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MT. JULIET — Tennessee high school athletes in middle school and high school can now transfer schools one time without a bona fide change of address and still be eligible, as long as it's their first transfer, after the TSSAA Legislative Council amended the TSSAA’s bylaws on April 14.
The Council voted 12-0 to approve a proposal that brought the TSSAA into compliance with Tennessee state law. Gov. Bill Lee signed a one-time transfer law in February, effective July 1, which was a result of years of efforts from legislators.
It was a significant formality that built upon a one-time transfer provision the TSSAA added last year, which allowed one free transfer but for non-athletic reasons. The sending school also had to attest that the move wasn’t for sports.
More: Tennessee one-time transfer law raises unanswered questions for TSSAA. What are they?
For the bulk of the TSSAA’s existence, the association made high school athletes sit out one year if they transferred schools without a bona fide change of address. That was the trend nationally for years as well.
But loosened transfer rules are becoming more common — especially with school-choice philosophy gaining popularity.
The TSSAA’s rule change is not a free-for-all. Athletes must transfer between school years to be immediately eligible and are subject to other exceptions, such as the TSSAA’s recruiting rule, age rule and athletic link rule.
Any athlete with an athletic record who has already transferred, including those who transferred with a bona fide change of address, will not be allowed an additional transfer unless they receive a hardship waiver. For example, transfers under the TSSAA's previous one-time exception for non-athletic reasons will not be allowed an additional transfer.
A student who engages in three or more days of practice after the TSSAA first official date of practice with a school in which the student is enrolled shall be ineligible in that sport for that season if the student then enrolls in another school.
Here's an excpert from the wording:
The Council adopted a provision that will allow first-time transfers during the 2025-26 school year, prior to April 15, 2026, to be eligible at their new school provided they meet the other requirements for eligible students, such as the athletic link and age rule, etc.
A provision also allows other transfer students immediate eligibility regardless of when the transfer occurs or whether the student has previously transferred. That is applied if a student changes schools as a direct result of re-zoning of the existing residence of the student’s family unit or re-assignment of students by the local school system provided the student transfers at the time they are re-zoned or re-assigned; a student who has been determined by a Court to be dependent and neglected and consequently changes residences and schools as a result of a Court order; a student is moving as a direct result of the dissolution of the student's home due to death; a student is in foster care and has consequently changed residences and schools as a result of a change in placement; or a student changes schools as a direct result of the military deployment of their parent or guardian.
This story will be updated.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What is the new high school transfer rule in Tennessee? TSSAA details
Continue reading...
The Council voted 12-0 to approve a proposal that brought the TSSAA into compliance with Tennessee state law. Gov. Bill Lee signed a one-time transfer law in February, effective July 1, which was a result of years of efforts from legislators.
It was a significant formality that built upon a one-time transfer provision the TSSAA added last year, which allowed one free transfer but for non-athletic reasons. The sending school also had to attest that the move wasn’t for sports.
More: Tennessee one-time transfer law raises unanswered questions for TSSAA. What are they?
For the bulk of the TSSAA’s existence, the association made high school athletes sit out one year if they transferred schools without a bona fide change of address. That was the trend nationally for years as well.
But loosened transfer rules are becoming more common — especially with school-choice philosophy gaining popularity.
What is the new high school transfer rule in Tennessee?
The TSSAA’s rule change is not a free-for-all. Athletes must transfer between school years to be immediately eligible and are subject to other exceptions, such as the TSSAA’s recruiting rule, age rule and athletic link rule.
Any athlete with an athletic record who has already transferred, including those who transferred with a bona fide change of address, will not be allowed an additional transfer unless they receive a hardship waiver. For example, transfers under the TSSAA's previous one-time exception for non-athletic reasons will not be allowed an additional transfer.
A student who engages in three or more days of practice after the TSSAA first official date of practice with a school in which the student is enrolled shall be ineligible in that sport for that season if the student then enrolls in another school.
Here's an excpert from the wording:
TSSAA one-time transfer provision covers 2025-26 transfers
The Council adopted a provision that will allow first-time transfers during the 2025-26 school year, prior to April 15, 2026, to be eligible at their new school provided they meet the other requirements for eligible students, such as the athletic link and age rule, etc.
A provision also allows other transfer students immediate eligibility regardless of when the transfer occurs or whether the student has previously transferred. That is applied if a student changes schools as a direct result of re-zoning of the existing residence of the student’s family unit or re-assignment of students by the local school system provided the student transfers at the time they are re-zoned or re-assigned; a student who has been determined by a Court to be dependent and neglected and consequently changes residences and schools as a result of a Court order; a student is moving as a direct result of the dissolution of the student's home due to death; a student is in foster care and has consequently changed residences and schools as a result of a change in placement; or a student changes schools as a direct result of the military deployment of their parent or guardian.
This story will be updated.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What is the new high school transfer rule in Tennessee? TSSAA details
Continue reading...
