Reform the Minnesota State High School League Transfer Eligibility Rule

 

The purpose of this bill is to reform the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) transfer eligibility rule so that

student-athletes who transfer schools are no longer automatically prohibited from participating in varsity athletics.

This bill seeks to ensure fairness for students who transfer for legitimate personal, academic, or family reasons, while

still preventing athletic recruiting and maintaining competitive balance within Minnesota high school sports.

 

 

Under current MSHSL rules, most student-athletes who transfer schools are immediately declared ineligible for varsity

competition for one full year, unless they meet narrow exceptions. This rule often penalizes students who transfer for

reasons unrelated to athletics, such as family relocation, academic opportunities, safety concerns, or personal

hardship. As a result, students who move through no fault of their own lose meaningful athletic opportunities,

scholarship exposure, and team participation.

 

 

This bill eliminates automatic varsity ineligibility for transfer students and replaces it with an individualized review

process. A new Varsity Eligibility Review Board (VERB) will be established within the MSHSL to examine transfer cases

fairly and consistently. The board will review each student’s transfer circumstances within ten school days, ensuring a

timely and transparent decision. Students who can demonstrate that they transferred for legitimate non-athletic reasons

will be granted immediate varsity eligibility, provided there is no evidence of recruiting. Students who transfer

primarily for athletic reasons will not be banned for a full season but will instead serve a shorter, thirty-day waiting

period, ensuring the rule discourages transfers for competitive advantage without unfairly punishing students.

 

 

The cost of administering the review board will be covered through a small processing fee for each transfer case and

through the existing operational budget of the Minnesota State High School League. No additional cost will be placed on

students beyond the processing fee.

 

 

The Varsity Eligibility Review Board will consist of five members appointed by the MSHSL, including at least one

educator, one athletic director, one school counselor, one parent representative, and one MSHSL official. If a school or

coach is found to have engaged in athletic recruiting, the school will face an administrative fine and the coach will

receive a short suspension. However, the student involved will not be penalized for the actions of adults. Students who

are denied varsity eligibility may submit one appeal, and the board must issue a final decision within seven school

days.

 

This bill shall take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to all student-athlete transfers beginning in the 2026–2027

school year.