D1 to D1 Transfer Question - Removal of Scholarship causes Financial Hardship?

fenwaysouth,
Transfer 101 (the new title of the Transfer Guide) is an excellent publication, but it isn't the actual rules, and doesn't cover all situations. The Division Manuals are the rules, and that would be a better place to search when looking for rules to cover unusual situations.

Section 14 deals with eligibility, and it starts with definitions. 14.02.05 describes the meaning of the term "exception", and 14.02.15 covers "waiver".

14.02.5 Exception. An exception is the granting of relief from the application of a specific regulation (e.g., the residence requirement for a transfer student to become eligible for competition). The action granting the exception may be taken solely by the certifying institution, based on evidence that the conditions on which the exception is authorized have been met.

14.02.15 Waiver. A waiver is an action exempting an individual or institution from the application of a specific regulation. A waiver requires formal approval (e.g., an NCAA committee or a conference, as specified in the legislation) based on evidence of compliance with the specified conditions or criteria under which the waiver is authorized or extenuating circumstances.

Exceptions are written into the rules. For example, it's common knowedge that a D1 player has a 5 year clock in which to complete eligibility. If a student becomes pregnant, she gets an extra year. It's an unusual situation, but it is spelled out in the rules, and her college can grant the extra year.

A waiver can be granted for any "extenuating circumstance", but only an institution can apply for one. Most waivers are decided on an individual basis, but sometimes blanket waivers are issued. A blanket waiver will probably be eventually converted to a rule or exception.

So, in the situation you describe, the new college may succeed in obtaining a waiver. Generally, actions and circumstances surrounding waivers are not made public. For example, consider a player who has been attending a private college with high tuition, and whose family income drops significantly. He may be granted a waiver to play immediately at a new school, but the details of the family's financial situation won't be disclosed to the general public, nor the fact that the waiver was financially motivated.

3FingeredGlove,

You da man! Many thanks for the clarification on the source document and its mechanics. That make a lot of sense. I'm familiar with the tranfer terms, and general situations but was not familiar with how Exceptions were implemented.

The scenario you described is probably not far from the truth. I find it very interesting that he was able to go from ACC bottom feeder to PAC-10 contender without losing any eligibility.....by getting a waiver and showing an exceptional circumstance. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but that all sounds "very convenient" for the PAC-10 school and player. That is what I call "landing on one's feet". I'm happy for the young man, but that opens up a lot of questions (about NCAA Exceptons) in my mind. I will read more about the topic

Again, many thanks. Not a day goes by that I don't learn something new on HSBBWeb.

The player in question is a very good friend of my son from the previous school. Do not know all the facts (nor should I) other than he decided late in the summer to transfer. Any scholarship decision would have been made much earlier than that time frame.

Sometimes information gets put out there that may not be 100% accurate and then others will take it for gospel and run with it. I'm not saying this is the case here but it can happen.

The young man is a great person and wish nothing but the best for him and his family. I hope he gets all the opportunities he can.

The previous school did make the ACC Tournament last year and is expecting to make NCAA tournament this year so bottom feeders can move up the food chain too.

Best holiday wishes for all.

quote:

I'm happy for the young man, but that opens up a lot of questions (about NCAA Exceptons) in my mind.

It's a losing situation, but I'll keep trying to foster usage of correct terminology. This situation concerns a waiver, and not an exception. Since waivers are decided on an individual basis, you probably won't find much to read.....

However, I'm puzzled why you think the perceived quality of the teams involved should affect a waiver decision. Since this is an interconference transfer, a NCAA committee made the decision. It may be "convenient" (although if the waiver was justified on financial reasons, it may have not been so convenient), but it is highly unlikely to have been decided in an underhanded manner or with favoritism to the PAC-12.

quote:

However, I'm puzzled why you think the perceived quality of the teams involved should affect a waiver decision. Since this is an interconference transfer, a NCAA committee made the decision. It may be "convenient" (although if the waiver was justified on financial reasons, it may have not been so convenient), but it is highly unlikely to have been decided in an underhanded manner or with favoritism to the PAC-12.

3FingeredGlove,

It just makes me wonder (I have a vivid imagination) as I see a very talented kid go from a good baseball school into a very good baseball school. People do things for different reasons, and I have no insight whatsoever into the individual's decision or situation. "Convenient" may not have been a good choice of words....lets try "opportunistic" or maybe even "lucky" on the part of the new school. I certainly hope the NCAA is fair in these situations.

For the purposes of this discussion, I'm not really as interested in the individual as I am in the NCAA thought process for the waiver , which is why I asked the quetion to the board. If waivers are decided on an invidual basis and not made public, I guess there is no further research to be done. The situation sparked my interest (as a dinner table discussion) on the topic as you don't generally hear about D1 to D1 transfers without eligibility loss.

Yes, it's a losing situation in trying to get me to use the right terminology. I'll get there someday.


igball,

Best of luck in your 2012! I certainly hope a bottom-feeder can move up the food chain, as my son's team tries to change their position this year. Hope springs eternal in late Novemeber.

quote:

Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:
However, I'm puzzled why you think the perceived quality of the teams involved should affect a waiver decision.

I feel the same way, not understanding why going from what is perceived as a bottom feeder ACC to a highly regarded pac10 would matter. What did matter was that the player decided, due to his particular circumstances to transfer.

Years ago, players transfered for all different reasons, one of the reasons why changes were made. A good example may be the case of Micah Owings, who transfered from powerhouse GTech to another program, good but not GT. It was thought that it was because he wanted to play a position as well as being a starting pitcher, and not being allowed, I think there was more to it.

Athletic scholarships, if I recall, have to be offered and renewed no later than July 31. I don't think that it comes as a surprise, players are told in advance of the coaches plans for the next year.

However, could it be that this was an academic scholarhip and the player was no longer eligible for that? I don't expect anyone to answer, it'snot our business really, just a reminder that things happen and we aren't aware of all of the curcumstances.

JMO.