Student Athlete Transfer Information

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Coaches, team leaders, athletic department staff, and team members/representatives of any team shall not make contact in any manner (in-person communication, telephone calls and text messages, electronic communication, written correspondence) with a student athlete of another institution about transferring, directly or indirectly, without confirming the student athlete has been added to the transfer portal, regardless of who makes the initial contact. 

Students interested in transferring are encouraged to have a discussion with their coach and school administration to make them aware of their desire to transfer. From there, students will need to submit their information using the form on this page to be added to the online database. The transfer portal permits student athletes to place their name in an online database declaring their desire to transfer. Once submitted, we will notify the student’s current coach of their intention to transfer and will add the student to the transfer portal. If the student indicates a college of interest, we will also notify the coach or team leader of that team of their desire to connect. 

Student responsibility: Students should not speak to a new team about transferring (whether it be the coach, student leader, athletics staff, or team member) before adding their information to the transfer portal. It is highly recommended that a student interested in transferring should alert their coach and/or athletic department of their desire and intent to transfer before submitting their information to the portal. 

Coach responsibility: Coaches should not engage in communication about an athlete’s transfer, regardless of who makes the initial contact, with a student enrolled at another institution without first confirming they have submitted their information to the transfer portal. A formal complaint made against a coach that does not follow the transfer rules will be reviewed by NCSSAA staff and may result in a suspension period for the team.

Transfer students will be permitted to compete immediately at their new institution, as long as the transfer policy has been followed. If the transfer is made without using the portal, students may be required to sit out up to one academic year. Students transferring in the middle of the academic year (between the fall and spring semesters) will be permitted to compete immediately, but under the following conditions: 

• If the student qualified for Nationals under their original school, their eligibility will be lost once transferred to a new school. The student is still welcome to qualify to compete at Nationals, but the qualification will start over under the new team. 
• One of the five auto-qualification positions is not able to be used on the transfer student.

If the student is able to transfer and meet the qualification requirements with the new team, they are welcome to compete at Nationals.