HHP 420, HHP 428: August 2025

Thursday, August 21, 2025

202526 Competition in the Year of Transfer 2 Year Rule & 4 Year Rule

Alexander the UC NCAA

So a Soccer or Volleyball student athlete playing in the 3 preseason fall scrimmages before the season, can not transfer and play soccer or volleyball this fall

A baseball or softball player can compete in fall ball and leave midyear and play for the NCAA Championship in the Spring Season

2yr transfer rules
14.3.4.5.7 Competition in Year of Transfer. A transfer student from a two-year institution, who has met the two-year transfer eligibility requirements (per Bylaw 14.3.4), is not eligible to compete during the segment that concludes with the NCAA championship at the certifying institution if the student-athlete has competed during that segment of the same academic year in that sport at the previous two-year institution. (Revised: 1/11/94, 1/13/03 effective 8/1/03, 1/10/24 effective 8/1/24)

14.3.4.5.7.1 Exception - Competition During the Nonchampionship Segment. A transfer student-athlete who competes during the nonchampionship segment where the contest(s) count toward championships selection criteria (e.g., golf, tennis) may be immediately eligible for competition during the segment that concludes with the NCAA championship at the certifying institution upon transfer during the same academic year. (Adopted: 5/3/21)

14.3.4.5.7.2 Alternate Playing Season. In the sports of baseball, golf and tennis, during the fall term, a student-athlete who participates in competition where the institution and/or conference declares the alternate playing season may not be immediately eligible for competition upon transfer to the certifying institution that does not declare the alternate playing season during the same academic year. (Adopted: 5/3/21)

4yr transfer rules
14.3.5.3 Competition in Year of Transfer. A transfer student from a four-year institution, who satisfies the undergraduate four-year transfer requirements (see Bylaw 14.3.5), is not eligible to compete at the certifying institution during the segment that concludes with the NCAA championship if the student-athlete has competed during that segment of the same academic year in that sport at the previous four-year institution. Therefore, if the institution from which a student-athlete transfers declares separate segments of its playing and practice season, a student-athlete may compete during the segment that does not conclude with the NCAA championship for such an institution and during the segment that does conclude with the NCAA championship for the certifying institution during the same academic year in the same sport, provided the student-athlete is otherwise eligible for competition. (Adopted: 1/10/95 effective 8/1/95, Revised: 1/13/03 effective 8/1/03, 10/17/06, 1/25/10, 7/24/12, 1/10/24 effective 8/1/24, 4/23/24)

14.3.5.3.1 Exception - Competition During the Nonchampionship Segment. A transfer student-athlete who competes during the nonchampionship segment where the contest(s) count toward championships selection criteria (e.g., golf, tennis) may be immediately eligible for competition during the segment that concludes with the NCAA championship at the certifying institution upon transfer during the same academic year. (Adopted: 5/3/21)

14.3.5.3.2 Alternate Playing Season. In the sports of baseball, golf and tennis, during the fall term, a student-athlete who participates in competition where the institution and/or conference declares the alternate playing season may not be immediately eligible for competition upon transfer to the certifying institution that does not declare the alternate playing season during the same academic year. (Adopted: 5/3/21)

Official Interpretation
Application of Competition in Year of Transfer Legislation to Preseason Exhibition Contests or Dates of Competition/Preseason Scrimmages During Initial Year of Collegiate Enrollment (II)
Division: II
Date Published: March 06, 2019
Item Ref:
Interpretation:
The NCAA Interpretations Subcommittee of the Division II Legislation Committee confirmed that a student-athlete in their initial year of collegiate enrollment may compete in a preseason exhibition contest or date of competition/preseason scrimmage without counting such competition as a season of competition. However, if the student-athlete transfers to another four-year institution after participating in a preseason exhibition contest or date of competition, they are not eligible to compete during the segment that concludes with the NCAA championship upon transfer.
[References: NCAA Division II Bylaws 14.2.4 (criteria for determining season of eligibility); 14.2.4.1 (minimum amount of competition); 14.2.4.1.5 (preseason exhibition contests or dates of competition/preseason scrimmages during initial year); and 14.5.5.4 (competition in year of transfer)]