Subscribe to the NCSA BlogJunior College Transfer Rules
July 28th, 2009 - byQ: Why is there no information about recruiting involving junior college players?
A: You asked for it, you got it. The first thing we’ll cover is transfer rules. This is taken from the Athletes Wanted website.
You are a transfer if…
• You were ever enrolled full-time in a two or four year school.
• You ever went to practice
• You practiced or played while you were enrolled part-time
What Type of Transfer Are You?
• Qualifier: A student-athlete who has met NCAA Eligibility requirements.
• Partial Qualifier: A freshman who has met some of the academic requirements, but not all. They
o Can practice
o Can receive financial aid
o Must sit out one year
o DII Only, DI does NOT have partial qualifiers
• Non-Qualifier: An S/A who has not met academic requirements.
o Can’t practice or play
o No financial aid for one year.
o Three seasons of competition in Division I
o Automatic non-qualifier if you never registered for the clearinghouse.
When do you need permission to contact?
• If you’re now full-time in a four-year school
• A written letter from your AD (or admin/compliance).
• You may write to any NCAA college saying that you’re interested in transferring, but the new coach must not discuss transferring with you unless they have received written permission from your current school.
• If your current school will not give you a written permission to contact, you will have to sit out a year or appeal.
When DON’T you need permission?
• You are attending a NJCAA, NCCAA school.
• DIII to DIII school. In which case you use a “Self Release” to allow the second school to contact you about transferring.
o Sample self-release at ncaa.org
Junior College Transfer
• If you are a two-year college transfer, you do not need a release.
• You may be required to get your degree in some cases or else you will have to sit out a year (academic year in residence).
I want to transfer
• Refer to the NCAA transfer guide and the FAQ on the NCAA site. Immediately call the NCAA (317-917-6222) to determine your eligibility status and familiarize yourself with the NCAA rules.
• Determine if you are eligible
o Did you fulfill NLI requirements?
o Are you academically in good standing?
o Are you a qualifier, partial qualifier, non-qualifier?
• Determine what release forms you need to get.
o Do you have written permission to contact?
o Coaches are required to have a transfer release in hand BEFORE speaking to a student-athlete from a four year college (scholarship or not).
o If you do not have a release the interested coach needs to inform their Compliance Officer and one will be sent to the your current institution requesting permission to contact.
