TSSAA denies one-time transfer rule for high school athletes

TSSAA Legislative Council meeting on February 4, 2025 (Photo by the TSSAA)

Members of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Legislative Council voted down multiple proposed rule changes largely designed to make it easier for high school athletes to transfer schools at a meeting Tuesday morning.

That includes a “one-time transfer” proposal that would’ve allowed students to transfer once following the completion of the ninth-grade without loss of athletic eligibility. Any subsequent transfers would be subject to the current Residence Rule and Transfer Rules under the proposal from Baylor School, a private school in Chattanooga serving grades 6-12.

Under current TSSAA rules that govern public and private schools across the state, students are not eligible to transfer to another school in a different zone for one calendar year from their last varsity game unless they have a bona fide change of address.

“We’re obviously living in a climate where academic freedom is more of a priority and an expectation than it’s ever been but you know, that being said, when we look at our primary objectives of our bylaws, one of the first and foremost is to maintain athletics in its proper perspective as a board to the primary academic mission of the schools,” said TSSAA Executive Director Mark Reeves when introducing the proposed changes for consideration. “Part of what we do is to try to prevent the exploitation of students for athletic purposes.”

District 2 Council Member and Oak Ridge High School Athletic Director Joe Gaddis was among those on the legislative council expressing concerns about the proposed one-time transfer. Gaddis worries it could entice schools to recruit students for athletics, which isn’t allowed.

“I think we have a great organization here, with a solid mission statement and it looks out for kids.  It looks out for children, for student athletes,” said Gaddis. “After coaching football for 48 years it’s going to open the floodgates to recruiting that I don’t see how the TSSAA can police.”

That unanimously denied proposal for a one-time transfer would have also allowed foreign exchange students to participate in athletics for the number of years that correspond with the students’ grade of enrollment.

TSSAA Legislative Council members also voted down eligibility rule changes for boarding schools and boarding students along with a proposal that would allow students transferring for academic reasons to retain their varsity eligibility, provided the previous school administration confirms the transfer was for educational reasons and unrelated to athletics.

General Assembly to weigh in on transfer issue

The vote comes as some state lawmakers are proposing pressuring the TSSAA to make changes to its transfer rules.  State Representative Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, is proposing legislation to allow students a one-time opportunity to join a sports team immediately after transferring to a new school. The legislation would also prohibit public schools from using public funds to join an athletic association that doesn’t grant immediate athletic eligibility to a student who transfers no more than once and would apply to groups that regulate interscholastic athletes like the TSSAA.

The House Education Administration Subcommittee could take up Cepikcy’s legislation as soon as this month. The association believes in its 100-year history the state legislature has not passed a law in conflict with TSSAA rules.

The Legislative Council is planning to revisit the transfer issue itself in a special called meeting in April, asking TSSAA staff to bring proposed changes for consideration that would allow a transfer without loss of eligibility if the transfer was for reasons unrelated to athletics.