transfer

SoCalHoops Prep & High School Report

Howie Levine Will Be A Little Happier Now:
City Section Limits Eligibility For Tranfers--(May 1, 1998)

This has been a sore subject for years among not just City Section area basketball coaches, but in all sports in all CIF sports. One of the biggest critics of the old "free transfer" policy was Howard Levine, Gil Arenas' coach at Grant High, who told us recently "If a student transfers for any reason other than a move to a new residence with his family, he should lose eligibility." A bit harsh, but maybe not too severe a reaction to the situation which many have called a free-for-all in high school sports in Los Angeles in the last several years with the implementation of open enrollment.

But now LA City Section will implement a new rule governing transfers for the 1998-99 school year. And while it doesn't put a complete end to transfers which might be motivated for reasons other than academic or residential moves, it should slow down the transfer process.

Under the current rule, there are no restrictions on athletic eligibility for transfers. Thus a student can go to any number of schools during his high school career, for whatever reason, subject only to restrictions placed on the coaches against illegal recruiting.

But under the new rule announced yesterday, athletes will be allowed one transfer only. An exception to this "one transfer" rule, is that an athlete will be allowed to transfer back to his or her "residence school" without losing varsity eligibility, City Commissioner Barbara Fiege said. However, athletes who transfer from their residence school to another, and then to another, will not be eligible to compete unless hardship is proved.

"The rule brings the L.A. City Section more in line with what's going on in the rest of the state," Fiege said. "Students should not be able to transfer to three or four schools during their high school years for the purpose of athletic participation."

Fiege added that a residential move by an athlete's family would supersede the transfer policy. The hardship option is available when an "unforeseeable, uncorrectable and/or unavoidable" burden is placed on the student or the student's family, Fiege said.