As of right now, if a student athlete transferred high schools for athletic purposes in the state of Indiana, they would be forced to wait one academic year before they were considered eligible to compete. The only exception to this is if the student is granted a waiver, or if the Indiana High School Athletics Association’s (IHSAA) decision is overturned in an appeal. However, some Indiana lawmakers are looking to change that policy.
Authored by State Representative Cory Criswell, House Bill 1492 was filed at the Indiana Statehouse in early January, and it seeks to require the IHSAA to change it’s current rules on athletic transfer eligibility. The newly proposed legislation would allow more freedom for athletes to transfer without eligibility restrictions.
If this bill continues through, the ability for student athletes to transfer for primarily athletic reasons will heighten. Penn Head Basketball Coach Barak Coolman on what this could mean for the Penn team.
“This year specifically we have Cody Evans, who moved up here from Greencastle,” Coolman said. “He’s a player that has some ability that fits in well with us, but he’s had to play junior varsity this year. If he had been able to have eligibility right away, that would’ve definitely given some more depth to our team.”
The IHSAA is expected to address the change in transfer eligibility in the coming months. Stay with PNN as we follow this developing story.
Reah Frydrych 
CJ Vantine 
Natalia Kelman