The Transfer Rules Committee held their culminating meeting Wednesday. The purpose of this meeting was to complete the task we started a year ago which was to examine our current transfer rules, initiate discussion and gather feedback from our member schools on what we have in place, and based on the information obtained from our constituents, explore potential changes to our transfer rules moving forward. This committee, made up of representatives from 9 geographic areas of our section, did an excellent job of working on this issue from start to finish.

I sincerely thank Chairman Rich Shearer, each member of the committee and the Assistant Commissioners from our staff for their participation, dedication and professionalism throughout the entire process. Now that their work is done, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of their conclusions.
Transfer Rules Committee Chairman Rich Shearer stated, “After a year-long study of our current transfer rules, several meetings with our group and the various communications that committee members had with the member schools in their areas, the general consensus of the Transfer Rules Committee is we will not be recommending any proposals this school year to change the current state-wide transfer rules that are in place. We believe that the implementation of the Valid Change of Residence Checklist on January 1 was a significant step in addressing a major concern expressed by member schools. Also, it was stated by the majority of our group that the SOP is functioning appropriately, especially after the SOP was standardized, in terms of the same Sit-Out Period for all sports, the narrowing of categories that can be considered for Hardship Waiver Applications and changes made to the International Student Bylaw in recent years have all made a difference in helping manage the transfer situation. Finally, transfer numbers were significantly down last year in the Southern Section, and state-wide, so we will continue to monitor that situation in the time ahead as we will meet again in January, 2020, to review transfer numbers from the first few months of this school year. I commend the committee members and Assistant Commissioners for their excellent work.”

I want to express my thanks to our section membership for taking a leadership role in this effort. Being engaged in healthy discussion on important issues affecting our student-athletes, and all our stakeholders, plays an integral role in our work toward serving them in the best way possible. I am sure we will continue to review where we are and where we might go on important matters like these, and others, in the future.

As always, I thank you for your help and your continued support, it is truly appreciated.

All the best.

Rob Wigod is the CIF Southern Section Commissioner of Athletics