Rule 28A-7 transfer rule - is it Hayfield fallout or were these always to have been rules?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you transfer for Japanese at Langley HS for 9th grade, you are ineligible by default and have to make an appeal to join Debate or Football, etc. I suppose winning appeals is not guaranteed.

If you apply and are accepted to TJ, since that is a governors school, you do not have to make an appeal to play VHSL sports. You just play for TJ automatically

In reading the VHSL rules, I think this provision governs regarding an academic transfer

28A-7-2 Transfer Rules Exceptions:
5 Note (A): A student entering 9th grade for the first time after being approved to enter an academy or specialty program becomes immediately eligible in the high school provide the academy or specialty program.

So, a transfer based on academics IB to AP, admittance to TJ, should fall under this exception as long as it's done before entering 9th grade.

28A-7-2(5) per the 2024-2025 handbook
(5) A student entering the eighth grade for the first time becomes immediately eligible in the high school in which he/she enrolls regardless of his or her residence status. A student entering the ninth grade for the first time becomes immediately eligible in the high school in which he/she enrolls regardless of his or her residence status.


28A-7-2(5) per the 2025-2026 handbook
A student entering the eighth grade for the first time becomes immediately eligible in the high school of the attendance area of the student's parents and guardians. A student entering the ninth grade for the first time becomes immediately eligible in the high school of the attendance area of the students parents or guardians.

The language regarding 9th grade exception has changed. In the 2024-2025 handbook you were automatically eligible, residency status did not matter. In the 2025-206 handbook, you are only eligible in the attendance area where the child's parent lives. Then they carve out some exceptions to that rule, in particular Note A. But it also says in Note D, this change does not go in to effect until July 1, 2026. So, this is the last year for incoming 9th graders to automatically be eligible to partipciate. Starting 2026-2027 school year, you will need to fall under an exception.

[Anonymous]

This is all so complex. Two takeaways:

So a transfer to an AP school (for example) for fall 2026 as a 9th grader would likely mean a year of ineligibility. That can be appealed, but winning an appeal is never guaranteed.

This fall (August/Sept 2025) approved transfer students can play sports as in previous years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is all so complex. Two takeaways:

So a transfer to an AP school (for example) for fall 2026 as a 9th grader would likely mean a year of ineligibility. That can be appealed, but winning an appeal is never guaranteed.

This fall (August/Sept 2025) approved transfer students can play sports as in previous years.

No.

Transferring between 8th and 9th, your kid is still eligible to play right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious- on athletics and activities page for FCPS it says scholastic academic bowls and debate teams are also governed by VHSL. Does that mean a student couldn’t be on debate in 1 HS and move to another FCPs and be on debate too? That seems odd.

If the family physically moves to a new address at one school into an entirely new address zoned for a different school, the kid is eligible.

If a military kid moves from Texas to FCPS sophomore year, they are eligible.

If your kid switches from school 1 9th grade year to school 2 10th grade year using any of the transfer loopholes, but does not move to a new home, they sit out a year.

[Anonymous]

Hayfield still hasn’t found a head football coach yet. Principal is taking a beating and rightfully so.

[Anonymous]

Where is the external report on the Hayfield scandal??

[Anonymous]

Not yet completed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is the external report on the Hayfield scandal??

Likely not released until after Reid leaves FCPS and not before

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hayfield still hasn’t found a head football coach yet. Principal is taking a beating and rightfully so.

Yeah, who would take that job? They can't even go to the playoffs, the whole team was decimated last year so you would be rebuilding from scratch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hayfield still hasn’t found a head football coach yet. Principal is taking a beating and rightfully so.

Yeah, who would take that job? They can't even go to the playoffs, the whole team was decimated last year so you would be rebuilding from scratch.

Which is one of reasons cannot fathom how principal was allowed to stay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hayfield still hasn’t found a head football coach yet. Principal is taking a beating and rightfully so.

Yeah, who would take that job? They can't even go to the playoffs, the whole team was decimated last year so you would be rebuilding from scratch.

