EVE OF RULE 19

[Football Guru 25]

On the EVE OF RULE 19..... Let the madness begin come Monday!!!  MANY rosters wont look the same!!!!

[23andCounting]

Does this close the gap between the top and bottom of 6A or make it worse?

[Sparty]

Despise it in college, will abhor it in high school.  

[npcougar15]

20 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

Does this close the gap between the top and bottom of 6A or make it worse?

The gap is going to widen, but it'll probably be between the 6A and the smaller surrounding schools. Athletes aren't going to be transferring from 6A to 6A they are going to be transferring around at all different levels. 

In this area Elkhart seems to have gotten a few real good transfers that have come from lower levels. If they are pulling the best from Mishawaka, Goshen, Jimtown, Bremen, Concord, Northridge, Northwood, South Bend, etc. Sure Elkhart might close the gap in 6A (but the other top 6A schools will be doing the same, so does the gap really get closed?) and it might be looked at as a success; but is it really a success if now those smaller 1A-5A schools are not near the quality they once were? 

 

[Sparty]

Trying to make a super team and a chance to “win”, only to throw away 12-13 years you’ve built with your friends.  People who support this can have it.  

[temptation]

1 hour ago, npcougar15 said:

The gap is going to widen, but it'll probably be between the 6A and the smaller surrounding schools. Athletes aren't going to be transferring from 6A to 6A they are going to be transferring around at all different levels. 

In this area Elkhart seems to have gotten a few real good transfers that have come from lower levels. If they are pulling the best from Mishawaka, Goshen, Jimtown, Bremen, Concord, Northridge, Northwood, South Bend, etc. Sure Elkhart might close the gap in 6A (but the other top 6A schools will be doing the same, so does the gap really get closed?) and it might be looked at as a success; but is it really a success if now those smaller 1A-5A schools are not near the quality they once were? 

 

I actually think it’ll strengthen some of the lower class teams that are nearby 6A schools.

If little Johnny can’t start at the 6A school because mommy and daddy think the coach is biased, Johnny shows up at the 1A-3A school down the road and balls out.

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

I actually think it’ll strengthen some of the lower class teams that are nearby 6A schools.

If little Johnny can’t start at the 6A school because mommy and daddy think the coach is biased, Johnny shows up at the 1A-3A school down the road and balls out.

I think the strong get stronger. Will a kid gravitate toward a great program like Westfield or Center Grove? Or will they seek a better opportunity to play at a smaller school? Northrop and North Side already seem to be able to garner interest from outside their programs. It probably strengthens those programs and makes it harder on South Side and Wayne. In Fort Wayne, there's still the issue of proving your legal address to be in the district you're transferring to. Time will tell. 

[BDGiant93]

16 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

I think the strong get stronger. Will a kid gravitate toward a great program like Westfield or Center Grove? 

Only so many kids can play...especially in the running clock era.

[BDGiant93]

On 5/31/2025 at 9:34 AM, Football Guru 25 said:

On the EVE OF RULE 19..... Let the madness begin come Monday!!!  MANY rosters wont look the same!!!!

The key will be enforcement. There are still rules and regulations that are in effect in the high school world that are not with the transfer portal. You get one transfer. You cannot use undue influence. There cannot be a "past link". Past the first transfer, subsequent transfers are handled like they are currently. 

But, the key will be enforcement.

[Football Guru 25]

21 minutes ago, BDGiant93 said:

The key will be enforcement. There are still rules and regulations that are in effect in the high school world that are not with the transfer portal. You get one transfer. You cannot use undue influence. There cannot be a "past link". Past the first transfer, subsequent transfers are handled like they are currently. 

But, the key will be enforcement.

I think it will not be strictly enforced!!  A school gets money for every student enrolled sooo.......nobody turns down money opportunities nowadays!!

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, BDGiant93 said:

Only so many kids can play...especially in the running clock era.

Well yeah, but having five kids who are going D1 is better than having two. There might be a D1 receiver who wants to hook up with a D1 quarterback. A D1 wideout will make any team better, regardless of enrollment. 

[Daniel_Bragg]

18 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

I think the strong get stronger. Will a kid gravitate toward a great program like Westfield or Center Grove? Or will they seek a better opportunity to play at a smaller school? Northrop and North Side already seem to be able to garner interest from outside their programs. It probably strengthens those programs and makes it harder on South Side and Wayne. In Fort Wayne, there's still the issue of proving your legal address to be in the district you're transferring to. Time will tell. 

Sheridan is just sitting here waiting for Westfield, Carmel, HSE, Zionsville, etc. kids to call us home. 

[coachkj]

With the exception of more schools being added to the recruting (WHICH IS STILL AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN ILLEGAL) accusation list.  I predict it will make little difference, at least initially.

[RegionFBFan]

Rumor in The Region is there is a mass exodus of Portage players due to Roy Richard’s termination. Guess who is benefitting from this the most? Merrillville

[cpg1970]

I am not so sure it will be the larger schools pulling from the smaller.   I think you will see a shift from kids who are borderline players or non-starters at larger schools, going to smaller outlying schools, where they can be a difference maker.  Instead of small fish in a big pond, go be the big fish in the little pond.

