One of the bigger headaches plaguing coaches, athletic directors, and those who follow high school sports in West Virginia has been a legislative change that allowed more student-athlete transfers.
That change voided the previous laws establishing more open transfers and returned primary rule-making authority to the WVSSAC. Legislators requested that the governing body for scholastic extracurricular activities not return to the status quo prior to the bill repealed.
While some athletes found better opportunities, others landed in more challenging situations. Some schools aggressively recruited from others and some smaller rural schools had to cancel their football seasons.
A new set of rules governing these transfers came down from the WVSSAC. According to that body, “the Board of Control voted 147-0 to approve a rule that preserves school choice for students and families while providing structure to support competitive balance among member schools.”
First, a ninth or 10th grader can have a “one-time transfer . . . with immediate eligibility.” That must occur prior to Sept 1. Should the student transfer during a sports season, he or she cannot compete in the sport currently in season, but will be eligible for all others.
The rule also allows for a “transfer-back provision.”
According to the WVSSAC, “a student in ninth, tenth or eleventh grade is entitled to one transfer back to a member school within the attendance zone where the student’s parents reside, provided it is the home school originally identified at the time of the initial out-of-zone enrollment.”
It goes on to add that “immediate eligibility applies if the transfer is completed by September. 1. Students seeking transfers outside the scope of this rule may file for a waiver with the WVSSAC Board of Directors.”
The specific rule also states “Eligibility will be granted immediately if the transfer is on or before September 1.”
That rule is subject to this clause that states “if the transfer occurs during the remainder of the academic year the student will be ineligible for the remainder of that academic year and will gain eligibility after the end of that academic year, providing they meet the specified GPA requirements.”
Wayne Ryan, Executive Director of the WVSSAC stated “Once again, we are very grateful for the support of our legislature and the governor throughout this entire process. We appreciate their trust in the WVSSAC and its member schools on this matter.”
