STUDENT ELIGIBILITY TRANSFER STUDENTS 2017
WHY ARE THERE RULES GOVERNING STUDENTS WHO TRANSFER FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER? The TAPPS Transfer Rule has been developed to protect, not inhibit students who wish to participate in interscholastic competition. The Transfer Rule is preventative and is devised to eliminate the incentive to transfer schools once a student (family) has initially enrolled in and attended a school of their choice. he Transfer Rule is designed to protect students who have previously participated in interscholastic competition at any school from being replaced by students who transfer for athletic or other purposes, including the affects of student, or family, shopping for schools or being recruited for athletic purposes. The Transfer Rule encourages fair play, discourages the abuses of overenthusiastic promotion of school programs, and protects the integrity of interscholastic athletic programs for both member schools and the TAPPS organization.
WHO ARE TRANSFER STUDENTS? Which students qualify as Transfer Students? High school students who transfer from one high school to another during their sophomore, junior or senior years High school students who transfer from a home school team / organization to another during their sophomore, junior or senior years High school freshmen who begin practice or classes at a school and then transfer to another school
WHO ARE TRANSFER STUDENTS? Students matriculating from the 8th grade to the 9th grade are NOT considered transfer students unless they begin activities or class at another high school prior to attending the present high school
WHERE ARE THE RULES GOVERNING TRANSFER STUDENTS IN THE TAPPS BY-LAWS? Section 104 of the TAPPS By- Laws outlines the rules governing transfer students.
WHAT FORMS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE TRANSFER STUDENT PROCESS TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR VARSITY PARTICIPATION? The Previous Athletic Participation Form (PAPF) is required. This form can be found on the TAPPS website by clicking HERE. Which parts are required? Part A is required for all students. Part B is required for all students who participated in athletic activities within the previous twelve months at a previous school or with a home school group.
WHAT DO WE NEED FROM THE PARENTS AND STUDENT ON PART A? Complete the Student Information Section Complete the Student Eligibility Section Complete the Contact with New School Section Complete the Student Club Section The school will require a written answer to any answer which raises potential conflict with the TAPPS By-Laws. This information will then be submitted along with the PAPF to the district for their review.
WHAT DO WE NEED FROM THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL? PAPF Form Part B Must be signed by An administrator Athletic Director or designee Withdrawal from the previous school Follow the steps as prescribed by that school
WHAT DO WE DO IF THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL MARKED YES TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS IN THE SCHOOL CERTIFICATION AREA OF PART B? The school should contact the previous school for clarification and determine if additional action needs to be taken The school should report those findings in written form to the district along with the PAPF The district should contact the previous school for clarification and obtain and information necessary for review
WHAT DO WE DO IF THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL REFUSES TO SIGN THE PART B FORM? Contact the previous school to determine why they will not sign Report those findings to the district when submitting the PAPF for review The District will also contact the previous school for clarification The District can approve forms which are not signed by the previous school if their investigation supports that no violations of TAPPS governance are present.
WHAT DO WE DO IF THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL WILL NOT SIGN THE FORM? School should obtain the remaining signatures Parent Student New School Administrator and Athletic Director Submit the PAPF form parts A & B to the District Executive Committee for review Submit a letter of explaining why the previous school would not sign along with the PAPF
WHO MUST SIGN THE PAPF FORM BEFORE IT IS SENT TO THE DISTRICT FOR REVIEW AND ACTION? Part A A parent or guardian must sign the form The student must sign the form Part B Parent or Guardian Student Previous School Athletic Director School Administrator New School Athletic Director School Administrator
WE HAVE ALL THE SIGNATURES, NOW WHAT? Send forms to the District Executive Committee Each district will develop procedures for their schools to use The District must approve all transfers The District will send the approved forms to the TAPPS office and any supporting documentation to the TAPPS office
AFTER SENDING INFORMATION TO THE DISTRICT FOR REVIEW Enter the basic student information in TAPPSter Enter the activities in which the student plans to participate in TAPPSter The TAPPS office cannot enter eligibility dates to complete the process and the eligibility dates official until this step is completed by the school.
WE HAVE ALL THE SIGNATURES, NOW WHAT? The TAPPS office will review all PAPF submissions If all is correct The TAPPS office will enter the eligibility dates Once the dates are entered by the TAPPS office Varsity eligibility will begin on the date shown in TAPPSter If there are questions or missing signatures, the TAPPS office will notify the district president so that the areas can be addressed
AREAS THAT MAY AFFECT IMMEDIATE ELIGIBILITY OF THE STUDENT
TRANSFER DEADLINES August 15 Deadline for students entering the 12th grade to be Enrolled in the new school Completed all enrollment requirements Attending the new school if classes are in session Withdrawn from the previous school This deadline applies for all athletic activities
TRANSFER DEADLINES Transfer Deadline require students to be Enrolled in the new school Completed all enrollment requirements Attending the new school if classes are in session Withdrawn from the previous school
TRANSFER DEADLINES The FALL SPORTS DEADLINE is the First Tuesday in September Fall Sports activities include: Cross Country Fall Soccer Football Volleyball Students participating in tournaments or competitions during the fall sports season must be approved prior to varsity participation in Golf Swim Tennis Wrestling
TRANSFER DEADLINES The WINTER SPORTS DEADLINE is the First Tuesday in November WINTER Sports activities include: Basketball Soccer Swim Wrestling Students participating in tournaments or competitions during the winter sports season must be approved prior to varsity participation in Golf Tennis
TRANSFER DEADLINES The SPRING SPORTS DEADLINE is the Last Tuesday in January SPRING Sports activities include: Baseball Golf Softball Tennis Track and Field
WHAT IF THE TRANSFERRING STUDENT WAS INELIGIBLE AT THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL? Section 104.K If a student has been placed in an ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL for disciplinary reasons by the previous school district, the student is not eligible to participate in TAPPS activities until the length the alternative school placement has been served. If a student has been expelled from the previous school, the student is not eligible to participate in TAPPS activities until the following school year. If a student has been removed from an activity or team by the previous school, the TAPPS member school shall determine the student s eligibility to participate at the new school in accordance with the school s published guidelines.