[temptation]

22 hours ago, Daniel_Bragg said:

Sheridan is just sitting here waiting for Westfield, Carmel, HSE, Zionsville, etc. kids to call us home. 

Honestly, this is what I see happening.

[Daniel_Bragg]

3 hours ago, temptation said:

Honestly, this is what I see happening.

Sheridan has seen a little of this in recent years, due to open enrollment.  However, there is a concern for them as well.  One student, in particular, who is in middle school, plays girls basketball.  She is being courted by HSE right now.  REALLY hope she stays at Sheridan.

[tango]

On 6/2/2025 at 8:48 AM, coachkj said:

With the exception of more schools being added to the recruting (WHICH IS STILL AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN ILLEGAL) accusation list.  I predict it will make little difference, at least initially.

Undue influence is illegal.

[23andCounting]

6 hours ago, temptation said:

Honestly, this is what I see happening.

I see the strong pulling from the weak, regardless of class...........per my example in Fort Wayne. No matter what school you go to in Fort Wayne, you're going to get seen. D1 kids are coming from every program. But does a D1 kid from a lessor program choose to go to a program that has a good chance of playing for a state title in the new transfer era landscape?

[Bobref]

It reminds me of my high school chemistry. You now have to systems free to “mix,” with one another, i.e., the elements of both systems are free to move from one to another. The result is a period of instability, followed by equilibrium: kids moving equally in each direction.

[npcougar15]

On 6/1/2025 at 2:13 PM, temptation said:

I actually think it’ll strengthen some of the lower class teams that are nearby 6A schools.

If little Johnny can’t start at the 6A school because mommy and daddy think the coach is biased, Johnny shows up at the 1A-3A school down the road and balls out.

I think it depends on the area and what schools are there. 

I could see Crown Point absolutely dominating "Da Region" market and competing with the Indy schools consistently. But if that happens it might not make for the most thrilling DAC season(s).

Elkhart and Penn are obviously the big boys in Northern Indiana. Penn has the pedigree and won't go anywhere but does Elkhart hire the right guys and make a push to become the power they should be? if that's the case they are pulling from Concord, Mishawaka, Goshen, Northridge, Northwood, South Bend etc. I think historically smaller schools in the shadows of bigger schools with history will suffer. Jimtown and Bremen AREN'T in the best positions right now; you have Penn, Mishawaka, Concord, Elkhart, Northridge, Northwood all within a stones throw that run very good football programs (that's a ton of playing time available at "higher levels" than the INSC)

 

I'm just old school and high school sports seemed to be one of the last untouched and pure form of sports entertainment out there. Nothing better than seeing a group of kids that have been playing together for 10 years have a town rally around them go on a run in the postseason. Once the toothpaste is out of the tube it's not going back in.

[Titan32]

11 hours ago, npcougar15 said:

I think it depends on the area and what schools are there. 

I could see Crown Point absolutely dominating "Da Region" market and competing with the Indy schools consistently. But if that happens it might not make for the most thrilling DAC season(s).

Elkhart and Penn are obviously the big boys in Northern Indiana. Penn has the pedigree and won't go anywhere but does Elkhart hire the right guys and make a push to become the power they should be? if that's the case they are pulling from Concord, Mishawaka, Goshen, Northridge, Northwood, South Bend etc. I think historically smaller schools in the shadows of bigger schools with history will suffer. Jimtown and Bremen AREN'T in the best positions right now; you have Penn, Mishawaka, Concord, Elkhart, Northridge, Northwood all within a stones throw that run very good football programs (that's a ton of playing time available at "higher levels" than the INSC)

 

I'm just old school and high school sports seemed to be one of the last untouched and pure form of sports entertainment out there. Nothing better than seeing a group of kids that have been playing together for 10 years have a town rally around them go on a run in the postseason. Once the toothpaste is out of the tube it's not going back in.

Maybe the smaller schools in the shadow of the bigger schools will actually benefit from kids moving down who wouldn't see much playing time at the bigger school.  4A and below state championships aren't usually won with a bunch of D1 guys on the roster....a bunch of Johny averages with high football IQ and a good work ethic do.

[Daniel_Bragg]

I think the biggest aspect of all of this, that is often forgotten is open enrollment.  Just because these new transfer rules are in place, doesn't mean that these kids can literally go wherever they want.  A lot of kids won't be able to go to the bigger schools, simply because mom and dad won't move.  I don't think you'll see a whole bunch of kids relocating just to play sports.  At least no more than already did before this rule.

[Coach Lou]

With this new rule will assistant coaches now be valued for their ability to recruit as well as their ability to coach like college coaches are? I know we have a good recruiter here at Elkhart

[tango]

1 hour ago, Daniel_Bragg said:

  A lot of kids won't be able to go to the bigger schools, simply because mom and dad won't move.  I don't think you'll see a whole bunch of kids relocating just to play sports.  At least no more than already did before this rule.

I don't think there will a huge number either.

Edited June 4, 2025 by tango