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How Can College Athletes Transfer Multiple Times With No Issues?

That’s a question I’m frequently asked. It can be surprising how many times some athletes transfer from one school to another.

When an athlete can’t use the One-Time Transfer Exception to be immediately eligible at a new school, how are they able to be eligible as a multiple time transfer?

While we don’t know the specific circumstances of each athlete’s situation that you might hear or read about, here are some possible explanations as to how they may be able to transfer multiple times and not be required to serve a “year in residence” at their new university.

  • Second transfer could be the use of the Non-Scholarship Transfer Exception.
  • Second (or third) transfer could be using the “No Participation Opportunity” Waiver to be eligible at the next college.
  • 2nd or 3rd transfer could be transferring as a grad student and getting a waiver to be eligible as a grad transfer if they are pursuing a degree that wasn’t offered at their previous college.
  • Any of the above could also have been a possible option AFTER a 4-2-4 transfer from the first four-year college to a JUCO then back to another four-year college and then possibly using any of the options listed above.

Do You Need Advice?

If your athlete is thinking about a transfer, whether from one four-year college to another or from a junior college, we can provide a confidential consultation to explain the steps, rules and academic requirements to be eligible at the new college. Schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation online, contact us at rick@informedathlete.com or call our office at 913-766-1235.

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What College Athletes Considering a Mid-Year Transfer Should Know BEFORE Taking Action!

Transferring to another school at any time of the year has its challenges. However, mid-year transfers to a new university can be especially difficult because a student-athlete often has a short window of time to find a new school and then enroll for classes that start in January.

In addition:

  • There can be specific rules that determine whether a mid-year transfer athlete will have immediate eligibility.
  • There are also specific academic requirements that the student-athlete must satisfy in the Fall to order to be eligible to compete in the Spring.

Before your student-athlete takes action, make sure they know where they stand and what options they have so they don’t make mistakes that could cause them to lose eligibility or add a financial burden to the family.

  • As an example, an NCAA Division I student-athlete entering the Transfer Portal could possibly lose their scholarship at mid-year.
  • There are also certain sports in which a mid-year transfer athlete can’t be eligible to compete in the Spring even if they satisfy all of the academic requirements to be eligible at the next university.

Do you have questions?

If your or your student-athlete has questions and needs advice on how to successfully navigate through a mid-year transfer, schedule a confidential Transfer Consult session online, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call 913-766-1235

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Junior College Athletes – Make Sure You’re Eligible Before You Transfer to an NCAA University!

We recently consulted with a student-athlete who transferred to an NCAA Division II university only to learn that she would not be academically eligible for competition even though she earned her Associates Degree at her junior college during the summer.

She thought that the completion of her Associates Degree at the two-year college was all that she needed to be eligible as a transfer and did not know that there are also multiple NCAA academic requirements that also need to be satisfied.

In this situation, this athlete wasn’t informed that she was also required to earn at least 9 credit hours of transferable degree credit during her last semester at the junior college. Because she didn’t have enough academic credit hours that were accepted as transfer credit, she wasn’t eligible to compete for the Division II university.

In fact, any NCAA Division II athlete – even a continuing student-athlete at their same university or one transferring from another four-year college – must earn at least 9 credit hours (or 8 hours if their college is on the quarter system) in the preceding term of full-time attendance to be eligible the following term. For a transfer athlete, those credit hours must be acceptable for transfer credit at the college the athlete is transferring to.

If you are have questions about your student-athlete’s situation, we can help.

Schedule a confidential Eligibility Consult online, call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com

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NCAA DI Transfer Portal Windows Updates for Fall Sport Athletes

NCAA Division I Transfer Portal Windows for Fall sport athletes:

  • Cross Country: Nov. 13 through Dec. 27
  • Field Hockey: Nov. 7 through Dec. 21
  • FBS Football: Dec. 5 through Jan. 18
  • FCS Football: Nov. 21 through Jan. 4
  • Men’s Soccer: Nov. 15 through Dec. 29
  • Women’s Soccer: Nov. 8 through Dec. 22
  • Women’s Volleyball: Nov. 28 through Jan. 11
  • Men’s Water Polo: Nov. 21 through Jan. 4

Also, the Division I Fall Transfer Window for Spring Sport athletes opens on December 1 and closes on December 15. This is for Spring Sport athletes who are planning to enroll at another Division I university this Spring or in the Fall 2023 semester.

