Pat Grecco,
Independent College Bound Athlete Advisor | 
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Pat Grecco strives to get student-athletes into the college of their dreams! She wants her clients to realize their full potential.
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Greetings!
Welcome to the College Bound Athlete Newsletter! We'll highlight our clients' achievements and will feature informative articles for student-athletes and their parents.
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 | College Student-Athlete Transferring Issues and Opportunities
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 The NCAA defines a transfer student-athlete is an individual who, after having established himself or herself as a student and as an athlete in a collegiate institution, transfers to another institution.
The rules set forth by the NCAA and NAIA are numerous and complicated. I have often said that even a Philadelphia Lawyer would be challenged. I have observed rule changes, rule discussions, rule misinterpretations... and on and on...Speak with your Coaches, Compliance Officers and NCAA or NAIA Advisors.
Transferring from a two-year college to a four-year college is the most common. You may transfer after one full year, (two semesters), but you must be what is called a "qualifier" or student-athlete who has spent at least two semesters or three quarters in residence (excluding summer sessions) at the two-year college. And you must have a minimum of 24 semester hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Ordinarily students transfer to four-year colleges after having received their two-year Associate Degree, using "JUCOs" (AKA junior college or two-year college) as a stepping-stone to a four-year degree. By living at home and/or winning a scholarship
to a JUCO, players can cut the total cost of a four-year degree in half.
Here on Long Island, Suffolk Community College, Coached by Frank Virtullo won the 2010 NJCAA Men's National Soccer Championship. You can be sure all of his players who were academically qualified, sophomores, moved on to four-year college opportunities with scholarship money. This is the ideal situation, being on a highly competitive JUCO team, advancing to post season, and winning a national title gave all the players an opportunity to be seen by four-year college Coaches and be recruited; this example holds true for any sport.
Christina was a strong high school student player, but was unable to obtain the necessary NCAA Eligibility scores to play in D-I, D-II programs. I helped her select a strong NJCAA program where she could study in a helpful academic environment and with a Coach who was very supportive of her both as a student and as an athlete. Christina's team did very well, went to post season, she was selected to the All-America Team and transferred to a four-year college with a scholarship.
There are nearly 500 JUCOs in the USA. Something for everyone, every sport, every demographic.
Dan was a freshman D-I college player at a very competitive program getting little to no playing time. PT being very important to Dan, he achieved a lateral transfer to another Division I team where he was allowed to play, fortunately, without having to "sit out" for a year, a penalty that can sometimes be invoked. More about this trap later. Again, this is all contingent on having good grades.
Successful both in the classroom and on the field of competition, Holly was a sophomore, at a small D-II program. Holly decided that she wanted a larger school with a more competitive academic program.
Holly and I created her Collegiate Transfer Profile, and mailed it to colleges that met her objectives. Our package was tailored to highlight her accomplishments as a college player, and her B average in college courses. The Coaches' targeted to receive her proposal, were subtly reminded that, unlike high school seniors, Holly was proven, college-level student-athlete. Also sent to the targeted Coaches was video clip from a competitive college competition. She is currently making her selection from several offers.
 The process must begin with your college Coach. Always be honest and never go behind the Coach's back to another Coach. First of all, no other can speak with you until you a release from your current college. Communication is the key. Although your Coach may initially be hurt, sometimes angry by your decision to leave, eventually Coach will understand your desire to make a move. With the written release, you may begin to contact other colleges. A hostile Coach cannot block your transfer but may be able to force you to "sit out" an entire season on your new team. Diplomacy is better than war.
Conversely, JUCO Coaches are generally very supportive of transfers and, in fact, take great pride in helping their graduating players explore scholarship opportunities. Many JUCOs have All-Star Games Tournament, at the conclusion of their regular season, to showcase players for four-year College Coaches.
You must do your homework. First, to be conscious of all the rules regarding transfer. Write or call the governing authority NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA. Ask questions about how your semester hours will be accepted at the new college. Clearly understand the deadlines of financial aid, and calculate the total cost s of attending the new college. Calculate your remaining years of eligibility, the number of years you have left to play. Eligibility depends on your age, number of years you have played in college and the new college's rules. As an example, NCAA Div I college players can not exceed 25 years of age nor have played more than 4 years in college.
Transferring, for a student-athlete, can be a minefield. Unlike the ordinary college student, who is a customer buying an education, and then decides to take his or her business somewhere else, the student athlete's world includes his Coach. And Coaches, as we all know are complex personalities. Coaches include many roles in including, winner, leader, father figure, psychologist, and financial advisor, to name a few. None of those roles appreciate being told that their services are no longer required. And, if the news is brought to them by a competitive Coach, and archrival, "Hell hath no further like a Coach once scorned..." You get the picture.
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