IHSAA One-Time Transfer Rule Bill To Be Filed At Indiana Legislative Session

[Muda69]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/01/13/ihsaa-one-time-transfer-bill-to-be-filed-at-indiana-legislative-session-2025-transfers-policy-change/77661200007/?tbref=hp

Quote

A bill is expected to be filed Monday in the House of Representatives when the Indiana legislative session meets that would allow more freedom for transfers to have athletic eligibility without restrictions from the Indiana High School Athletic Association.

The bill is expected to be introduced with the understanding the IHSAA is going to change its bylaw on athletes who transfer without a change of address in the coming weeks. Under the current IHSAA policy, in most cases, both the sending and receiving school must agree a student without a change of address should have full athletic eligibility.

According to IHSAA rule 19-6.2, when a student’s parents or guardians do not make a bona fide change of residence, the student is eligible for limited eligibility (junior varsity) at the receiving school, unless there is reason to believe the student transferred primarily for athletic reasons or as a result of undue influence.

 

The bill is expected to essentially call for a one-time “free” transfer, according to a source with knowledge of the process. The IHSAA is expected to address its language on transfers as early as its next executive committee meeting Thursday.

IHSAA commissioner Paul Neidig said last month he has been in discussions with lawmakers for more than a year about making a change to the transfer rule that would allow for more freedom. Neidig said parameters like undue influence and past link (athletes following a coach) are still expected to be in place.

“Because of this bill we are looking at some possibilities as it relates to our transfer rules — trying to keep it from becoming NCAA-style but providing more flexibility,” Neidig said. “In some people’s perspective, we need to let (transfers) go wherever they want to go, and some people believe we’re not stringent enough.”

We will have more information on the bill as it becomes available.

....

The Indiana State Legislature sticking it's nose into where it doesn't belong.  The IHSAA is a private organization the last time I checked.  If certain of its members don't like the current transfer rules then they should lobby the IHSAA to change them,  not go running to the government.

 

 

 

 

[Football Fanatic]

About time! Any other updates or details on this? Heard rumblings but nothing concrete until this.

[BTF]

This bill will make it really easy for a kid who gets yelled at by a coach to transfer to another school. Instead of working through problems, the player will have the last laugh when they say "adios." I guess the hope would be that lots of thought better be put into the decision, because with a "one time" rule, the grass isn't always greener somewhere else. You're pretty much stuck. There has to be a limit though, otherwise bad programs will get worse. See Indianapolis as exibit A. They have both the best and the worst teams in the state, not much in between. 

[Sparty]

15 minutes ago, BTF said:

This bill will make it really easy for a kid who gets yelled at by a coach to transfer to another school. Instead of working through problems, the player will have the last laugh when they say "adios." I guess the hope would be that lots of thought better be put into the decision, because with a "one time" rule, the grass isn't always greener somewhere else. You're pretty much stuck. There has to be a limit though, otherwise bad programs will get worse. See Indianapolis as exibit A. They have both the best and the worst teams in the state, not much in between. 

This rule will get abused. Give it time. 

[Irishman]

Not a fan of legislators stepping in, especially in this case where the IHSAA was likely heading that direction any way. 

[gonzoron]

2 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Not a fan of legislators stepping in, especially in this case where the IHSAA was likely heading that direction any way. 

Agree. Why is Neidig working with Legislators rather than just instituting the changes himself at the IHSAA? It doesn't make any sense.

[Titan32]

19 minutes ago, gonzoron said:

Agree. Why is Neidig working with Legislators rather than just instituting the changes himself at the IHSAA? It doesn't make any sense.

I'm sure there is some reason that protects the IHSAA from litigation doing it this way.

That said....this might be the best thing he has ever done if it goes through.

[BTF]

26 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Not a fan of legislators stepping in, especially in this case where the IHSAA was likely heading that direction any way. 

What was the IHSAA's delay in your opinion to cause legislators to step to the plate?

[Irishman]

1 minute ago, BTF said:

What was the IHSAA's delay in your opinion to cause legislators to step to the plate?

It seems like Neidig went to the Statehouse. I am guessing that there was not enough support among the IHSAA member schools. 

[oldtimeqb]

Keeping the education in front of athletics... huh? 

 

[Football Guru 25]

8 hours ago, Muda69 said:

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/01/13/ihsaa-one-time-transfer-bill-to-be-filed-at-indiana-legislative-session-2025-transfers-policy-change/77661200007/?tbref=hp

The Indiana State Legislature sticking it's nose into where it doesn't belong.  The IHSAA is a private organization the last time I checked.  If certain of its members don't like the current transfer rules then they should lobby the IHSAA to change them,  not go running to the government.

 

 

 

 

If passed how soon will this go into place?    Could get interesting for sure 

[Irishman]

4 minutes ago, Football Guru 25 said:

If passed how soon will this go into place?    Could get interesting for sure 

Any law passed in the Statehouse and signed by the Governor goes into effect on July 1 of that year. So this would likely apply to the upcoming school year, unless the bill has a start date further out from that. But July 1 is the earliest it would go into effect. 

[Football Guru 25]

8 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Any law passed in the Statehouse and signed by the Governor goes into effect on July 1 of that year. So this would likely apply to the upcoming school year, unless the bill has a start date further out from that. But July 1 is the earliest it would go into effect. 

