I’m unsure what the rules are for athletic transfers from D3 to D1 and I’m looking for some advice. I row for a division three program that is laid-back athletically, but with rigorous academics. I have a really bad case of post-concussive syndrome from a years past, and getting back into school work has been difficult but manageable. My 2k right now is a 7:45 as a open weight rower, and my GPA, if I receive a pass/fail for one of my classes will be a 3.0, if not a 2.67. The schools I’m looking at are an athletic match, but my GPA is slightly on the lower side. I’m looking at a division one school in Boston but the NCAA rules concerning transfers are very confusing. I know that I have to withdraw from my current team for and then only have a week to possibly get the chance to commit to another team, but I don’t know my chances. What is the best way for me to approach talking to coaches, if there even is one?
In most situations you need permissions to talk to other schools from your current athletic department. I am not sure what you mean by “you only have one week” and what you mean by withdrawing, unless you are trying to move schools this semester. Hard to follow what you are trying to do from your post.
There are very strict rules to allow athletes to transfer and you will need to have a transfer exception granted in order for you to compete immediately at your next school. Nothing prevents you, as a student from applying to transfer academically, but if you want to talk to any other coaches or compete somewhere else you will have to follow the NCAA steps required. There is a transfer guide on their website that spells everything out. If you can’t follow the guide, just call them. In my experience the student/athlete 800 line is very helpful.
Since it looks like you are competing for the DIII now, you cannot talk to other possible coaches until you get a permission to contact letter written from your current school, the D1 coach will likely refuse to talk to you until you have a copy sent to him/her. Asking for your current team to release you, just gets you off the team and still does not permit anyone else to speak with you. A D1 coach should know the process. As a transfer there is no “commit” or NLI that comes into play. If you need the new coach to help you get admitted to the new school you will have to follow the NCAA process.
You will also likely need to register with the NCAA eligibility center to compete at D1. They will want to ensure you are academically eligible.