MONTGOMERY – Facing a growing problem of non-compliant transfers, the Alabama High School Athletic Association said it will appoint a task force to tackle the issue.
The action came last week at the Central Board of Control’s spring meeting came following a presentation by Board President Terry Curtis of UMS-Wright High School concerning the issue.
Mountain Brook High School head football coach Chris Yeager spoke to the CBOC of his concerns and then introduced Alma Bryant High School head football coach Bart Sessions who gave a report showing data compiled by coaches in the AHSAA concerning the growing problem.
“As I travel across the state to district meetings and other AHSAA events, it is clear that the issue of non-complaint transfers of student-athletes are one of our association’s biggest concerns,” said AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon. “I am proud the Central Board is setting up a Task Force. It’s not just an issue in our state. It is an issue all across the nation.”
The CBOC unanimously approved Curtis’ request to appoint a Task Force. He said he would be working with Harmon to set up the special committee of principals, superintendents, athletic directors, and coaches, to examine the problems and look for solutions.
Harmon said the AHSAA has already been working with DragonFly.com, its online data partner, to develop online ways to track more efficiently member schools’ transfer information.
The AHSAA Legislative Council ratified a proposal requiring member schools to identify and mark all players who transfer into their schools. The proposal requested the process begin with incoming ninth graders.
Another ratified proposal addresses the out-of-season transfer rule and how quickly the transfer student can become eligible to participate at their new school.
However, the council also agreed to table the proposal until some ambiguous language could be addressed.
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