(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — Three proposed changes to the transfer rule head the topics to be discussed at CHSAA’s Legislative Council meeting in January.
The proposals are as varied as they come. One would do away with penalizing athletically-motivated transfers altogether; another would tweak the current rule to make transfers ineligible for the last half of the regular season and postseason; and a third would make all transfers ineligible for an entire calendar year.
In order to pass as administrative proposals, each change requires a simple majority of the 75-member Legislative Council, which is made up of representatives of leagues and associations from around the state.
As is the case with every proposal, they did not come from the CHSAA office, which cannot submit bylaw changes to the Council. Instead, they came from leagues and the Board of Directors.
The meeting is set for Jan. 29 at Radisson Denver Southeast. A complete agenda and PDFs of proposals can be found here.
Here’s a more in-depth look at the proposed transfer rule changes:
ADM-5 (from Denver Public Schools) (PDF)
This proposal would change the rule to so that all transfers will be eligible for varsity play at the last 50 percent of a season, as well as the postseason. It calls for deleting the sections to the transfer rule dealing with bonafide moves, mid-year transfers, hardships, international students — and, mostly visibly — athletic transfers.
It would, in effect, put all transfers, regardless of their motivation, on level footing. If an athlete were to transfer because of a lack of playing time, they would miss 50 percent of the season. If one were to transfer because they moved from Grand Junction to Littleton, they would sit out 50 percent of the season. If they were to transfer because of a broken home, they would miss 50 percent.
In effect, there would be no more waiver process.
ADM-6 (from the Board of Directors) (PDF)
It’s a small change to the wording, but this proposal would mark a big shift in the philosophy of the current rule. Instead of having athletes sit out the first half of a season following a transfer (which is the current rule), it would require athletes to sit out the last half of a varsity season, as well as the postseason.
Part of the rationale included with this proposal: “The membership has become increasingly concerned about the transferring of students for athletics to participate in the state playoffs.”
ADM-7 (from the Board of Directors) (PDF)
In probably the most sweeping change, this proposal would make all transfers (with certain exceptions) ineligible to play varsity sports for an entire calendar year. It specifically focuses on athletically-motivated transfers.
Additionally, it would add the following language to the hardship exception: “Unless the school determines that a hardship has been met (per 1800.71), the school cannot submit a hardship waiver. Detailed documentation must accompany any request.”
In speaking to these proposed changes in his office on Wednesday, CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico said he believes the current transfer rule “isn’t as broken as some may think it is.” Specifically, the CHSAA office received 178 waiver requests to the transfer rule this fall; only 18 were denied.
“If schools only submit waivers that meet the definition of a hardship, as they have been doing this fall, the current process works very well,” Angelico said.
As such, he isn’t sure a change is necessary.
“We shouldn’t make a change to make our lives easier,” Angelico said, referring to schools and the CHSAA office having to deal with waivers. “If we’re going to make a change, it should be to make sure that the rule is fair and equitable.”
Angelico added that he was worried about the proposals that do away with the waiver process.
“What about a situation where kids are homeless, or both mom and dad are in jail? We face situations that need waivers,” he said. “I don’t want to lose the ability to help kids through a waiver.”
Among other administrative proposals:
- A change that would make it so teams playing down are no longer eligible for the postseason.
- A proposal which would guarantee diversity on the board of directors via two at-large members, who “must be a woman and a minority, who may also be a woman.”
- One requiring coaches to attend a rules clinic once every two years.
- A change to the Sunday contact rule which would allow certain communication via social media.
Other agenda highlights
- The new quarter limits for football, which we reported on last week, is officially on the agenda as a sport proposal.
- Likewise, the new classification enrollment splits from CLOC will be voted on. Here’s a more in-depth look at the idea, which seeks an equal number of teams in all classes.
- Baseball’s new pitching limits are set to be decided.
- The golf committee recommended that iWanamaker, the online scoring system, become mandatory for all regular and postseason events.
- The softball committee changed some seeding criteria for Class 3A. Additionally, it created more stringent standards for regional host sites.
- All volleyball matches will be best of five sets at the state championships, regardless of if the pool play match will affect the semifinal participants.
- Tennis’ new lineup evaluation committee will get put to a vote. Here’s more info.