The stunning decision forces New Jersey back to square one to solve on of the most complex issues plaguing the state.
Acting Commissioner of Education Kimberley Harrington has overturned the state’s new transfer rule, sending New Jersey high school sports back to square one as it seeks to solve a complex issue plaguing the state.
The new transfer rule had been resoundingly approved less than three months ago by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Executive Committee and was set to go into place July 1, in time for the 2017-18 school year.
Harrington’s reversal of the rule reverts New Jersey high school sports back to the old transfer rule, which requires athletes to sit out 30 days of competition unless they have a “bona fide change of residence.”
“While the NJSIAA Executive Committee was eager to have a more enforceable transfer rule, the association remains encouraged and looks forward to working with the Commissioner of Education to develop a solution that discourages transfers for athletic advantage,” NJSIAA Executive Director Steve Timko said in a statement. “Our hope is to meet with the Commissioner as soon as possible to address this important issue.”
The new rule was three-pronged: It required all athletes that transfer schools to sit out 30 days or half the games allowed for each sport in which they participated the previous year at the prior school; athletes who transfer on or after the first scrimmage or after the regular season start date to be barred from state tournament play, in addition to incurring the mandatory 30-day or half the season sitting out period; and all athletes who transfer more than once to be barred from state tournament play, while also incurring the mandatory 30-day or half the season sitting out period.
The intention of the new rule was to deter high profile athletes from hopscotching from team to team in search of the best fit — an issue that has plagued New Jersey for years and is only getting worse, according to coaches.
Harrington’s stunning reversal marks the second time in less than two years the state has stepped in and reversed changes put into place by the NJSIAA. In one of the most significant decisions ever in New Jersey high school sports, former State Commissioner of Education David Hespe ruled in December 2015 to reverse a pair of votes separating public and non-public schools in football and wrestling for the first time in state history.
Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.