What to know about the new transfer rules

The NCAA’s Division I council changed its transfer policy Thursday, allowing athletes in all sports to transfer once during their careers without having to sit out a season.

The new rules, which are expected to be ratified by the Board of Directors in on April 28, make official what has been going on in college sports for a year or so, but nevertheless will have far-reaching effects, intended or unintended.

There are already 1,400 players in the transfer portal for men’s basketball, many due to the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic, but the ability to move without sitting a year is likely to make transfers in those numbers a way of life in basketball, and have a similar effect in football.

“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 Jon Steinbrecher, Division I Council vice chairman. “The decision is consistent with Division I’s goal of modernizing its rules to prioritize student-athlete opportunity and choice.”

Critics of the change have called it “free agency” for college sports; advocates have long maintained athletes should have the right to seek a better situation, as other students do.

Here’s some things to know about the new rules:

Consistency

The sit-a-year rules proved to be unwieldy, with the athletes having the right to apply for a waiver. These waivers were granted on a case-by-case basis and, given the numbers, often left players in limbo well into their first seasons at their newschools. There also was less consistency in who was granted and why. Over the past year, nearly every player was granted a waiver. This eliminates the waiver process and puts all transfers on the same track.

Fairness

There are many coaching changes every year, and critics have long pointed out that student-athletes often commit to a school because of the coach whorecruited them. This change frees them to change schools if the coach they intended to play for is no longer there. The sit-ayear rule, too, only applied to certain sports. Now the rules are the same for all college athletes.

When does it take effect?

According to the NCAA’s statement, “the change is effective for student-athletes who have not transferred before and want to compete at a new school as early as this fall.” So, at UConn, for instance, transfers coming into one of the programs now will be eligible to play in 2021-22. This year, athletes must inform their school of their intention to transfer by July 1.

In the future, the deadline will be May 1 for fall and winter sports, July 1 for spring sports. Exceptions could be made if there is a coaching change or a scholarship canceled after a deadline passes.

Academic eligibility

Athletes looking to transfer also must meet progress-toward-degree requirements and be academically eligible to compete immediately after transferring.

‘Tampering’

One of the possible pitfalls of the new policy is the temptation for coaches to raid one another’s programs, recruit players before they have decided to transfer. Following a transfer, the head coach at the new school and the student-athlete involved “must certify that no tampering took place.”

It seems inevitable there will be allegations, investigations, infractions and sanctions stemming from this.

Fewer grad transfers, perhaps

In the past, athletes sitting a year often graduated after four years with a year of eligibility remaining, and were then eligible to transfer to a third school as a grad student without sitting. With this rule, more players will use their four years of eligibility before graduating.

More than once?

If an athlete does wish to transfer a second time, or does not meet the one-time transfer criteria, the old rules would be in effect and he or she would have to sit a year, or apply for a waiver.