By Andy Walter

SMYRNA — The DIAA took the next step in revamping its transfer rules for high school student-athletes today.

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association board of directors voted to accept the new regulations, which were recommended by a committee.

The new measures still have to be passed by the State Board of Education but could go into effect for next school year.

Under the proposed guidelines, student-athletes would still be allowed a ‘free’ transfer — with no penalties — before the start of their third year of high school.

After that, though, they would have to sit out the first 30 days of competition at their new school in any sport they had previously played.

A second transfer would mean another 30-day wait as well as a ban from playing in the postseason that year.

DIAA executive director Dave Baylor is hoping new transfer regulations will help level the playing field. University of Delaware photo

The DIAA is also trying to make sure that any change of residence is a “bona fide” move if a student-athlete wants to compete on a team at a new school right away.

As of now, a student-athlete only has to change their address to be eligible to transfer.

The DIAA is modeling its rules on moving under Kentucky regulations, which state “the change in primary residence was made with the intent that it be permanent and not primarily for athletic purposes.”

There are several criteria that would have to met for the move to qualify as “bona fide.”

DIAA executive director Dave Baylor described the proposed regulations as “new and improved.”

“I think that what this does is it makes the playing field level across the state, no matter if it’s a private school, public school, charter school,” said Baylor. “This would apply to everyone.”

Officials at today’s meeting said they know of student-athletes who played at four schools in four years.

Baylor said the 30-day penalty “sends a significant message that everyone now knows what the rule is. And everyone is going to follow that rule, no matter what school you’re at. You can’t get a waiver for it.”

The DIAA board thought it was time to clarify its regulations on transferring, said Baylor.

“I think the board had good dialog about it,” he said. “They charged the rules and reg committee with coming up with a new policy. And that’s what the rules and regulation committee did after extensive discussion and a lot of research.”

It was pointed out at the meeting that any change to Delaware law regarding transfers for student-athletes would supersede the DIAA regulations.

The DIAA is also considering rule changes that would allow student-athletes to be paid for their name, image or likeness.

Baylor said the DIAA is currently surveying its member schools and may next take up the discussion at its next board meeting on April 11.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter @DSNSports.