A significant change to the NCAA’s transfer rules may be on the way, thanks to support from the Big Ten, and now, the ACC. Both leagues are in favor of allowing athletes in any sport to transfer once without penalty—meaning, those athletes wouldn’t have to sit out a year.
The ACC released this statement today:
Statement from the ACC on transfer opportunity: pic.twitter.com/2oMEKNOSFB
— The ACC (@theACC) February 17, 2020
This comes a few weeks after news that the Big Ten proposed this change in policy last year. For the sake of equity, it’s the right thing to do, as only five sports currently require transfers to sit out a season: football, men’s and women’s basketball, hockey, and baseball. There’s no reason beyond coaches’ selfish desires for the athletes in those sports to be penalized for wanting a change of scenery.
It would establish consistency across all NCAA-sponsored sports, and it would remove from the transfer waiver application process from the picture. Considering how inconsistent the NCAA has been in granting waivers to athletes in those five sports who are hope to play without having to sit, I’m all for getting rid of the whole machinery.
As long as coaches are free to explore opportunities elsewhere anytime they want and move without penalty, players should be given that same leniency. It’s only fair.
But it’s far from a done deal yet, and wouldn’t be implemented until 2021 at the earliest. The support from two of the power five conferences represents some considerable progress, though.