Page 278 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

What is the rule of thumb when determining if the student-athlete who has transferred from a member college needs a
Transfer Waiver?
ANSWER:
The student-athlete will need a Transfer Waiver if and only if they were signed to a Letter of Intent with a member college in
the previous, current or upcoming academic year.

Case 2
Transfer Student-Athlete – Letter of Intent Signee
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R initially enrolls at Community College A for the 2017-2018 academic year and signs an NJCAA Letter of
Intent. At the completion of one semester Student-Athlete R has passed 15 credit hours with a 2.75 GPA. Student-Athlete R did
not participate in basketball while attending Community College A. Student-Athlete R would like to attend Community College B
for the 2018-2019 academic year and participate in his first season of basketball. Is the student eligible to play at Community
College B?

ANSWER:
Student-Athlete R has attempted one full-time term therefore he must meet the academic requirements of Article V, Section
2.D.2.b to be an eligible transfer. The student meets 2.D.2.b by having accumulated 12 or more credits with a GPA of 1.75 or
higher. Due to the fact Student-Athlete R is a transfer and was signed to a Letter of Intent in the previous year he must have a
signed Transfer Waiver to be immediately eligible.

Transfer Tracking Form
Case 1
Using the Eligibility Affidavit in Determining Previous Participation for a Transfer
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R has previously attended another college prior to transferring to Community College A. The athletic
director at Community College A has the student-athlete complete the Eligibility Affidavit and the student indicates on the
affidavit that he has not participated in any collegiate athletics. What should the athletic director’s next step be in determining
Student-Athlete R’s participation or does the athletic director have enough information from the affidavit to determine the
transfer’s eligibility?
ANSWER:
Although the student-athlete has completed the Eligibility Affidavit, the athletic director should follow up the student’s
statement of non-participation by doing the following: sending the Transfer Tracking Form to the other college to complete and
return to Community College A. The Transfer Tracking Form is not mandatory but highly recommended for student-athletes
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who were either enrolled as a full-time student beyond the 15 calendar day of the term or they participated in intercollegiate
athletics. The forms purpose is to aid member colleges in determining and confirming previous collegiate participation.
COMMENT:
Please be aware that although verbal statements from other colleges regarding a transfer’s eligibility may be helpful,
statements and remarks should always be in writing preferably signed by the athletic or compliance director and not the coach.
It should also be mentioned that in some cases transfer students may not be entirely truthful with the athletic staff about
their eligibility or participation either because they do not understand the eligibility rules or they will say anything to try to get
another season of eligibility. If you do not follow up their statements by checking with their previous colleges and it turns out that
these transfers are, in fact, ineligible, the responsibility lies on the athletic director and the result could be a sanction up to or
including probation.
Article V, Section 3.A.2: “Student-athletes who falsify any academic and/or athletic participation record shall be ineligible for
further competition in an NJCAA member college at any time.” By having the students complete and sign the Eligibility Affidavit
and/or the Amateurism Questionnaire they are telling the college about their previous eligibility and if they have falsified this
information, they could be banned from participation in the NJCAA. Again, it is the responsibility of the athletic department to
follow up on their statements.

Two Term Sports
Case 1
Participation in a Two-Term Sport (Basketball) and Transfers within the Same Year – Eligible for Participation?
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R transfers from Four-Year Institution X to Community College B at the end of the fall quarter and in time
for winter quarter enrollment. At Four-Year Institution X, he/she participated in one junior varsity basketball contest. Is Student-
Athlete R eligible to participate in basketball at Community College B, which begins its schedule during the winter quarter?
ANSWER:
No. Participation in the basketball game at Four-Year Institution X prior to transferring exempts Student-Athlete R from
being eligible for basketball at Community College B during the same academic year because of this rule: a student-athlete
cannot participate in the same sport during the same year at two different colleges.
Student-Athlete R will be eligible, however, for any other sport which begins during the winter quarter at Community
College B providing he/she satisfies the provisions of the academic progress requirements prior to his/her transfer to
Community College B.

Case 2
Two-Term Sport (Basketball) Athlete Transferring after the end of the First Term
SITUATION: