LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE IN NSAA RULES AND REGULATIONS
Title:

180-Day Transfer Rule

Author:Matthew Uher
School:Lincoln Northeast
NSAA District:1
 
Proposal for:Constitution & Bylaws
 
Classes Affected:All
Activities Affected:All
This proposal:WILL NOT increase costs to the school
WILL NOT increase costs to the NSAA
WILL NOT increase travel for participating schools
WILL NOT decrease a student's or coach's instruction time
Implementation date:2024-08-09
Sections affected in Constitution & Bylaws:Page
25:
Article
2
Section
2.5, 2.6, 2.7
Summary:This proposal is to address the current hemorrhage we have with parents/athletes abusing the purpose of the transfer eligibility guideline. The initial intent of the 90-day VARSITY ineligibility guideline was to encourage athletes/families to truly consider/weigh options of transferring to another school, and promote or maintain home domicile. However, 90 days is not phasing or even a worry for students and families moving from school to school after they have exhausted their May 1 transfer. The 90-day rule does not currently apply/impact the spring season.
Rationale:Implementing a 180-day ineligibility guideline may assist schools from losing students and families to the open enrollment policies of school districts. The idea of this proposal is to make the non-May 1 transfers or second/third transfers truly consider the purpose of the transfer and not make the move about athletics/activities. This 180-day proposal would bring back the original intent of the 90-day rule where families had to truly consider the true purpose of the transfer. The purpose of a transfer should not be to move to a school for athletic/activity gains.

Parents would have to prove a domicile change to void the 180-day ineligibility rule for VARSITY athletics/activities.
Pros:Potentially slowing the abundance of student transfers from school to school. Also making the transfer non-May 1 date more equitable as currently a transfer student who is a spring season athlete is NOT impacted by the current 90-day limit.
Cons:An issue as it has been with the 90-day rule is the verification of the domicile change. Schools will need to collaborate and work together in order for this to work effectively. The possibility of further loopholes will still be in existence.