One free transfer? That's about the dumbest idea I've ever heard. That would encourage transferring even more.

If the parents make a legitimate move, then the player would be allowed to play, no questions asked. But for me to sign off on a guardianship waiver to allow my child to live with their uncle, grandparents, whomever in order to attend another school, should not be allowed.

Kids want to play where their friends are playing or where a parent pushes them to play when going out of district. Why would a parent send a kid out of district unless it's to chase a ring? Maybe a beef with a coach? You could easily argue that no one should get a transfer granted unless you can show legal documents that the primary care giver has moved and maintains residence in the new district (no 'renting' in one district but living in the original district).

Kids want to play where their friends are playing or where a parent pushes them to play when going out of district. Why would a parent send a kid out of district unless it's to chase a ring? Maybe a beef with a coach? You could easily argue that no one should get a transfer granted unless you can show legal documents that the primary care giver has moved and maintains residence in the new district (no 'renting' in one district but living in the original district).

 

Better situation, more exposure, and yes, academics, playing time, are all reasons that I think rate above playing for a state title. For many kids, going to a state title contender means becoming a smaller fish in a much bigger pond. Again, not saying the ring isn't important, and maybe when some of the other things are present, that's the deciding piece.

If the parents make a legitimate move, then the player would be allowed to play, no questions asked. But for me to sign off on a guardianship waiver to allow my child to live with their uncle, grandparents, whomever in order to attend another school, should not be allowed.

 

The problem with that is that unless they admit it that it was a move for athletics is it almost impossible to prove it was a move for athletics. What if the parent has a legitimate health issue and the kid needs to move in with his uncle to be taken care of?

No one complains when the star trumpet player transfers to the school with a better music program or when a kid switches schools because of the quality of the math program. Sports are part of the high school experience. I'd rubber stamp all transfers and allow them to play at least one time.

 

It's been my experience that most transfers get approved to play anyway. The rules don't seem to stop it from happening now.

 

Here's the one that always gets me.

 

We had a pretty decent sophomore girl cross-country runner. Her parents were divorced. She lived with her mom (a physician) while in the 10th grade. Spent her junior year with her dad. Moved beck here to spend senior year living with mom. Denied the opportunity to run by the Association.

 

Must have been that competitive advantage gained during her junior year living with her dad in that cross-country hotbed.

 

 

 

Nova Scotia.

Edited April 1, 201610 yr by mcpapa

I say anyone who is defined as a transfer by the KHSAA guidelines should be allowed to practice with the new school team, travel with the team and possibly even play JV, but they cannot compete in a Varsity contest for a year.

 

I would consider an exception for kids that move due to military parents being moved.

I know of two kids from different families that the parents "Split up" for 4 or 5 months so one could establish residency in a one room apartment in another county, just so their child could play ball there. One was chasing a ring and one was chasing playing time.

 

I understand letting kids move and doing what's best for the kid. I just don't want to see fans of a school thumping their chest over how great their town/county is in X sport if 2 or 3 of their starters transferred in from out of town.

 

The talk of local transfers down here is crazy, talk of waiting to see who a new coach is or if coach is fired before deciding where they are going to play is crazy. Almost blatantly thumbing their nose at the KHSAA.

No one complains when the star trumpet player transfers to the school with a better music program or when a kid switches schools because of the quality of the math program. Sports are part of the high school experience. I'd rubber stamp all transfers and allow them to play at least one time.

 

It's been my experience that most transfers get approved to play anyway. The rules don't seem to stop it from happening now.

 

I wouldn't say no one complains in those situations. Speaking as a supporter of a school that is getting absolutely gutted because the perception of its academics and student body are so low that some parents can't bear the thought of their child going there, it's a pretty big deal when these people bail for perceived better situations. In some cases, the departure of these students for greener pastures means that the kids left behind have no opportunity at all. Generally, everyone can't pick up and leave. The people who get hurt are the people who are left behind. Warren Central had to forfeit the entire second half of their softball season last year because they literally didn't have enough players on the team. That's because many of the interested players that live in their district never even make it to the school.

 

It's a difficult river to navigate. There is no blanket solution that is going to fix everything. I tend to agree with those that say a blanket rule cause students to miss out on an entire year of eligibility for something as innocuous as a move for a job is not right. I don't know that a rubber stamp to allow them at least one free transfer and then lock it down is the answer either, although it feels closer to it. Honestly, I don't know what the answer, nor, it seems, does the KHSAA. But I think those who don't think it's gotten kinda crazy are kidding themselves. Things have really seemed to go off the rails in the last decade.

 

And yes, we do get some transfers at Warren Central as well. I won't claim otherwise.

Edited April 1, 201610 yr by DragonFire

I know of two kids from different families that the parents "Split up" for 4 or 5 months so one could establish residency in a one room apartment in another county, just so their child could play ball there. One was chasing a ring and one was chasing playing time.

 

I understand letting kids move and doing what's best for the kid. I just don't want to see fans of a school thumping their chest over how great their town/county is in X sport if 2 or 3 of their starters transferred in from out of town.

