While we always encourage student athletes to complete their entire 4-year college career at the same school, we know that sometimes things just don’t work out, making a transfer the only possible solution. Transferring has gotten a lot easier ever since the NCAA introduced the Transfer Portal, but there are still some things to keep in mind when looking to transfer.
Again, as mentioned above, transferring should always be the last resort. However, if you do make that decision, the first step will always be to notify your current school. The process for that is slightly different depending on whether you are competing in the NCAA, NAIA or in a junior college, but in terms of the NCAA, you will need to go see your compliance person on campus and ask that person to put you in the NCAA Transfer Portal. When you do that, you need to be 100% sure though that this is what you want, because at that point coaches do not have any obligation anymore to renew your scholarship or to save your roster spot for the next year. So do your research prior to that and be realistic about what your options might be. And always remember, before you join the Transfer Portal, you are not allowed to contact any other coaches!
Another thing to keep in mind and to check before making the decision to transfer, is to familiarize yourself about the transfer rules of the conference that your team is a part of. Conference rules are very often much stricter than NCAA or NAIA rules and you might be forced to sit out a year if you transfer to a certain school, so make sure you check about these rules before you make your decision.
While the actual process of transferring has gotten a lot easier, the same risks and obstacles still exist. So ask yourself the following questions and be realistic about what options you might have once you decide to transfer:
- What is the reason why I am looking to transfer and what do I want to be better at my new school?
- What options could I have with my current athletic and academic results? (Be realistic and honest to yourself here!!)
- What are the financial implications of a possible transfer? Will I receive the same scholarship or will I potentially be looking at paying substantially more?
- Will I have to take a redshirt year or will I be able to compete straight away?
As you can see, there are certain things you should always check prior to notifying your school that you are seeking a transfer. And the most important thing is that you need to be certain that transferring is the best solution prior to making your final decision. Will you really be in a better situation if you transfer? Is it maybe possible to fix the issues that you have at your current school? What is your backup plan if you do not get the offers that you are looking for?
Regardless of the reason why you are looking to transfer, the first step will always be to let your school know. Before that, you cannot really do anything as you are not allowed to speak to other coaches. So keep that in mind to avoid any big issues! And as always, if you have any questions about transferring or need help with the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are always there to help you!