Which is one of reasons cannot fathom how principal was allowed to stay

Is the former Athletic Director still overseas? I guess he took the fall for the whole mess. Everyone else was let off scott free.

The upcoming transfer rules are confusing; I hope parents and schools are on top of this. I’d hate for teams to forfeit games, or for athletes to loose eligibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you transfer for Japanese at Langley HS for 9th grade, you are ineligible by default and have to make an appeal to join Debate or Football, etc. I suppose winning appeals is not guaranteed.

If you apply and are accepted to TJ, since that is a governors school, you do not have to make an appeal to play VHSL sports. You just play for TJ automatically

In reading the VHSL rules, I think this provision governs regarding an academic transfer

28A-7-2 Transfer Rules Exceptions:
5 Note (A): A student entering 9th grade for the first time after being approved to enter an academy or specialty program becomes immediately eligible in the high school provide the academy or specialty program.

So, a transfer based on academics IB to AP, admittance to TJ, should fall under this exception as long as it's done before entering 9th grade.

How is IB or AP a “specialty program” if half the FCPS schools have either one or the other. I would not make assumptions. Contact the schools’ athletic director to make sure pupil placing for AP or a language in 9th grade won’t make an athlete ineligible.

Question - if IB/AP are not considered speciality programs, how will this work? Under the new rules, an incoming 9th grader is allowed to play where their parents reside. So, can my child go to Marshal for IB but play sports for Madison because that is where I live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you transfer for Japanese at Langley HS for 9th grade, you are ineligible by default and have to make an appeal to join Debate or Football, etc. I suppose winning appeals is not guaranteed.

If you apply and are accepted to TJ, since that is a governors school, you do not have to make an appeal to play VHSL sports. You just play for TJ automatically

In reading the VHSL rules, I think this provision governs regarding an academic transfer

28A-7-2 Transfer Rules Exceptions:
5 Note (A): A student entering 9th grade for the first time after being approved to enter an academy or specialty program becomes immediately eligible in the high school provide the academy or specialty program.

So, a transfer based on academics IB to AP, admittance to TJ, should fall under this exception as long as it's done before entering 9th grade.

How is IB or AP a “specialty program” if half the FCPS schools have either one or the other. I would not make assumptions. Contact the schools’ athletic director to make sure pupil placing for AP or a language in 9th grade won’t make an athlete ineligible.

Question - if IB/AP are not considered speciality programs, how will this work? Under the new rules, an incoming 9th grader is allowed to play where their parents reside. So, can my child go to Marshal for IB but play sports for Madison because that is where I live?

No. He would play sports for the school he attends, Marshall.

[Anonymous]

Its crazy late not to have a football coach. Has whatever team is left been even doing workouts?

Curious if all the 35 or whatever transfers have transferred out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you transfer for Japanese at Langley HS for 9th grade, you are ineligible by default and have to make an appeal to join Debate or Football, etc. I suppose winning appeals is not guaranteed.

If you apply and are accepted to TJ, since that is a governors school, you do not have to make an appeal to play VHSL sports. You just play for TJ automatically

In reading the VHSL rules, I think this provision governs regarding an academic transfer

28A-7-2 Transfer Rules Exceptions:
5 Note (A): A student entering 9th grade for the first time after being approved to enter an academy or specialty program becomes immediately eligible in the high school provide the academy or specialty program.

So, a transfer based on academics IB to AP, admittance to TJ, should fall under this exception as long as it's done before entering 9th grade.

How is IB or AP a “specialty program” if half the FCPS schools have either one or the other. I would not make assumptions. Contact the schools’ athletic director to make sure pupil placing for AP or a language in 9th grade won’t make an athlete ineligible.

Question - if IB/AP are not considered speciality programs, how will this work? Under the new rules, an incoming 9th grader is allowed to play where their parents reside. So, can my child go to Marshal for IB but play sports for Madison because that is where I live?

No. He would play sports for the school he attends, Marshall.

. But not as a 9th grader. They are changing the eligibility requirements in2026