The Virginia High School League (VHSL) is changing its rules about middle school and high school students transferring schools to play sports. The VHSL is creating a new rule where if you transfer schools for any reason, you will not be allowed to play sports and have to sit out a year.
“The Virginia High School League (VHSL) rules that will affect rising ninth-graders next spring in 2026,” according to an email sent from LCPS on Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2025. “Rising 9th graders applying to be placed at a school based on special permission for the 2026-2027 school year will potentially be impacted.”
The potential changes to the VHSL rules will be voted on in May and could impact students’ eligibility for the upcoming school year. They will announce in early July what the decision will be.
“The new VHSL legislation, if adopted in May 2025, would make a student entering the ninth grade for the first time ineligible to participate in VHSL activities at the school where they received special permission from,” according to an email sent from LCPS on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. “If the proposed VHSL legislation passes, the rule will take place immediately and will affect families from all over the state.”
Under the current VHSL rule, a first-time ninth-grade student, whether attending a school they are zoned for on their address or attending through special permission, is eligible to participate in a VHSL activity immediately.
“I understand why the VHSL is considering changing its policy for incoming freshmen. Right now, some schools are taking advantage of the rule to help build more competitive sports,” an anonymous source said. “Which isn’t fair to other schools and makes competition not as fair or equal.”
VHSL should also consider that some people need to transfer schools due to academic or personal reasons and have some leniency with this rule.
“On the other hand, if the VHSL votes to change this rule, I think it’s really important that they make exceptions for special cases,” an anonymous source said. “Students should be able to transfer schools without losing a year if they transfer for academic, personal, or mental health reasons.”
Athletes and families have voiced their concerns and think it wouldn’t be fair for schools to punish students by making them sit out a year, especially if a student is transferring due to health reasons or for having problems at their old school.
“If students are punished for making a change that protects their needs or well-being, then the schools are not showing support,” an anonymous source said. “This shows that schools are not showing that they’re sincerely interested in the student as a person and they are setting those students up for failure.”
