IHSAA approves First-Time Transfer proposal

Also adds Girls Flag Football as Emerging Sport

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

The IHSAA Board of Directors formally adopted changes to Rule 19 regarding first-time transfers during its annual review of Member School By-Laws Monday.

Under the proposal, a student who transfers from one IHSAA Member School to another will maintain full eligibility if it occurs within their first six semesters of high school. Second and subsequent transfers and transfers from non-IHSAA Member Schools will be handled “in a similar fashion” as they have been in previous years.

Also, students whose second transfer involves a return to the IHSAA Member School where they established their initial promotion eligibility will retain full eligibility within 365 days of their enrollment date at the previous school.

The proposal was first adopted at an Executive Committee meeting Feb. 21, and the new by-law takes effect June 1.

The IHSAA also approved Girls Flag Football as an emerging sport. 

“By earning the designation as an emerging sport, the IHSAA will now provide rule books, conduct coaches rules meetings and provide coverage in the IHSAA’s Catastrophic Medical program,” the IHSAA said in a media release.

The IHSAA also said that 50% of the membership must be participating in the sport for it to achieve official recognition. The IHSAA currently has 409 member schools.

The Indianapolis Colts have provided “strong support and financial backing,” for Girls Flag Football, according to the media release.

The IHSAA also approved girls lacrosse as an emerging sport last August.

The Board also rejected by a 12-6 vote a proposal that would have allowed member schools to create co-op programs for team sports, enrollment limits, proximity requirements and application processes.