‘Not a transfer portal’; WIAA sets new rules for high school athletes in Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash – Insisting it’s ‘not a transfer portal’ like the one in college sports, the governing body of high school sports in Washington set new rules for students who want to change schools.

The WIAA board passed a “significant change” to rules about transfers and eligibility.

Students can now transfer once in their high school career, but only within designated windows.

“Under the new rule, a student-athlete who transfers will be ineligible for varsity competition for 40% of the maximum number of allowable contests for sports played the previous year, as defined by each sport’s specific rules, in the school year following the transfer,” the WIAA says.

The previous rule only allowed students to retain eligibility if their family moved, though there were exceptions to that rule for approved hardships and other circumstances.

The amendment itself is specific about transfer windows and the difference between students who transfer at will or who transfer because they moved to another location.

You can read the full rule change starting on page six of this document.

The changes are the result of the work of a 22-person committee which began examining the issue last fall.

The WIAA board says it will reduce litigation costs from eligibility disputes as well as ensure the transfer rules are more in line with rules regarding school choice.

“This rule aims to limit the frequency of transfers, promoting stability in student participation,” the board wrote.

The change also keep flexibility in mind, the board says, and provides provisions for students experiencing “exceptional challenges.”

The board did recognize cons to this plan, including the fact that “the proposed amendment could potentially lead to transfers negatively impacting team dynamics, through a reduction of roster spots for students already in a school’s program.”

The board also recognized that social media could have an influence, if transfers are being promoted on social media ‘influencing perceptions and decisions, leading to an increase on rule violations.”