A 30-day Transfer Window is also available for Division I student-athletes immediately following their coach being fired or leaving to take another job.

If you’re interested in a confidential consultation to review the steps, rules and academic requirements to be eligible as a transferring athlete, you can schedule a Transfer Consult online or can call 913-766-1235 for more information.

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Impact of New NCAA DI Transfer Portal Windows Rule on Scholarship Opportunities

If your athlete’s primary reason for considering a Transfer from their current four-year college to a Division I university is to receive an athletic scholarship, I encourage them to think twice.

I believe that it will be more difficult for a student-athlete doing a 4-4 transfer (one four-year college to another) to receive an athletic scholarship from a Division I program.

The reason is because of the very strict limitations placed on Division I coaches under these new Transfer rules as to when they can cancel or not renew an athletic scholarship that is provided to a 4-4 transfer.

Note that under these new rules:

The ONLY way that a Division I coach will be permitted to cancel or not renew an athletic scholarship granted to a transfer from another four-year college is if the athlete transfers yet again to another college OR if the athlete loses their amateur athletic status.

Otherwise:

The Division I university is required to continue the athlete on their athletic scholarship until the athlete’s undergraduate graduation or until the completion of their athletic eligibility, whichever comes first – EVEN if the athlete chooses to quit their team!

Put yourself in the shoes of a Division I coach:

Would you be willing to invest a valuable athletic scholarship in an athlete who transfers to your program while knowing that your program would still need to continue providing that scholarship (and counting it against your team’s scholarship limit) even if the athlete chooses to quit the team?

Do You Need Advice?

For a private discussion of all the factors your student-athlete should consider about a possible transfer, schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation online or call 913-766-1235.

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New NCAA Division I Transfer Portal “Windows”

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors recently took action that they believe will reduce the seemingly constant/continuous flow of athletes entering the Transfer Portal that we’ve seen over the past year. They’re doing this by restricting Division I athletes to Transfer Portal “Windows.”

As a result, NCAA Division I athletes who want to transfer to another university will ONLY be allowed to enter the Transfer Portal during limited windows of time.

These Transfer Portal “Windows” generally are:

For Fall Sport Athletes – a 45-day period beginning the day after championship selections are made for that sport, or May 1-15.

For Winter Sport Athletes – a 60-day period beginning the day after championship selections are made for that sport.

For Spring Sport Athletes – December 1-15, or a 45-day period beginning the day after championship selections are made for that sport.

Exceptions to the “Windows” for entering the Transfer Portal will be available for Division I athletes who:

  • Have a change of head coach
  • Have their athletic scholarship reduced, cancelled, or not renewed (for limited reasons)
  • Can use a Transfer Exception other than the One-Time Transfer Exception to be eligible for competition in their first year at their new university (such as the Non-scholarship or Discontinued Sport Transfer Exceptions)

Other Situations:

  • A current Division I Spring sport athlete who is planning to transfer to another Division I program to be eligible this coming Spring season (not available for baseball or basketball transfers) is NOT required to wait until December to enter the Transfer Portal. This is the last “class” of athletes who are not subject to the Transfer Portal Windows noted above.
  • A current Division I student-athlete who is planning to transfer AWAY from Division I (e.g., Division II, III or NAIA) WILL still be restricted to the Windows noted above to enter the Transfer Portal.
  • However, student-athletes currently enrolled at an institution OTHER THAN Division I will NOT be restricted to entering the Transfer Portal during these windows (but will need to be aware of the Transfer rules within their own Division, such as the June 15 deadline for NCAA Division II athletes).

If you think the new Transfer Portal Window rules and exceptions are confusing, here are a couple of comments I’ve seen on social media from some of my Division I compliance friends at various universities:

  • “Proposal 2022-20 takes the lead for the worst legislation adopted.”
  • “I can honestly say this is the most frustrating NCAA rule change rollout that I have ever encountered.”

Also, I think it’s worth noting that a Q&A document that the NCAA is developing (and updating weekly) for Division I compliance administrators is now 6 pages long.

