Yes, NCAA transfers in Division I and Division II typically have to sit out for one year before being eligible to play for their new school, unless they receive a waiver for immediate eligibility.
And now in more detail
NCAA transfers, who are student-athletes looking to switch schools, in Division I and Division II typically have to sit out for one year before being eligible to play for their new team. However, there are exceptions that allow immediate eligibility through the NCAA waiver process, such as “documented mitigating circumstances that are outside the student-athlete’s control and directly impact the health, safety or well-being of the student-athlete.” Factors such as academic performance, disciplinary issues, and playing time do not typically qualify for a waiver.
According to the NCAA, there are approximately 10,000 student-athletes who transfer in Division I and II each year, and about 40% of them sit out for a year before becoming eligible to compete for their new team. The process of gaining a waiver can be a lengthy and complicated one, and the decision to grant immediate eligibility is ultimately up to the NCAA.
A table of Division I and II transfer waiver approvals and denials in recent years (provided by CBS Sports) shows that the percentage of waivers granted has been steadily increasing. In the 2018-2019 academic year, 79% of waivers were granted, compared to just 65% in 2015-2016. This trend is likely due in part to the scrutiny placed on the waiver process after the controversial approval of waivers for high-profile transfers, such as quarterback Justin Fields and basketball player Joey Hauser.
In the words of college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, “I’m all for student-athletes being able to transfer and not have to sit out. I don’t think they should be restricted, but I also want to make sure that there’s some sort of balance there. Otherwise it becomes free agency.” The debate over transfer rules and waivers is likely to continue as more student-athletes seek to change schools and play for new teams.
Transfer Waiver Approvals and Denials (2015-2019)
| Year | Total Waivers | Waivers Approved | Waivers Denied | Approval % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 991 | 645 | 346 | 65.0% |
| 2016 | 1,007 | 664 | 343 | 66.0% |
| 2017 | 1,100 | 729 | 371 | 66.3% |
| 2018 | 1,041 | 827 | 214 | 79.4% |
| 2019 | 1,024 | 818 | 206 | 79.9% |
See related video
The NCAA has approved a new transfer rule that allows athletes to transfer from one school to another without sitting out a year. The rule creates perpetual free agency in football and basketball and will make the transfer portal more popular. It is uncertain which programs will benefit most from the new rule.
Check out the other solutions I discovered
Do You Lose a Year of Athletic Eligibility if You Transfer Schools?
- Transferring From College to College The NCAA allows all student-athletes to transfer if they believe that it’s the best decision for them.
- A Required Transition Year While you do not lose a year of eligibility athletically, all student-athletes who transfer are required to sit out for one full sports season of competition.
- Eligibility
- Exceptions
You will probably be interested
Do you have to sit out a year if you transfer college football?
The answer is: The right answer according to the NCAA is no. Many schools don’t like when their athletes transfer within the conference, but the school is not able to withhold you from going there. Recent rules have changed, and undergraduate athletes are now able to transfer once and not have to sit out a year.
Beside this, Can NCAA transfers play right away? Response will be: The new NCAA rule only applies to undergraduate transfers. Players who graduate will still be eligible to play immediately at their next stops.
Correspondingly, What is the NCAA rule on transferring? The response is: "In all sports, four-year undergraduate student athletes who decide to transfer to a new NCAA school can generally be eligible to compete for the new school provided that they have not previously transferred and notify their current school by entering the NCAA Transfer Portal during their sport-specific transfer window
Similarly, Do transfers sit out a year?
Response to this: When do athletes have to sit out a year? Student-athletes have to sit out a year when they transfer to a Division I school for the second time. For instance, if a student-athlete has played at two Division I schools and decides to transfer again, they will have to sit out a year.
Similarly, Do college football players have to sit out a year? Starting next season, major college football and basketball players will be permitted to transfer one time before graduating without being required to sit out a year of competition. ByAssociated Press [month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone] Facebook Twitter SHARE SHAREAP sources: NCAA dumps requirement that transfers sit a yearCLOSE
Can a college football player transfer a year before graduating?
As an answer to this: Starting next season, major college football and basketball players will be permitted to transfer one time before graduating without being required to sit out a year of competition. clock CST_ FacebookTwitter Deseret News Deseret Magazine Church News Print Subscriptions Saturday, May 20, 2023 | LATEST NEWS THE WEST UTAH Politics Police/Courts
Will NCAA rules change if players move from one conference to another? Response to this: Many leagues force players to sit a year when moving from one conference school to another. Conferences will have to adjust their own rules to mirror the NCAA’s new change. Already this year, the American, ACC and MAC lifted their intraconference transfer rule. The Pac-12 did so in 2019.
Also to know is, Can a college athlete transfer without sitting out?
The response is: Athletes who have graduated have also been permitted to transfer without sitting out, but not undergraduates. Starting this fall semester, all athletes will be operating under the same rules: Transfers will be allowed to play right away.