Transfer proposal includes commitment to intervene

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I’m not confident that a proposed revision of the transfer rules working their way through the sections around the state will actually reduce transfers. In fact, there probably will be more transfers.

There’s a proposal to put in a 30-day sit-out period when a student switches schools without moving instead of having to sit out a year. A student could use the rule one time. After that, a second transfer without moving would make the student ineligible for one year.

There is a clear positive in the proposals. The commissioners are committing to contacting schools and intervening when they see a pattern developing in the number of transfers going to a particular school or program.

Yes, they already have that authority right now, but they’re putting it in writing, and that means they will be held accountable.

They will still need evidence to prove any wrongdoing, but programs that suddenly get four or five transfers in their football program from a specific area will get a phone call or request to review the rules or circumstances of the transfers.

‘There’s going to be a commitment from office staff to look into schools with a significant number of transfers,’ said Rob Wigod, commissioner of the Southern Section.

It’s called being ‘proactive,’ something that is needed to prevent certain programs from abusing transfer rules.

-- Eric Sondheimer