Legislation would change Iowa’s athletic ineligibility standards

DES MOINES - Iowa lawmakers expect to take another look this session at expanding the period of time that an athlete must sit out of varsity sports competition when transferring to another school.

Iowa is among a minority of states that has a 90-day ineligibility period for varsity athletes who move to a different school district using open enrollment or transfer provisions. Bills have been drafted in the House and Senate this session saying that students would be ineligible to participate for the first 180 days of enrollment.

Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, said he filed Senate File 74 after hearing complaints that more students are using Iowa's shorter ineligibility window to position themselves to play on teams that have a shot at winning state titles. Such a situation might enhance their ability to land Division I college scholarships, and it is making some schools perennial powers.

“I've had quite a few in my district who see an unfair advantage,” Feenstra said.

Mike Dick, executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, said the concern over Iowa's lenient ineligibility rule is not new but past efforts in the Legislature to expand the period to 180 days have stalled. Key legislators say the same may be true again this session with budget problems and social issues dominating.