SAINT PAUL, MN – Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, sent a letter on Monday to Minnesota High School League (MSHL) Board President Blain Novak requesting that the rules pertaining to student athlete transfer eligibility be waived for the current and upcoming school year. The letter was signed by both Republican and DFL representatives to urge the Board President to allow students to remain eligible for varsity athletics if they transferred schools because of the academic disruptions caused by COVID-19.
“Students and families have been forced to make great sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Robbins. “Many families elected to transfer schools so that children could find the learning model and educational setting that best suited their needs. While the MSHL transfer rule is necessary to uphold the integrity of athletic competition, in the context of a pandemic it must be reevaluated.”
Under the current transfer rule, students are ineligible to participate in athletic competition one year from the first day of attendance at a new school. If a student transferred in October 2020, they would be ineligible for varsity competition at the new school until October 2021. If the student transfers back to their original school in September 2021, the student could be subject to another year of ineligibility for varsity sports.
“Under the current rules, students could miss two years of varsity athletic competition, which is so important for many athletes’ physical and mental health,” said Robbins. “Students have already had so many disruptions to their lives this past year. We hope the MSHL will waive the transfer rules for these two school years so students can have the benefits of athletic competition.”