Are you Confused and Need Advice?

For assistance in navigating all the steps and rules to successfully transfer to an NCAA university, schedule a confidential Transfer Consult online to review the transfer rules and academic requirements that will apply to your student-athlete. You can also contact us by sending an email to rick@informedathlete.com or by calling 913-766-1235.

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Common Questions Student-Athletes Ask This Time of Year

With fall sport practices starting recently at many colleges, and classes starting soon, here’s a sample of some of the questions we’ve received recently:

  • I’ve started practice with my college team, but I’m not sure this is the right fit for me and I’m thinking about leaving. When does my eligibility “clock” start?
  • Will I be considered a transfer athlete if I leave this team after starting practices at this college?
  • My new coach just informed me that I likely won’t receive any playing time this season. Do I have any options to transfer at this late date? Also, is there any way I can “protect” my scholarship for this year, or at least part of the year?
  • I just learned that I may not be able to be eligible at my new college this year because I don’t have enough transferable credit hours. Do I have any options for a waiver at this point?

If you or your athlete have questions like these, we can discuss your specific situation, answer your questions, and explain what options might be possible.

Schedule a confidential Eligibility Consult, a Transfer Consult, or a Scholarship Strategies Consult online at one of these links. Don’t worry about whether you’re choosing the correct category of consultation. Regardless of which category you choose, we’ll be sure to confidentially answer your questions and explain what options your athlete can consider.

You can also contact us directly by calling our office at 913-766-1235 or by sending an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

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NCAA Transfer Academic Requirements

The academic requirements for a student-athlete to be eligible when transferring to a new university depend upon several factors, including the number of semesters when an athlete has been enrolled in college and taking classes as a full-time student. This is especially true for any athlete transferring to the NCAA Division I level.

When a junior college athlete who will be transferring to an NCAA Division I university has attended the junior college for more than two years, the academic requirements to be eligible can become even more complicated.

Here’s one reason why:

If you think of that situation this way, how will an athlete attending a two-year college that only offers freshman and sophomore level courses earn junior level course credits that will be acceptable for transfer to a Division I university if they’ve been attending a junior college for three years?

We can provide a confidential Eligibility Consultation to inform you and your athlete of the specific academic requirements that he or she will need to satisfy to be eligible when they transfer to a new university. Contact us at rick@informedathlete.com or call our office at 913-766-1235 for more information regarding our services.

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The Importance of June 15th for College Athletes & High School Recruits

June 15th is an important date for some college athletes as well as for many high school recruits.

Let’s first review the situations for which June 15 can be important for current college athletes.

It can be important for those who hope to transfer from any four-year college to an NCAA Division II athletic program, as well as for current junior college athletes who were signed to an NJCAA Letter of Intent during the 2021-22 school year.

4-4 Transfers hoping to transfer to an NCAA D2 program:

For athletes currently at an NCAA school and who want to be eligible this Fall upon transfer to an NCAA D2 program, June 15 is the deadline by which the athlete must provide written notification to their current school that they want to be entered into the NCAA Transfer Portal. If such an athlete doesn’t provide written notification to their current school by June 15, they will lose out on the opportunity to be eligible for competition in their first year at an NCAA Division II program.

For 4-year college athletes who don’t have access to the NCAA Transfer Portal (such as current NAIA athletes), those athletes should make sure they request written permission from their current school to be allowed to contact NCAA Division II programs about a possible transfer no later than June 15. Such a request should be sent to their current athletic department via email so that the date of the request can be verified if it becomes an issue.

NJCAA Letter of Intent signees:

For athletes who attended an NJCAA two-year college during the 2021-22 academic year as a Letter of Intent signee; June 15 is the date by which notification of renewal of the athlete’s Letter of Intent for the 2022-23 academic year is supposed to be provided by their college.

An NJCAA athlete who isn’t signed to a second-year scholarship by June 15 (which is supposed to be in the form of a new Letter of Intent) becomes recruitable by any other NJCAA college starting on June 16.

June 15th can also be an important date for High School recruits

High School recruits in many sports can begin to receive direct recruiting communication from NCAA Division I and Division II coaches as outlined below.

