Transfer rule to be hot topic when board meets

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, June 19, 2001 | 10:35 a.m.

Clark County's proposed athletic budget cuts have been put on hold, but that doesn't mean there won't be a controversial issue on the table when the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's Board of Control opens its annual meetings today in Reno.

A proposed one-time transfer rule will be the hot topic during the two-day session, with the nine-member board expected to choose among several options that could allow high school students to maintain their athletic eligibility after transferring.

"I hope we do something because I don't think we're being fair to some of the kids we deal with," NIAA executive director Jerry Hughes said.

Under the current rules, students who transfer between schools must sit out 180 days -- roughly one full academic year -- before competing again. Students who move from one zone to another are excepted from this rule, with an appeal process the only avenue open to other transfers who hope to continue playing without interruption.

The proposed one-time transfer rule would affect students on zone variances, as well as those who switch between public and private schools, and vice versa.

The agenda item has drawn opposition from coaches and administrators who feel such a rule would open the door to recruiting.

"These kids would still fill out a form stating they were never recruited, so it's a misnomer that kids will automatically be eligible if they have a zone variance," Clark County athletic director Larry McKay said. "The rationale is that we have a lot of kids who appeal the current rule who are not allowed to play who just want a chance to try out."

If the board chooses to enact the new transfer rule, it will likely decide between three options: one applying to all high school athletes, another applying only to athletes playing at the lower (junior varsity and freshman) levels or a third applying only to incoming freshmen looking to attend a school outside their zone.