 

The talk of local transfers down here is crazy, talk of waiting to see who a new coach is or if coach is fired before deciding where they are going to play is crazy. Almost blatantly thumbing their nose at the KHSAA.

 

Sounds like the NBA in Somerset ,Ky

Here is my take; you are not going to stop it in most cases because there is a way around it i.e. Going to court.

 

So why even waste a second worrying about it.

Here is my take; you are not going to stop it in most cases because there is a way around it i.e. Going to court.

 

So why even waste a second worrying about it.

 

I agree that lawyers and court are the KHSAA kryptonite... Shuts them down pronto

This issue is like life. Some folks follow the rules and do the right thing, no matter the consequences. Others choose to break the rules, do what they think is best even though its not an accepted practice and don't care about the consequences because they'll just threaten to sue someone.

My question is what are other states doing in regards to transfers? Anyone out there no what Indiana/Ohio does? If you look at football and basketball they produce tons of D1 atheletes.

 

 

Ohio is a little different as we don't have county school districts up here. You live in Bowling Green, OH - you go to Bowling Green High School. You live in Mason, OH - you go to Mason High School. No exceptions. Most school districts have 1 high school. And most of those who have a more than 1 high school - there are geographical boundaries that are set that dictate which school you go to.

 

General rule is - if a kid transfers they have to sit out 50% of the contests in whatever sports they participated in at their previous school. The are ineligible for the remainder of that season (if it's in the middle of the season).

 

Example A: Tom lives in Mason, OH and plays golf and basketball at Mason High School as a freshman. His family moves to Fairfield, OH AFTER his freshman year. If he chooses to play golf and basketball at Fairfield HS - he has to sit out 9 golf matches (permitted 18 contests) and 11 basketball games (permitted 22 contests). If Tom chooses to play football at Fairfield - since he did not play football at Mason he would be eligible to play football right away.

 

Example B: Tom's family moves to Fairfield in the MIDDLE of the basketball season - he is automatically ineligible for the remainder of the current basketball season AND has to sit out 11 contests next year.

 

There are waivers if you can prove a BONA FIDE move has been made with BOTH PARENTS (unless there is a divorce happening). So Dad can't say "Hey I'm renting an apartment in Fairfield - now my kid can go to school there and play there". You have to document why you moved, provide a lease/mortgage/bills, etc. This waiver can permit you to not have to sit out 50% of contests the following year - but in example B - no waivers will make him eligible right away.

 

So in most cases for a kid to transfer to a new school - you have to move. And as I said - if you move you have to go to a new school - so there's no choice to remain a student at Mason High School and play there if your family doesn't live in Mason.

 

It gets a little murkier in bigger cities with many high schools (Cleveland Public Schools - for example). They have open enrollment - but the same rules apply. If Johnny is at East Tech as a freshman and decides he wants to go to Glenville as a sophomore - you have to document you moved - and even then you have to sit out 50% of contests the following year. If you can't document that you moved and just want Johnny to go to Glenville - I believe he is ineligible for 1 calendar year form his enrollment at Glenville. The bylaws explicitly outline transferring schools within the same school district. It gets hazy and fuzzy and I'm not 100% versed in how it works in the big cities. I'm sure there are ways around it.

 

The difference between up here with the big city districts is that kids usually go to one place based on their sport - and stay there. If you're a elite football player - you're going to Glenville. If you're a top notch girls basketball player - you're going to East Tech. If you're a top female track star - you go to Collinwood. Most of the other teams are not competitive. In JCPS - there are a LOT of competitive programs that are fighting one another for the same kids - in Cleveland - Glenville has all the football kids - and they aren't leaving Ted Ginn and his program. There is 1 really good program throughout the entire city for each sport. Kids know where to go based on their sport and the other schools aren't really options...

 

As far as transferring from Private to Public - you are permitted 1 transfer back to your home school without having to sit out 50% of contests. So if you live in Lakewood, OH (suburb of Cleveland) and go to Cleveland St. Ignatius as a freshman and decide it isn't for you - you can transfer to Lakewood High School as a sophomore and be eligible right away. One time only. If you choose to transfer back to Ignatius - you have to sit out 50% of contests the following season.

 

There are roughly 1,200 high schools in Ohio (799 of which field boys basketball teams - the largest number in terms of participation in the state - the other ~400 are small charter schools, or small private schools who are not members of the OHSAA if they even have athletics and therefore have no rules and restrictions - but those are few and far between). There are 611 school districts. Roughly 75% of them are single high school districts. If you live in that city/township/village, etc. you go to that school. No way around it. No choice to go elsewhere (in terms of public schooling).

 

There are loop holes for everything - but I will say that transferring in Ohio is not as much of an issue as it is in KY.

Edited April 2, 201610 yr by washedup11

What role do the coaches play from the school the player is transferring from? I know of a high school baseball player that is being denied release by his old coach. The kid isn't even good, just an average player at best. There is no district championship possible for either team, let alone a state championship. The coach is just being a jerk. If he can stop this average player from being able to play by not signing a release, why can't the coaches stop the good players?