Transfer Question

The quick answer is yes. As a matter of fact, this happened at Army, where a player recieved a degree, used only 3 years of eligibility and then gained admission to West Point and played his final year. He wound up being a student-coach his final three years(he had to do the complete undergrad program as West Point doesn't transfer in credits) and earning a bachelor of science in addition to his first bachelors degree.

How does a player go about finding another school to transfer to?

Two things here:

01--if he goes to another college for GRAD work is it considered a transfer ? NCAA where are you?

-02--does he have to sit out a year

03-- since it is grad school are the rules different interms of the player talking to the schools? Does he need a release?

This is a very timely question for me as well so I look forward to responses.

Initial response to inquiries I have gotten about the conference we are in is they wouldn't allow a player to transfer in conference even if it were a grad school situation but would allow it outside of the conference. At this point the info I have is very sketchy.

TR,
Good point, if you are a grad student, I do beleive that you do NOT transfer. I think as long as you have eligibilty left you can play anywhere, except in conference.

I know a Dartmouth graduate who had had a redshirt year. He enrolled in a different school for grad work. He was welcomed on the team and is currently leading the team in hitting .455.

Note: He's not enrolled at a DI.

I am in compliance and recently dealt with this issue. There is some confusion regarding this issue because the NCAA did recently overturn the regulation that allows an athlete to transfer to another school to play after a degree is earned. However, the regulation that seems to be causing confusion is related to football. A baseball player may transfer with eligibility left after a degree is earned. New legislation that was passed last August does not consider this a transfer. However, the student athlete must still obtain a release and cannot talk to a coach until such is granted. A school would be hard pressed to find a reason not to grant a release to a SA who is seeking to transfer to another school for graduate work. There are exceptions to this rule - a conference, as mentioned can refuse to allow such a transfer. In other words, a player leaving the Univ. of Michigan with a degree may not be able to transfer to the University of Illinois for graduate school and play a final year because the Big 10 may have a "sit-out" rule of one year for inter-conference transfers. The Ivy League does not allow athletes to compete after a degree is earned and the NAIA will not allow a SA to transfer with a degree. The NAIA will, however allow a SA to compete at the same school after a degree is earned. In summary, the SA who will earn a degree and then move on to grad school to complete eligibility is treated just as a non-degree transfer student, but the move to the new school would not be considered a transfer.

Clarification...the NAIA will not allow a student with a degree to transfer into an NAIA school and play. If the SA attends an NAIA school and earns a degree with eligibility remaining then they can remain at the current school and finish their eligibility.