The Division I Board of Directors strongly supports legislation that would allow all Division I student-athletes the opportunity to transfer and compete immediately, regardless of the sport they play. The board met virtually Wednesday.
All Division I student-athletes would have the ability to transfer and compete immediately once during their collegiate experience if a measure introduced by the Division I Council is adopted. The Council met by videoconference Tuesday and...
National data indicate that many of today’s college graduates transfer at some point on their way to a degree. This is true among student-athletes as well, and may be most visible in Division I men’s basketball (MBB). Since 2015, NCAA Research has been tracking the destinations of Division I men’s basketball transfers and uncovered some interesting findings:
The rate of transfer between four-year colleges in Division I MBB is high relative to most other sports, but not the highest (see tables in full report).
The number of 4-4 transfers on Division I MBB squads has increased in each of the past two years (blue line in Figure 1). This is coupled with a relatively stable percent of two-year college transfers in MBB (red line).
That said, NCAA Research has found that about 40% of all MBB players who enter Division I directly out of high school depart their initial school by the end of their sophomore year.
Where do these transfers end up? Transfers were identified by merging the 2019 Division I Basketball Transfers list from the Verbal Commits website with all Division I men’s basketball student-athletes listed in the 2018-19 Transfer Portal. 694 of the players on the list were identified as transferring to another school and joining the basketball team. 54% of the transfers went to another Division I school (often to a less competitive program), while the others typically left for Division II, NAIA or 2-year colleges (Figure 2).
Generally, over 80% of all MBB transfers say they leave for athletic reasons. Absent proper academic planning, many of these SAs lose credits upon transfer and register lower Academic Progress Rates (APRs) and graduation rates at their new schools than seen among non-transfers.
Trend in the Proportion of Men's Basketball Transfers in Division I APR Cohorts
Transfer Destination of Division I Men's Basketball Players
The Division I Council Coordination Committee expanded the Transfer Waiver Working Group, formed last fall to study and recommend changes to the waiver process.
The NCAA Division Council adopted the recommended transfer eligibility resolution (NCAA Proposal No. R-2020-6) during its May 20, 2020, meeting. The resolution states that the Council will work with key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive legislative and policy package regarding transfer eligibility for adoption not later than January 2021 and effective not later than for eligibility to compete during the 2021-22 academic year. The resolution also articulates a framework to achieve a uniform and equitable approach to transfer eligibility, while acknowledging ancillary items that may need adjustment with such changes.
The NCAA Division I Working Group on Transfers is charged to fulfill the parameters of Proposal No. R-2020-6 – Transfer Eligibility Resolution. The working group will collaborate with the respective governance and sport oversight committees to develop a comprehensive legislative package.
A legislative concept will be recommended to the Council in August 2020 with an opportunity for membership feedback and modification as appropriate prior to November 2020. The proposal will be voted on by the Council in the January 2021.
Division I student-athletes in sports other than football and basketball may continue to participate in eight hours of required, virtual nonphysical activities per week.
The Division I Council approved a resolution Wednesday that outlined its intention to adopt by January a comprehensive legislative package creating uniform, modernized rules governing eligibility after transfer for student-athletes in all sports.
The Division I Council spent much of its meeting Friday discussing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes, schools and conferences. Recognizing the severity of the impact, the group took action to address potential needs.
Division I student-athletes in all sports could have the same ability to transfer and compete immediately if a concept under consideration by the Transfer Waiver Working Group is adopted by the Division I Council.
