<p>What are the stipulations for transferring schools as a D1 Track and Field athlete? I am planning on transferring schools after my freshman year at a D1 college i am attending to another D1 closer to my home but i want to know if it is smart to transfer at the end of my year here or at a different point in time (as in will schools have any scholarship funding at that point in time)? Along with that i want to know what are the stipulations for transferring such as will i lose a year of eligibility such as in basketball or football and other info. Lastly how should i best word it to the coach here that i am unsatisfied with the school and track program and the way it didn't meet my expectations? I would appreciate any help. Thanks.</p>
<p>The funding part of the question is extremely important to me as i am on a very large scholarship at this point so i need to know about that issue.</p>
<p>This is a difficult situation, especially where money is concerned. If you have a trusted high school coach who can make a few phone calls on your behalf, ask him to contact the coaches who recruited you out of high school and let them know that, FOR PERSONAL REASONS, you are considering transferring to a different school. After you have gotten encouragement from the other coaches (remember that the coaches are all colleagues so never bad mouth your current coach and be sure to say you are considering transferring for personal reasons, not because your current coach is an idiot or that his program sucks), you can talk to your current coach and let him know you are considering a transfer. Do not tell him his program sucks. Do not close this door if you may need it be open later. I think all NCAA Division I sports require a year off after transferring. That means a year of non-competing. Practicing with the team is usually allowed. The timing will depend on your season of sport and your academic demands. If you transfer in the middle or at the end of your season, then you will become eligible to compete after the one year anniversary of the transfer. Most schools who offer scholarships in your sport will offer a transfer a scholarship while they redshirt during their year of ineligibility but that is different for every program and every athlete within that program. You can get concrete details by calling the 800 number listed at NCAA.org. They have counselors familiar with your situation and will explain the rules to you. You may want to do a little checking and see what the rules are pertaining to coaches in one conference talking to a participating athlete in a different conference. There may be some rule or ethical boundary forbidding such contact. Good luck. If you like your college, you may want to make really sure the grass is greener on the other side before you jump the fence.</p>