Vote on revising CIF transfer rules creates uncertainty
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No one really knows how a proposal to revise CIF transfer rules will really work out. It moved a bit closer to becoming reality on Wednesday when the Southern Section Council endorsed the proposal by a landslide vote, 41-40. Well, it wasn’t really a landslide.
It was so interesting to witness the great divide. Leagues made up of private schools were voting against the concept of reducing the penalty for transferring without moving from one year to about 30 days. Leagues made up of public schools were voting in favor, as if they think the revision would be a weapon to neutralize the private schools and all the advantages they supposedly have.
To me, it was like lambs being led to slaughter. Leagues were voting in favor, not knowing the ramifications but so discouraged with the current state of things they wanted to at least give it a try. There’s nothing wrong with looking to improve things, but my concern is the usual: Once the genie is out of the bottle, how do you put it back?
There are promises to make changes once everyone sees how the revision works. Meanwhile, if the rule change is approved next week at the State Federated Council meeting, it will mean a summer of turmoil.
Come August, football players who don’t like their positions on a team can simply walk out and transfer to another school and be eligible effective Oct. 1. They’ll miss perhaps five games, but I don’t think that will prevent someone from transferring, especially a senior who wants to start. And remember, some teams will be playing a 16-game schedule this fall in football.
That’s where the public schools apparently think they’ll benefit. Backups wanting to play. We shall see. And just wait until the basketball transfers begin. It’s been a pretty quiet April on the transfer front in basketball. My suspicion is people have been waiting to see what happens with the transfer rules. By next Friday, we’ll all know the answer.
-- Eric Sondheimer