Understanding TAIAO Transfer Policies When Teams Split
In the world of high school athletics, teams sometimes split, leading to the formation of new programs. When this happens within the Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations (TAIAO), specific transfer rules must be followed to ensure fairness and integrity.
TAIAO Transfer Rules Overview
TAIAO mandates that any player transferring from one TAIAO organization to another must obtain approval from their original team. If an athlete wishes to move from Team 1 to Team 2, Team 1 must approve the transfer before the athlete is eligible to compete for Team 2. The only exception to this rule applies to athletes whose parents were coaches at Team 1 during the previous season and who now wish to move to Team 2.
If Team 1 does not approve the transfer, Team 2 will be ineligible to participate in TAIAO competitions for one year. However, if Team 1 does approve the transfer, the transfer can be classified as either a partial transfer or a full transfer depending on the circumstances (all transfers can be appealed to the Steering Committee).
Partial vs. Full Transfers
Partial Transfer – If Team 1 does not offer a particular sport, an athlete may receive a partial transfer approval. This means they can compete in that sport at Team 2 while still participating in other sports at Team 1.
Example: If a majority of the Team 1 football team transfers to Team 2 and Team 1 can no longer field a football team, those athletes may request a partial transfer. This would allow them to continue competing in other sports at Team 1 while playing football at Team 2.
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Full Transfer – If Team 1 offers the same sport that the athlete wishes to play at Team 2, the athlete must receive full transfer approval. A full transfer means that the athlete must participate in all sports at Team 2 and cannot compete in any sport for Team 1 that Team 2 offers.
Example: If Team 1 opts to continue offering football while Team 2 offers additional sports such as basketball and track, then any athlete transferring to Team 2 must fully transfer. This means they must participate in all Team 2 sports and cannot compete in basketball for Team 1 while playing football for Team 2.
Understanding Athlete “Home” Organizations
Parents and athletes need to carefully consider their options when a team splits. Every athlete must designate a “home” or main organization which determines where they must compete in sports that the organization offers. Athletes are only allowed to partially transfer if their home organization does not offer a specific sport.
What athletes cannot do is shop for the best program.
For example, if Organization A (the athlete’s main org) only offers men’s basketball and the multi sport athlete opts to play football with Organization B, but Organization B also offers track, golf, basketball, and football, then:
- The athlete may transfer for football but must also play golf and track with Organization B.
- The athlete cannot go to Organization C to play golf. This would be considered shopping for the best program.
- If Team A were to ever offer football, the athlete would then be required to play football with Team A.
Importance of Declaring a Home Team
All TAIAO athletes must declare their home team. When a new team forms from a previous TAIAO program, parents must decide at that time which team will be the athlete’s home team. Any future movement after that will require approval from the designated home team to transfer.
By adhering to these guidelines, TAIAO ensures that competition remains fair, teams retain their integrity, and athletes have a clear and structured path for their participation in sports. Understanding these rules is essential for parents, athletes, and coaches when making decisions about team changes and transfers.