NCAA Approves New Transfer Rule
LOS ANGELES, CA - On Apr. 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana the NCAA Division 1 Council approved a new transfer rule allowing all athletes to transfer once with immediate eligibility at a new school. This rule is being approved so that incoming transfers will not have to sit out and redshirt for a year if players decide to transfer.
Student athletes will be able to transfer once as an undergraduate student without being required to redshirt and sit out of a year starting next season. Transfer students will be allowed to play immediately.
The one-time transfer rule was available to athletes in other college sports for years. The rule will now be available to football, basketball, hockey, and baseball players. Athletes have not had that available to them in these sports without asking for a waiver from the NCAA.
The NCAA Division I Council voted to change the long-standing rule that has often deterred players in high-profile sports from switching schools.
Athletes who have graduated have also been permitted to transfer without sitting out, but not undergraduates.
“The student will able to directly impact the school they transfer to on day one,” Adrian Pinon said.
Those in fall and winter sports must notify their schools they intend to transfer by May 1; in spring sports, the notification date will be July 1. The notification dates begin in 2022.
There are over 1,400 men student athletes in the NCAA transfer portal. On the women student athletes side, there are 1,000 players in the transfer portal.
“This rule is kind of new to me,” Taariq Amal said. “I feel like it’s a good opportunity for athletes who haven’t had the chance to touch the field or the court to show off their skills.”
The council also voted for the dead period in recruiting in all sports to stop soon. Once the dead period in recruiting is over, in-person recruiting will start back up. In-person recruiting will be going back into effect on June 1.
In-person recruiting has been on hold for 15 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
When in-person recruiting starts again, coaches will be able to visit athletes off campus. Coaches will also be able to have camps on campus and welcome on official recruiting visits. Athletes will be able to go on campus and visit schools again.
Video Credit: OutKick
Video Credit: Alfonso Henry
By Alfonso Henry
Contributions from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The Advocate
Video Credit, Alfonso Henry, OutKick
Photo, Alfonso Henry, Indy Star
Audio, Alfonso Henry
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