SECTION 104.I OF THE TAPPS BY-LAWS IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE FOLLOW THE COACH RULE
ARE THERE LIMITATIONS TO WHO CAN AND WHO CANNOT TRANSFER TO A SCHOOL? TAPPS does not govern admittance to a school However, TAPPS does govern whether students attending a member school are eligible to participate in activities
WHO ARE THE COACHES REFERRED TO IN SECTION 104.I OF THE TAPPS BY-LAW? Definition of Coach (Section 1 of the TAPPS By-Laws) A person who interacts with students in practice or competition in an extra- curricular activity including but not limited to: Training Teaching a skill Instruction Tutoring Drilling Exercising Preparing
WHAT IS DEFINED AS COACHING AS COVERED IN SECTION 104 OF THE TAPPS BY-LAWS? Definition of Coach (Section 1 of the TAPPS By-Laws) For TAPPS purposes, coaches including but not limited to all of the following arrangements: Paid Unpaid Full-time Part-time Stipend Only Volunteer Team or Skills only (pitching, kicking, serve/serve return, goalkeeper, etc.)
WHAT IF A COACH AT THE NEW SCHOOL COACHED THE TRANSFERRING ATHLETE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS AT THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL? Section 104.I.a A student who transfers to a TAPPS member school shall not be eligible for Varsity competition in a sport for a period of one year if a coach in that sport at the new school coached or trained the student at the previous school during the previous 12 months The transferring student will not be eligible for Varsity Participation at the new school for one scholastic year.
WHAT IF A COACH AT THE NEW SCHOOL COACHED THE TRANSFERRING ATHLETE ON AN AAU, SELECT, CLUB 7 ON 7 OR SIMILAR TEAM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS? Section 104.I.b A student who transfers to a TAPPS member school shall not be eligible for Varsity competition in a sport for a period of one year if a a coach in that sport at the new school coached or trained the student on an AAU, select, club, 7 on7 or similar team during the previous 12 months. The transferring student will not be eligible for Varsity Participation at the new school for one scholastic year.
WHAT IF A COACH A THE NEW SCHOOL OWNS, MANAGE, OR SUPERVISES A CLUB TEAM IN WHICH THE TRANSFERRING STUDENT PARTICIPATED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS? Section 104.I.c A student who transfers to a TAPPS member school shall not be eligible for Varsity competition in a sport for a period of one year if a coach in that sport at the new school was directly associated with the AAU, select, club, 7 on 7 or similar team as owner, manager, supervisor or similar position during the previous 12 months. The transferring student will not be eligible for Varsity Participation at the new school for one scholastic year.
WHAT IF A COACH AT THE NEW SCHOOL PROVIDED PRIVATE OR GROUP INSTRUCTION TO THE TRANSFERRING STUDENT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS? Section 104.I.d A student who transfers to a TAPPS member school shall not be eligible for Varsity competition in a sport for a period of one year if a coach at the new school provided individual or group instruction to the student during the previous 12 months. The transferring student will not be eligible for Varsity Participation at the new school for one scholastic year.
WHAT IF A COACH AT THE NEW SCHOOL PROVIDED SKILLS TRAINING OR PERSONAL TRAINING TO THE TRANSFERRING STUDENT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS? Section 104.I.e A student who transfers to a TAPPS member school shall not be eligible for Varsity competition in a sport for a period of one year if a coach at the new school provided skills training, fitness training, personal training or other such training to the student during the previous 12 months. The transferring student will not be eligible for Varsity Participation at the new school for one scholastic year.
WHAT IF A COACH AT THE NEW SCHOOL OWNED, MANAGED OR SUPERVISED THE FACILITY OR COMPANY PROVIDED SKILLS TRAINING OR PERSONAL TRAINING TO THE TRANSFERRING STUDENT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS? Section 104.I.f A student who transfers to a TAPPS member school shall not be eligible for Varsity competition in a sport for a period of one year if a coach at the new school acted as the director, owner, manager supervisor or held a similar position in an establishment where the student received training during the previous 12 months The transferring student will not be eligible for Varsity Participation at the new school for one scholastic year.
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED FOR SECTION 104.I OF THE TAPPS BY-LAWS? Section 104.I.g Biological or adopted children are eligible if the coach in question is their parent. This exception does not apply to other extended family members such as nieces, nephews or cousins. This exception does not apply to students for whom the coach is a guardian or a conservator.
WHAT IF THE SCHOOL THE PREVIOUS COACH AND STUDENT ATTENDED CLOSES OR IS NO LONGER IN OPERATION AS A HIGH SCHOOL? Section 104.I.h If the previous school attended by the student and coach has closed, the above rule does not apply. While Section 104.I would not apply in this situation, the provisions of Section 87 would still be in place.
QUESTIONS ON TRANSFERRING STUDENTS? Please contact the TAPPS office 254-947-9268 254-947-9368 (fax) info@tapps.biz Additional information available under the GOVERNANCE tab at www.tapps.biz.