CIF tightens transfer rules

After years of discussion and countless revisions, the CIF Federated Council has approved new statewide rules pertaining to the transfer eligibility of high school studentathletes attending CIFmember schools.

The new rules will take effect on July 1.

"This has not been an easy process. In order to craft a proposal that would maintain the integrity of our rules, maintain choice for parents and students and develop a statewide rule, there was a lot of discussion and 'give and take' on the part of our sections," said Marie M. Ishida, CIF executive director.

"While many believed that their section rule on transfers was working, there was a general recognition that the state had to gain consistency statewide."

Perhaps the most significant change is that a ninthgrade student is now able to change schools before the start of their sophomore year without a valid change in residence and be athletically eligible, assuming they are eligible under all other state and section rules.

A ninth-grader transferring a second time, or any 10th- to 12th-grader transferring, will have limited eligibility for one year from the date of transfer. Limited eligibility allows the student-athlete to compete at the sub-varsity level only.

Another major change is the addition of language that strongly discourages studentathletes from transferring, with or without a valid change in residence, for athletic purposes.

If there is evidence a student may have transferred for athletic reasons that can be considered "prima facie" (sufficient evidence) of undue influence/recruiting, the student will have to provide sufficient proof to the section commissioner that rebuts or disproves the evidence of undue influence/recruiting in order to be eligible.

Any appeal of transfer eligibility will go to the section commissioner who will rule on the transfer. If the commissioner denies eligibility, the student can then appeal to a three-person panel- one of the panel members will be from the section, but the other two will be from other areas of the state. The decision of the panel will be final.

Full copy of all approved bylaws, the related forms and handbooks for school administrators, parents and students will be available on the state CIF website at www.cifstate.org by mid-May.

- Information provided by Emmy Zack, CIF director of communications