We had some information in this thread that upon further review was incorrect.  Nothing intentional.  Here is what I think is correct and anyone that wants to provide further details/updated information you can do so.  

From a few months ago, the KHSAA has processed more than 900 transfers over each of the past two school years, and Tackett previously has mentioned the sheer volume of transfer requests has become a burden on the KHSAA staff and that approximately 70% of all transfers are ultimately ruled eligible.

“The question might be asked, ‘If 70% are getting eligible, why not give everybody one (transfer without restriction)?” Tackett said during Wednesday’s Board of Control meeting. “It’s because of the 30% gaining athletic advantage. That’s what our members want (to address).”

I am still of the belief that the best way to handle all this is to just do what Georgia does. They give freedom to legitimately transfer or keep your residence and play for Independent/Charter/Private schools, but those schools have to keep everything very strictly above board and have to pay a consequence if too many kids utilize this rule.

They enforce Heavy penalties if you are caught doing something illegal.

But moreso, they put a multiplier on your enrollment for kids living out of "district" or transferring in. This means for kids paying tuition out of district for a public school, kids who live outside of city limits for a city/independent, and essentially all private school kids you apply the multiplier to level the playing field.

It's called the "Buford Rule" because Buford High School was so dominant and everyone wanted their kid to go there because as a public school it was next level in all things (facilities, athletics, academics, etc). Buford basically went from a 1A/2A school to a 6A school now in the span of a ten year window. Buford is still a very good program who has played for multiple titles in multiple sports, but the days of total domination are over as they face greater parity.

They also created a catch all private school class for the smaller privates and the bigger privates have to play up with the multiplier. What you have also seen as fallout is your smaller City/Independent districts usually aren't effected (think of a Murray or Russellville in KY terms), but other Independent Schools with a higher surrounding population base went from dominating small schools to having to compete against 4A or 5A teams. 

ATL

That all makes sense for a largely populated state like Georgia. It also makes sense with multiple classifications.

IN THEORY this could work in a smaller state such as Kentucky for football and all other “classed” sports. I’m wondering how this would work in one champion sports like basketball and baseball?

4 hours ago, ATLCat said:

I am still of the belief that the best way to handle all this is to just do what Georgia does. They give freedom to legitimately transfer or keep your residence and play for Independent/Charter/Private schools, but those schools have to keep everything very strictly above board and have to pay a consequence if too many kids utilize this rule.

They enforce Heavy penalties if you are caught doing something illegal.

But moreso, they put a multiplier on your enrollment for kids living out of "district" or transferring in. This means for kids paying tuition out of district for a public school, kids who live outside of city limits for a city/independent, and essentially all private school kids you apply the multiplier to level the playing field.

It's called the "Buford Rule" because Buford High School was so dominant and everyone wanted their kid to go there because as a public school it was next level in all things (facilities, athletics, academics, etc). Buford basically went from a 1A/2A school to a 6A school now in the span of a ten year window. Buford is still a very good program who has played for multiple titles in multiple sports, but the days of total domination are over as they face greater parity.

They also created a catch all private school class for the smaller privates and the bigger privates have to play up with the multiplier. What you have also seen as fallout is your smaller City/Independent districts usually aren't effected (think of a Murray or Russellville in KY terms), but other Independent Schools with a higher surrounding population base went from dominating small schools to having to compete against 4A or 5A teams. 

I think this is a "pipe dream" solution for Kentucky. 

For clarity, how would you foresee the "Buford Rule" applied to Trinity and St. Xavier?  Would they just play each other for the 7A State Championship?

On 5/8/2025 at 3:37 PM, theguru said:

We had some information in this thread that upon further review was incorrect.  Nothing intentional.  Here is what I think is correct and anyone that wants to provide further details/updated information you can do so.  

From a few months ago, the KHSAA has processed more than 900 transfers over each of the past two school years, and Tackett previously has mentioned the sheer volume of transfer requests has become a burden on the KHSAA staff and that approximately 70% of all transfers are ultimately ruled eligible.

“The question might be asked, ‘If 70% are getting eligible, why not give everybody one (transfer without restriction)?” Tackett said during Wednesday’s Board of Control meeting. “It’s because of the 30% gaining athletic advantage. That’s what our members want (to address).”

I can only remember a few isolated transfers not being eligible. 30% of 900 is 270 ruled not eligible? Does that number shock anyone else besides me? Can anyone list in this thread even 10 athletes ruled ineligible in the past 2 years?

4. No recruiting comments or allegations of KHSAA rules violations by any school, coach, player or booster are allowed. No comments about where any player lives, has lived, or where they are from in a recruiting context. This is not the place to report KHSAA violations. Feel free to contact Kentucky High School Athletic Association | KHSAA – Student-athletes of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow to report such violations, but do not discuss violations here.

On 5/9/2025 at 1:35 PM, theguru said:

I think this is a "pipe dream" solution for Kentucky. 

For clarity, how would you foresee the "Buford Rule" applied to Trinity and St. Xavier?  Would they just play each other for the 7A State Championship?

My guess is 6A would be the highest, but it might turn into something like a "Super Class" if other schools kept getting bumped up. Just as a hypothetical, if say a Boyle County, a Bowling Green, and a Covington Catholic up moved up to 6A (again, hypothetical), would the three smallest 6A schools fall down to 5A? If so, that would certainly be appealing for schools like Apollo who are always right on the cut line but absolutely can't compete with the X's and T's of 6A.

A revamped is certainly needed.

Fewer classes and a better way to determine seeding would help.

On 5/9/2025 at 1:35 PM, theguru said:

I think this is a "pipe dream" solution for Kentucky. 

For clarity, how would you foresee the "Buford Rule" applied to Trinity and St. Xavier?  Would they just play each other for the 7A State Championship?

They would remain 6A but they would now be facing competition from schools like CovCath, Bowling Green, and maybe even Boyle County who see their respective Class change due to the multiplier from transfers or out of district kids. 
 

The truth remains the biggest issue in KY is six classes are too many. Five classes to me is the sweet spot for the state. Should be Class A- AAAA with a separate class for small privates. 
 

Another thing Georgia does is the small private schools play a regional schedule against public schools but they separate them in the post season. I think that would work in KY but this is a far stretch because then you have to reformat your playoffs as well.

13 hours ago, ATLCat said:

They would remain 6A but they would now be facing competition from schools like CovCath, Bowling Green, and maybe even Boyle County who see their respective Class change due to the multiplier from transfers or out of district kids. 
 

The truth remains the biggest issue in KY is six classes are too many. Five classes to me is the sweet spot for the state. Should be Class A- AAAA with a separate class for small privates. 
 

Another thing Georgia does is the small private schools play a regional schedule against public schools but they separate them in the post season. I think that would work in KY but this is a far stretch because then you have to reformat your playoffs as well.

I agree on 5 classes but splitting out privates in any fashion doesn't work in KY. There just aren't enough private schools. However, if you use the Buford rule, it will likely put most privates into the top tier class.

20 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I agree on 5 classes but splitting out privates in any fashion doesn't work in KY. There just aren't enough private schools. However, if you use the Buford rule, it will likely put most privates into the top tier class.

Which is not a realistic solution.