Transfer rules loosened for WA high school student-athletes. Details here
High school athletics transfer rules in Washington state have been loosened.
In last week’s voting period, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s (WIAA) representative assembly passed an amendment approving a one-time transfer for student-athletes during their four-year high school career after they’ve established their initial eligibility at a high school.
Under the new rule, a student-athlete who transfers will be ineligible for varsity competition for 40% of the maximum number of allowable contests for sports played the previous year, as defined by each sport’s specific rules, in the school year following the transfer.
The previous rule only allowed high school students to transfer to another school and retain their varsity eligibility during the following calendar year if their family has a corresponding residence move. There were a few exceptions to the rule, such as the hardship exception, in which students could appeal their athletic eligibility if they could prove unique circumstances concerning the student’s physical or emotional status existed.
The WIAA formed a committee in 2024 and began looking at changes to the transfer rule after pressure from at least one Washington lawmaker, The News Tribune previously reported.
Some coaches have expressed concerns about competitive equity and the potential for super teams if the amendment passed and transfer rules were loosened. The argument in favor of the amendment was that student-athletes and their families should have free choice of which school they want to attend and their athletic eligibility shouldn’t be affected.
The WIAA hoped to get in front of the issue before lawmakers in Olympia forced its hand.
The one-time transfer rule was a sort of compromise between the current rules and a full-fledged open transfer portal, which currently exists at the college level in the NCAA.
This story was originally published April 21, 2025 at 11:28 AM.
