There are many reasons why college athletes choose to transfer schools before they 
graduate. They may not be enjoying the school like they thought, they want to change their major, or want a different athletic opportunity. Whatever the reason may be, athletes should heavily consider the impact transferring to another school may have on their academics and their progress towards graduation.
Athletes need to know and understand the restrictions of transferring before they make their decision. They should really consider why they want to transfer and if switching schools is really the best option for them. The NCAA enforces rules on transfer athletes because switching schools can have a drastic effect on their graduation timeline. As student-athletes, they really need to be weary about how transferring schools might affect their academics.
Crucial Points about Being a College Transfer
• The NCAA does not prevent athletes from being able to transfer: One of the NCAA’s main goals for transfer athletes is to make sure they remain academically eligible to compete. They enforce transfer rules to make sure that athletes are eligible to compete at the new institution and will continue to progress towards earning a degree. Having transfer restrictions for athletes encourages crucial consideration regarding whether or not a transfer to a new school is the best decision for an athlete.
• Contacting college coaches: Students are required to get written permission from their current school’s athletic department to be allowed to contact another school and earn an athletics scholarship at a new institution. College coaches are also not allowed to contact current student-athletes at other schools until the athlete has gotten the permission of the athletic department. This is to ensure that the recruiting process ends once the athlete is enrolled in college and isn’t bothered while they compete for another school.
• Football and basketball players have special transfer rules: Because football and basketball are historically the sports with the most transfers, most players will be required to sit out a year after they transfer to a new school. The NCAA enforces this through the academic year-in-residence rule: they want to make sure that the athlete has time to adjust to the school’s environment and that they transferred for both athletic and academic reasons. Football and basketball players are still able to earn an athletic scholarship and practice with the team when they sit out that year but cannot compete.
• Scholarships do not bind the athlete to the school, even multi-year scholarships: A student-athlete is allowed to transfer to another institution even under a scholarship contract. An athlete may choose to transfer at any point. Even multi-year scholarships don’t bind an athlete to a school, so an athlete is able to transfer during the term of the scholarship. However, if a student has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI), they are required to stay at that school during their first year of competition.
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Son currently a sophmore playing football in a 2 year college does he
have to graduate from that school to transfer and play at a four year
college?
Hi Teri,
There are a few factors that will determine if you son can transfer before he completes his two years; This guide will explain what he will need to do and know when it comes to making the switch: http://www.athleticscholarships.net/junior-college-transfer-2-4.htm
Please let me know if you have any other questions about this or any other part of the recruiting process.
My son has been granted a release from his current school and will be transferring. With classes starting soon, how long do you have to get enrolled in the new college to stay academically eligible according to NCAA guidelines?
It’s not a matter of how long you are enrolled, you need to complete a specific amount of course hours each year to maintain eligibility. All Division I student-athletes must earn at least six credit hours each term to be eligible for the following term and must meet minimum grade-point average requirements that are related to an institution’s own GPA standards for graduation. In Division II, student-athletes must complete 24 hours of degree credit each academic year to remain eligible for competition. At least 18 of those hours must be earned between the start of fall classes and spring commencement at a student-athlete’s institution (six hours may be earned in the summer)
It is not a straight forward answer, your sons best resource will be with the athletic department and the councilors there. He can work with them to ensure he maintains his eligibility. Good luck.
My brother played football in the fall of 2008 at an JC, he never went back to play football after the first year but now he wants to go back and play is he eligibility
You are only allowed to play 4 years in 5 years once you start playing. That means this past year would have been his fifth year and most likely he is out of eligibility.
My daughter, who will be graduating HS, signed a NLI for one Div 1 program but has been granted a release in order to attend another Div 1 program (in different conferences). Is she allowed to begin the enrollment process at the new college prior to actually receiving the written release? There has been no contact with the incoming athletic department nor will there be until the release is official.
Yes. The release only refers to an athletes signing of a scholarship and ability to compete in the first year after a transfer. Enrolling in the school should be fine. Best of luck.