Athletic transfers now include one season of sitting out

On Board Online • December 15, 2014

By Cathy Woodruff
Senior Writer

Starting next year, many high school athletes who transfer to another school may not be able to jump into action with a new sports team as quickly and easily as they used to.

Under a rules change approved by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), athletes who change schools will have to sit out one varsity season in any sport they play, except under some tightly defined circumstances.

The three exceptions are: (1) when a student transfers to another public or private school within his or her home district; (2) when the student's family can show financial hardship, such as difficulty paying tuition; or (3) when there is documented evidence of bullying.

The NYSPHSAA board voted in October to stop granting waivers to athletes who said they changed schools for academic reasons. With those waivers in hand, students have been able to join their new schools' team rosters immediately.

An Albany attorney who represents at least one private school objecting to the rule change, however, said he is in contact with dozens of schools that may join forces to challenge it.

"Our office is looking at all the possible options, including litigation," said Jonathan S. McCardle, an attorney with the Albany law firm Featherstonhaugh, Wiley & Clyne.

He called the new limit "a grave concern" for leaders of almost all private schools he has contacted.

"A lot of private schools feel like they are being discriminated against because their ability to attract students has been made much harder," he said.

According to NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas, the rules change was sparked by a sharp rise in the number of students seeking academic transfer waivers, apparently with aspirations for more playing time or a better shot at a college athletic scholarship.

The number of academic waivers approved statewide for student athletes in the 2013-14 school year rose to 213, compared with 177 the year before and 132 in 2011-12, Zayas told On Board.

The growing transfer rate reflects a tendency to view high school sports participation primarily as a route to college scholarship offers, which are neither as plentiful nor as valuable as many parents seem to think, Zayas said.

"There are too many kids using the academic advantage waiver to gain an athletic advantage," Zayas said. "We want to promote that fact that kids are getting long-lasting character-building benefits out of high school sports."