rules and restrictions pertaining to the eligibility of student-athletes transferring from one school to another have been altered on a number of occasions since 2002. 

If approved by the membership, nonvarsity eligibility would be extended to students transferring before or during their fifth or sixth semesters following entry into the ninth grade. Extending the window of opportunity from four to six semesters will permit participation in nonvarsity competitions for 11th graders. 

The difficulty in creation and acceptance of the transfer rules is identifying the ideal balance between providing opportunities for student-athletes to participate and receive the well-documented benefits of high school sports while reconciling the oftentimes divisive influence transfer students have, both locally and within the membership.

As stated following last fall’s Area Meeting, the transfer rule was destined to be revisited at this year’s  Annual Meeting based on what’s trending nationally. Other states have experienced legislative attempts to limit or eliminate restrictions on eligibility. It’s pertinent to revisit and gain a clear direction in identifying transfer provisions that keep students more engaged with participation while it is still within  the membership’s authority to do so.

For a brief overview, prior to 2003, a transfer not made necessary by the parents’ complete change in address at any grade level were ineligible for any competition for one year. 

In 2003 and 2004, adjustments were made to lessen restrictions on freshmen transfers and foreign exchange students. 

In 2005, all transfers, regardless of grade, were afforded nonvarsity eligibility for one year following the transfer. 

In 2007, the membership implemented a stricter rule with a one-year period of ineligibility for practice and competition for transfers not necessitated by a total change in residence after the fourth semester following entry into the ninth grade. 

In 2011, the members removed the practice restriction following a transfer.

If approved, the rule would revert back to the interpretation of 2005 with the exception that transfers following a student-athlete’s sixth consecutive semester would remain ineligible for all competitions. 

The Board of Control supported the amendment by an 8-2 vote. The Advisory Council also supported passage with a 13-2 vote, as did the Sports Advisory with a 12-2 tally.