Trinity League submits proposal on ‘athletically motivated transfers’
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A debate about transfer rules was launched Thursday after the Trinity League submitted a proposal to remove all references to ‘athletically motivated transfer’ from the Southern Section and CIF rule books.
The proposal, which goes on the agenda for next month’s Southern Section Council meeting as a non-action action, must be approved by the Council before it is sent to the CIF Federated Council for consideration. Currently, if a student transfers for athletic reasons, he or she can be ruled ineligible for one year.
At its meeting Thursday, members of the Southern Section Executive Committee seemed divided when discussing the proposal. It could offer an recommendation on whether to approve or reject the proposal next month.
In support of its proposal, the Trinity League states, ‘Transfer eligibility rules cannot be enforced in a fair, objective and consistent manner when the terms ‘athletically motivated transfer’ or ‘transferring for athletic reasons’ are involved in the application of bylaws 510, 206, 207, 208 and 200. These terms lack clarity and definition.
‘As a result, instead of basing decisions regarding transfer eligibility on the established and tested cornerstones of undue influence, change of residence, hardship waivers and family decision to transfer a student prior to the first day of the student’s third consecutive semester, the CIF Southern Section is allowed to utilize, apply and rely upon the vague, indefinable and malleable terms of ‘athletically motivated transfer’ and ‘transferring for athletic reasons.’ ‘
The proposal comes as the Diocese of Orange and Santa Ana Mater Dei are challenging the Southern Section in court with a lawsuit. An attempt to settle the suit through mediation failed this month, and a jury trial is scheduled for February.
-- Eric Sondheimer