Contributor, Rick Paine, is an expert on the college recruiting process. He is also the Director of Swimming at American College Connection (ACC). ACC is a SwimSwam Partner.
Transferring schools is not as easy as packing your bags and changing your address. It can be a very detailed process that is affected by a number of NCAA rules. I have listed just a few of them in this article.
Our policy at American College Connection is to stay with the swimmers and parents until the swimmer finishes college so we deal with several swimmers a year who are not happy with their current school and/or swim program.
I have been with ACC for 15 years and we have helped 45 swimmers transfer to other schools. During that time only one college coach refused to release a swimmer. Most coaches are not going to force you to stay if you are not happy, but there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it.
Your current college coach can make it very easy or very difficult to transfer to another school. It is important to consider their point of view. When they recruited and signed you they passed on a number of other recruits because they wanted you. If you transfer they have to start all over in recruiting someone to take your place.
- Make sure your reason for transferring is not because you are homesick. Homesickness is temporary.
- Determine exactly what issues you are unhappy about.
- Set up a meeting with the head or assistant coach and honestly discuss what is making you unhappy. Make them part of the solution and not part of the problem. Chances are they are the only ones who can help you with solutions to problems are having.
- If you proceed with the transfer process (see below) you can be fairly sure that other coaches will contact your current college coach to find out why you are transferring.
NCAA rules in plain English (D-I and D-II):
- You will need a release to transfer to another school. With a release you will eligible to compete for your new school the very next season unless there are conference rules that prohibit it.
- You need a release if you just attend practices.
- The athletic department issues the release, but you must talk with your coach first
- The school/coach are not required to release you. If they choose not to, you can file an appeal.
- The school/coach can refuse to release you to certain schools (mainly their rivals).
- Instead of granting you a release the school/coach can issue you a Permission to Contact Letter. This allows other coaches to contact you, but is not a release
- Other coaches will need a copy of the release or Permission to Contact letter before they can contact you or respond to your emails or phone calls.
- You must be academically eligible and making progress toward your degree at your original school in order to be eligible to compete at a new school.
D-III schools allow for you to grant your own release.
Understand that once you ask your coach for a release things won’t be the same on the team. That’s why it is very important to try to make things work at your original school or at least do everything you can to make it work. At some point in time you thought this school was paradise and the right fit. Analyze what changed so you don’t make the same mistake twice.
If you have done everything you can to make things work at your original school and still want to transfer it will help to let your current coach know sooner rather than later. It helps to give them time to recruit someone else with your scholarship and they will be more likely to agree to a release.
Think long and hard about transferring. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. You can’t shop yourself around and not tell your current coach.
Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence and sometimes it’s not.
There are coaches who are verbally abusive and bully their swimmers. These coaches focus on a few stars while ignoring the other swimmers they tricked into committing to the team, thus most of the beaten down swimmers get slower and demoralized, them want to transfer or quit the sport. Transferees should be helped and supported, not destroyed by arrogant coaches and politics. The NCAA is not too helpful. Most high school seniors have no idea what they are getting into, but if they discover that their coach is an abusive bully who uses despicable tactics, then transfers should be facilitated, not blocked. It is NOT OK for coaches to refuse to release a swimmer who wants to try to reach… Read more »
I think this article unfairly blames the swimmer when he or she chooses to transfer. While there is a lot to be said for commitment and seeing things through, there comes a point where transferring is the right decision. I don’t see what’s to be gained from guilt-tripping the swimmer about not trying hard enough with their coach. Some college coaches are real jerks. And let’s be honest, with many of them, unless you are one of their stars or their favorites, you’re considered expendable. Non-athletes transfer schools for academic and social reasons — and athletes have the added complication of their sport. Let’s not paint them with this broad brush that they’re all giving up and won’t talk to… Read more »
Agreed. Most of the article was fairly well-balanced – kids should make sure they really think about why they want to transfer, and before they do, should see if they can fix things at their current school. But saying “at least do everything you can to make it work” seems to take it a step too far.
I had a high school teacher and coach that used to always say that “we were the consumers” at college and should always keep looking for places we’d be most happy at. I can buy that. Don’t tough it out at a school just b/c the coach spent some time recruiting you. Do what’s best for you.
(And don’t even get me… Read more »
The article is not meant to place any blame. It is designed to help the swimmers and parents understand what it takes and what they should consider regarding the transfer process. I definitely agree that there are some college coaches who are real jerks and the NCAA rules about transferring can be ridiculous, but the kids need to understand how to “play the game” when it comes to transferring. Like it or not, the college coaches can help or hurt the swimmers in the transfer process. The jerks can make it especially difficult.
We try to teach the kids how to play the game and to stay focused on their ultimate objective………..finding the right fit for school and swimming. If… Read more »
The grass isn’t always greener but it is typically different.
I am one of many swammers that went to school thinking one thing because the coach who recruited me said it, and once the school year started was greeted with a totally different attitude. The toughest part about entering college is we’re making these decisions as 17/18yr old kids. KIDS!!
The coach can promise you the world, offer you a scholarship and reel ya in, and most parents do not know the recruiting process to prevent their kids from going someplace they’ll end up being unhappy at.
I may sound bitter but I’m not. I regret nothing and made life long friends and colleagues at both universities… Read more »
The grass is always greener, especially if your first school is Michigan State. They are the laughing stock of the Big Ten, and continue to land great recruits, only to see those individuals either flat out quit, or transfer. I’m gathering data to support my argument as we speak. This includes all meets since the current coaching staff has been employed. The academics are top notch (top education, supply chain, packaging programs) but if you plan to continue your swimming career at MSU, do not expect to see the results you want. Plain and simple, the results do not lie.
That comment…brought to you by this guy.
http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2010/11/college_football_players_and_c.html
It must have aomething to do with the mascot . All college life would improve immediately with a more inclusive mascot . Grades ,swimming , social media success , personal life , more co operative parents etc. I know it .
I’m not sure what your issue is with Michigan State but this isn’t really the forum to call out an individual school. If the results speak for themselves, your rant is unnecessary.
These type transfers are much more common today than in the 70’s, 80’s where it was practically unheard of. If you were unhappy, it was pretty much tough luck. There were many very good swimmers around the Big 10 that of course wished to transfer to Doc Counsilman’s squad. I only remember one Ohio State guy that was successful.
If a swimmer is a walk on and not receiving scholarship dollars, are they required get a release and sit out one year before competing with their new college team? Thanks.
If a swimmer practices with a team they will be required to get a release if they want to transfer to another team in order to be eligible the next season without having to sit out a year. Scholarship does not enter into it.
Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.
You are welcome. There at least a dozen pages in the NCAA manual dedicated to transfers.