Oh wow so teams that have a kid wanting to transfer could practice during summer and then come July 1st put his official transfer in and no questions asked will be on that teams roster no matter what....or even leave a current school once this passes and come July 1st can for sure play for that school immediately....   this will be hard on some programs and others will benefit from it.

[Irishman]

1 minute ago, Football Guru 25 said:

Oh wow so teams that have a kid wanting to transfer could practice during summer and then come July 1st put his official transfer in and no questions asked will be on that teams roster no matter what....or even leave a current school once this passes and come July 1st can for sure play for that school immediately....   this will be hard on some programs and others will benefit from it.

To some extent, that has been happening for some time now. The new law just opens the door wider. Knowing a former executive committee member of the IHSAA, I know it's been a discussion to allow it for over a decade now. It seems it gets magnified now with what we are seeing in college with the transfer portal. 

[Football Guru 25]

4 minutes ago, Irishman said:

To some extent, that has been happening for some time now. The new law just opens the door wider. Knowing a former executive committee member of the IHSAA, I know it's been a discussion to allow it for over a decade now. It seems it gets magnified now with what we are seeing in college with the transfer portal. 

Wow seems like the previous / current teams doing it are illegal doing so based on current rules... guess this could level the playing field 

[Irishman]

2 minutes ago, Football Guru 25 said:

Wow seems like the previous / current teams doing it are illegal doing so based on current rules... guess this could level the playing field 

But if both schools sign off on transfers, there really isn't anything illegal going on. I am not saying there isn't any undue influence going on, but my experience says most of the moves are legit as it's a matter of living with a different parent, or a parent moving; In other cases, you just weren't supposed to say 'athletics' out loud. 🙂

[Football Guru 25]

1 minute ago, Irishman said:

But if both schools sign off on transfers, there really isn't anything illegal going on. I am not saying there isn't any undue influence going on, but my experience says most of the moves are legit as it's a matter of living with a different parent, or a parent moving; In other cases, you just weren't supposed to say 'athletics' out loud. 🙂

Makes sense but i will bet there are schools not signing off due to where they would be going and others that falsely moved...... either way this will pass and schools will benefit from it for sure 

[Titan32]

18 hours ago, Irishman said:

It seems like Neidig went to the Statehouse. I am guessing that there was not enough support among the IHSAA member schools. 

Can’t imagine this idea not having huge support with the member schools.

[Titan32]

13 hours ago, Irishman said:

But if both schools sign off on transfers, there really isn't anything illegal going on. I am not saying there isn't any undue influence going on, but my experience says most of the moves are legit as it's a matter of living with a different parent, or a parent moving; In other cases, you just weren't supposed to say 'athletics' out loud. 🙂

Trust me…sending schools would often not sign off even with a bonified change in address.  There are administrators in this state who are pieces of (insert expletive) with regard to allowing kids to do what’s best for them and their family.

Edited January 14 by Titan32

[Football Guru 25]

8 minutes ago, Titan32 said:

Can’t imagine this idea not having huge support with the member schools.

I agree with this..... Transfers are going to be intersting soon!!!!

4 minutes ago, Titan32 said:

Trust me…sending schools would often not sign off even with a bonified change in address.  There are administrators in this state who are pieces of (insert expletive) with regard to allowing kids to do what’s best for them and their family.

CORRECT!!!  No more picking and choosing based on being mad cause your school lost an athlete!!!    Administrations wont have a grip on it anymore.... GAME ON!!

[coachkj]

Remember the "Tournament of Champions" that our government forced on the IHSAA.  My memory could be failing me but I remember an elected official saying "The republic is saved." when they passed something nobody wanted.

[US31]

4 hours ago, Titan32 said:

Trust me…sending schools would often not sign off even with a bonified change in address.  There are administrators in this state who are pieces of (insert expletive) with regard to allowing kids to do what’s best for them and their family.

If there is a bonified change of address (that takes them outside the "sending" schools district)....I'm not sure the sign off matters.  Outside of that, things can be dicey.

[First_Backer_Inside]

NFL Free Agency, NCAA Transfer Portal, and now the IHSAA Transfer Portal...what a rush. Might have to dedicate a part of the Gridiron Digest to where all the athletes around the state transfer to.

Coaches get your NIL money ready.

[Titan32]

1 hour ago, US31 said:

If there is a bonified change of address (that takes them outside the "sending" schools district)....I'm not sure the sign off matters.  Outside of that, things can be dicey.

Yes, it does matter. I am very familiar with how this can go. If the sending school says, "We think there could be some reason here athletics-related," that puts the transfer in the "not automatic" pile. An investigation will ensue regardless of the validity/provability of what the sending schools' response was.

[US31]

31 minutes ago, Titan32 said:

Yes, it does matter. I am very familiar with how this can go. If the sending school says, "We think there could be some reason here athletics-related," that puts the transfer in the "not automatic" pile. An investigation will ensue regardless of the validity/provability of what the sending schools' response was.

Gotch, I misread your previous post.  My point was only that if you can verify actual address change "out of previous district", I've never heard of IHSAA turning that down...I wasn't making a statement about it being automatic or not (which is what you were doing 😜).  I would assume it would take some really egregious evidence of undue influence.