NMAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES BYLAW CHANGES

The New Mexico Activities Association Board of Directors voted on Thursday to approve several changes to Section 6 of the NMAA Handbook, specifically as it refers to eligibility and transfer bylaws.

Among the changes, students may now transfer schools without penalty and be immediately eligible at the school of their choice on a first transfer, with a few exceptions.  Some of those exceptions include, home school and charter school statutes will still apply as will recruitment and undue influence rules.  Additionally, foreign students entering without parents and students transferring out of a specialized sports academy will be excluded from the free transfer provision. Students who make a second or subsequent transfer are ineligible for varsity participation for 365 days from the date of enrollment unless they meet one of the following exceptions:

1) bona fide residency change, 2) deceased parents, 3) state custody, 4) first parent-to-parent move, 5) emancipated/married student, 6) boarding school student, 7) deployed parents, 8) did not participate, 9) discontinued program.

These changes must still be approved by the member schools, with a referendum vote.

The NMAA understands that there are several questions students, parents, coaches, athletic directors, and school administrators might have regarding these changes.  Here is a brief video explaining the new bylaw.