The NCAA Division I Council on Thursday officially passed the long talked-about one-time transfer exception, giving athletes in all sports the opportunity to transfer from one school to another without sitting out a year.
The exception already existed in most “non-revenue” sports, but has now been added in football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and men’s hockey for athletes who have not previous transferred. It will officially be enacted when the Division I Board of Directors meets on April 28.
“Allowing student-athletes a one-time opportunity to transfer and compete immediately provides a uniform, equitable and understandable approach that benefits all student-athletes,” said Council vice chair Jon Steinbrecher, who chairs the Working Group on Transfers and is commissioner of the Mid-American Conference. “The decision is consistent with Division I’s goal of modernizing its rules to prioritize student-athlete opportunity and choice.”
Previously, only athletes who had received their undergraduate degrees or those who received waivers could transfer without sitting out. Now, that option is open to everyone, provided they have not previous transferred.
The transfer exception includes a number of deadlines by which athletes who wish to transfer must notify their schools in writing: May 1 for fall and winter sports (including basketball) and July 1 for spring sports (including baseball). The 2021 date for all sports will be July 1, given the NCAA’s recent enaction of the transfer policy.
Schools cannot object to schools to which an athlete wishes to transfer, meaning “releases” are no longer required. Athletes who have already transferred once in their careers still must apply for waivers.
“SAAC feels honored to be a part of this major decision and landmark legislation,” said former Southeastern Louisiana soccer player Caroline Lee, vice-chair of the NCAA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. “The ability to compete immediately offers the utmost flexibility and support of the student-athletes we serve and is a positive step toward improving their overall experience and future success.”
In anticipation of the rule change, several conferences had already relaxed or done away with their intra-conference transfer rules. The Pac-12 did away with its policy in 2019, followed by the ACC, MAC and AAC this spring.