NCAA Division I recruiting information:

June 15 is the first date when most NCAA Division I coaches will be able to place recruiting phone calls and send emails/messages to athletes who have just completed their sophomore year of high school.

The following Division I sports are the only ones that have a date other than June 15 as the earliest date for placing recruiting calls and sending emails/messages to prospects:

  • Baseball – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • Women’s Basketball – June 1 at conclusion of sophomore year
  • Football – Sept. 1 of senior year except for one call from 4/15 to 5/31 of junior year
  • Men’s Ice Hockey – Jan. 1 of sophomore year
  • Lacrosse – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • Softball – Sept. 1 of junior year

Football does have an exception to the above date regarding emails sent to prospects. Those can be sent to prospects beginning September 1 of a prospect’s junior year in high school.

NCAA Division II recruiting information:

For recruiting by NCAA Division II colleges, June 15 is the date when coaches in ALL sports can start to contact recruits who have completed their sophomore year of HS via phone, email, or direct messaging.

Division II coaches in all sports can also accept incoming calls and talk to prospects who call them at any time.

For specific questions about the NCAA transfer or recruiting rules, or scholarship agreements and letters of intent, schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies consult online send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call 913- 766-1235.

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NCAA 2022 Convention Topics of Interest Affecting DI, DII, and DIII Schools

The annual NCAA Convention was held recently in Indianapolis. While much of the publicity over the last few months regarding the Convention was regarding the work of the Constitution Committee to propose a new draft of the NCAA Constitution, I doubt that work will really impact the day-to-day life of NCAA student-athletes – at least not in the near future.

Here’s a brief rundown of some topics of interest for NCAA DI, NCAA DII, and NCAA DIII.

NCAA DI

For women’s basketball, recruiting rules were revised in several different topic areas, including telephone calls, official visits and the recruiting calendar. Due to the number of changes, contact us directly if you desire information regarding those changes.

In men’s basketball, the number of recruiting-person days (number of total days the men’s coaching staff could be off-campus recruiting) was reduced from 130 to 100. Two coaches recruiting on the same day equals two recruiting-person days.

For both men’s and women’s basketball, a proposal to allow student-athletes to appear in up to four regular season games without being charged with the use of a season of competition was defeated.

Football spring practice opportunities for full contact practice sessions will be reduced. They won’t be allowed on consecutive days during spring practice and won’t be allowed for more than 75 minutes in any practice session (other than a scrimmage).

New guidelines for transfer waivers that were set to go into effect in 2022 will be delayed until January 2023. This means that athletes transferring to a Division I university who need a waiver to be ruled eligible will have a wider range of acceptable reasons and circumstances that can be cited as a factor in the waiver decision as compared to the new waiver guidelines.

Those guidelines – which are now postponed a year – basically limit acceptable waiver reasons as:

  • An athlete has a diagnosed learning disability which was not sufficiently supported at the previous university OR
  • An athlete has faced a “real and imminent health and safety” threat at the previous university.

NCAA DII

The Division II One-Time Transfer Exception was changed to more closely align with the Division I One-Time Transfer Exception. The key aspects of the new Division II rule are:

  • The school from which an athlete is transferring will not have the opportunity to object to the athlete’s transfer.
  • Athletes will be required to view an educational video or online module regarding the transfer rules before their name will be entered into the Transfer Portal.
  • Athletes will be required to provide written transfer notification to their school by June 15 to have the chance to be eligible during the upcoming academic year.
  • A transferring athlete and the head coach at the new school to which they are transferring will be required to certify that they had no direct or indirect contact regarding a transfer prior to the student-athlete entering the Transfer Portal.

NCAA DIII

The proposal which would have had the most direct impact on Division III student-athletes was not voted on, but instead was referred to the Division III Interpretations and Legislative Committee for additional analysis and consideration.

If it had been approved at the Convention, it would have allowed Division III student-athletes to participate in a full season of practice with their team and still claim a “redshirt season” if the athlete did not compete in any games against another university.

As a result, the current Division III rule is still in effect. That rule charges a student-athlete with a “season of participation” even if they only practice with their team beyond the first game of the season but even if they don’t appear in a game against another opponent.

 

If you have questions about any actions taken at the NCAA Convention, contact us directly via e-mail at rick@informedathlete.com or by calling 913-766-1235.

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