Southern Section Council votes to approve CIF transfer revisions

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A divided Southern Section Council voted 41-40 on Wednesday to endorse a series of proposals to revise CIF transfer rules this fall, including implementation of a monthlong sit-out period instead of a one-year penalty for transferring without moving.

It means the Southern Section representatives will be instructed to vote in favor of the proposal at next week’s meeting of the State Federated Council.

If approved, the new transfer provisions would take effect for the new school year. Athletes who transfer at the end of this school year and before the next school year begins without moving would be eligible for competition on the following dates: Oct. 1 for fall sports, Dec. 31 for winter sports and April 1 for spring sports. It’s a one-time-only transfer provision. Those who transfer a second time without moving would be ineligible for one year.

Most of the leagues made up of private schools opposed the proposal, including the powerful Trinity and Mission leagues. Also voting no were a group of Orange County-based leagues, including the South Coast, Sunset and Seaview. Supporting the changes were the Marmonte, Big VIII, Frontier, Citrus Belt, Tri-Valley, Ocean, Pac-7, Inland Valley, Baseline and Bay, among others.

The Southern Section Council also endorsed a proposal to create an Open Division for the state basketball playoffs. The Council rejected an appeal from the Marmonte League to be removed from the Pac-5 Division in football. The Pacific Coast League won its appeal to move from the Southwest Division to the Southern Division.

-- Eric Sondheimer