An item that virtually all coaches know about, but here is the official announcement that the IHSAA made on May 5 regarding the first-time transfer rule that went into effect on June 1 for the 2025-26 academic year.
“The Board officially adopted the first-time transfer proposal of Rule 19 (Eligibility and Transfers) that was adopted at the February 21 Executive Committee meeting.
In short:
- Students whose first transfer is from IHSAA Member School to IHSAA Member School will maintain full eligibility if it occurs during their first six semesters of high school.
- Second and subsequent transfers – and transfers from non-IHSAA Member Schools – will be handled in a similar fashion to the way they have been in previous years.
- Students whose second transfer involves a return to the IHSAA Member School where they established their initial promotion eligibility will retain full eligibility within 365 days of their enrollment date at the previous school.”
Moratorium reminder
Also, here is a reminder about the “moratorium” days for the summer of 2026. The “regular moratorium week” continues in 2026 as it long has been – one week that includes July 4. For 2026, that is June 29 through July 5. In addition, each school is to select five additional days of “no contact” between coaches and athletes during the IHSAA’s summer season. The added five days must be a Monday through Friday, not a Saturday or Sunday.
These may be five individual days or five consecutive days.
- Example: 7/6 through 7/10 would be five consecutive days.
- Example: 6/19, 6/26, 7/10, 7/17 and 7/24 would be five Fridays.
How does this affect basketball coaches?
If one of your school’s days is:
- June 19 (girls Charlie Hughes Team Showcase), you would NOT be able to participate on that day.
- June 26 (boys’ Charlie Hughes Team Showcase), you would NOT be able to participate that day.
June 12 (Boys Top 100 Underclass Showcase) and June 18 (Girls Top 100 Underclass Showcase) are not affected as these events are for individual players. However, coaches would not be able to attend or have contact with their player at the Top 100 Underclass Showcase event if one of these days is part of your moratorium.
Coaches are encouraged to have a conversation with your Athletic Director and offer your thoughts about when you would like to see these five days take place, or NOT take place, during June and July.
