Transfer Students and High School Athletics Essay by Top Papers

The South Dakota High School Athletic Association (SDHAA) states that "a transfer /residency requirement assists in the prevention of students changing schools in conjunction with the change of athletic season for athletic purposes" ("Eligibility" 3). The handbook for SDHAA goes on to say that should such transfers be allowed recruitment would be negatively impacted, and the "opportunity for undue influence" would exist among individuals that stood to "benefit from a students athletes prowess" ("Eligibility" 3). In addition to these purposes of the transfer/recruitment stipulation for the school, the SDHSAA specifies that there is a need for the regulation in order to ensure that only those students who are actual residents of the district and that have the right to participate in athletics at the school in question are involved in sports ("Eligibility" 3). Consequently, students must provide evidence that their legal guardian is a resident of the district before the student can be allowed to transfer and participate in high school athletics. In accomplishing this goal the school ensures that high school sports remain "amateur" in nature and that "stability and harmony among member schools" is maintained ("Eligibility" 3).