TSSAA "Penalty Free Year" Rule change (Transfers)

[Foolsball101]

4. Proposals for Changes in TSSAA/TMSAA Constitution and Bylaws a. Proposed Change to Article II, Section 9 (Age Limit) of the TSSAA Bylaws: This proposal is to amend the bylaws in a manner that would allow for individual consideration of junior varsity eligibility for students to participate in athletics if they have reached the age of 19 on August 1st, so long as the student falls within qualified Individuals with Disabilities Act and has not exhausted eight semesters of high school eligibility. Rationale: This would not remove the age requirement, but would create a waiver option so students with appropriate documentation could be allowed to participate on the junior varsity level up to eight semesters. Submitted by Dobyns-Bennett High School b. Proposed Changes to Article II, Sections 12 and 13 (Eligible and Ineligible Transfer Students) of the TSSAA Bylaws: This proposal is to replace Article II, Section 12 b (currently the bona fide change of residence rule) with: Except as otherwise provided in Section 13 below, the following transfer students are eligible: b. The student transfers to a new school that is outside the twenty (20) mile radius of the previous school, so long as the principal of the former school attests in writing that the move was not for athletic or disciplinary reasons (including bona fide change of residence). This proposal also adds an item to Article II, Section 12. The new Article II, Section 12 k would read: k. Other than reasons listed above within Section 12, a student with an athletic record may transfer with no penalty as long as the transfer is to a receiving school that is in a different classification or division from the departing school. The student must transfer before the departing school’s 1 st day of classes in order to be eligible in the receiving school’s TSSAA sanctioned sports for the upcoming school year. If the transfer occurs during the school year, the student will be ineligible for the current school year in all sports in which he or she has an athletic record. A student may transfer under this rule one (1) time during his/her high school years. Finally, this proposal removes Article II, Section 13 a-c (items currently dealing with students without a bona fide change of residence). The proposed Article II, Section 13 a would read: The following transfer students are ineligible at the varsity level for a period of twelve months from the student’s last participation date: a. A student who transfers to any school within a twenty (20) mile radius of the athlete’s current school. The proposal replaces any other reference to a bona fide change of residence with the concept of moving outside the twenty (20) mile radius of the athlete’s previous school.

 

Rationale: There is widespread abuse of the current transfer loopholes (particularly involving “bona fide change of residence”). Even if a student has a “bona fide change of residence” that is within the twenty (20) mile radius, a maximum of twenty (20) miles is not an unreasonable burden for transportation. Precedence has already been established (with non-public schools) that a twenty (20) mile distance constitutes “territory.” This would eliminate manipulation of the current system and simplify eligibility. Additionally, a student with an athletic record may have one “penalty free” transfer during high school – due to the variety of reasons that students transfer. Many times, this is accomplished with falsified documentation. It is common practice for a student to transfer multiple times using the current change of residence rule. This new proposal would allow one legal “fresh start” over the course of a high school career. However, this one allowance must be to a school competing in a different classification or division and be done prior to the school year for full eligibility. While some may argue that the current transfer policy is only an isolated problem in a few areas of the state and in certain sports, the policy does have an impact on the entire state once post season play begins. Those schools with multiple transfers are often the same schools competing for state championships year after year. Nebraska has a bylaw that supports each student-athlete a one-time transfer without a domicile change as long as the transfer is to a different division. Arizona considered a rule in 2013 that would have ruled student-athletes ineligible for one year if they transferred to a school within a 50-mile radius of their previous school.

[cornerback10]

Okay

[Foolsball101]

4 hours ago, cornerback10 said:

Okay

This rule would give students at 4,5,6A Schools a penalty free year to go to a new school. As an example an athlete from Blackman high school who started every game could go to Cornersville next season without moving or having a change of residence.

 

[muskox]

I like it alot 

[GHSblackhelmet]

18 minutes ago, muskox said:

I like it alot 

This is great news for us if Casteel would allow out of county kids to attend. I bet a couple of William blount kids would come for sure.

 

[cornerback10]

Greenback fans have moved to the edge of their seats!

[orngnblk]

15 minutes ago, cornerback10 said:

Greenback fans have moved to the edge of their seats!

Nope,they love us so much they just sell their house and move!This will just be cheaper for them.

 

[tradertwo]

45 minutes ago, cornerback10 said:

Greenback fans have moved to the edge of their seats!

So have all the private school coaches.

[GFD709SHREK]

Casteel has nothing to do with that thats a school board decision.

4 hours ago, GHSblackhelmet said:

This is great news for us if Casteel would allow out of county kids to attend. I bet a couple of William blount kids would come for sure.

 

 

[Charger64]

So if adopted a player could transfer one time without sitting out from 2A Tyner to 4A Chattanooga Central?? No change of residence or requirement to be outside the 20 mile area.

Just need some understanding if someone could help.

[Pizzpatriot2]

This isn’t going to change alot.

[orngnblk]

6 hours ago, Charger64 said:

So if adopted a player could transfer one time without sitting out from 2A Tyner to 4A Chattanooga Central?? No change of residence or requirement to be outside the 20 mile area.

Just need some understanding if someone could help.

For the first penalty free trasfer yes.