IHSA takes over eligibility rulings on transfers into CPS

The change to districts in football wasn’t the only major proposal approved by Illinois High School Association member schools on Tuesday.

The IHSA will now rule on any transfer from outside of Chicago Public Schools into Chicago Public Schools. The CPS previously ruled on the eligibility of those players.

“We don’t believe it was something that was needed,” Young coach Tyrone Slaughter said. “All of our transfers that came from outside were adjudicated by IHSA bylaws. Rules have not been broken, there is just disappointment that the kids decided to leave. When things don’t go a certain way there is an attempt to change the rules. The rule has not been changed only the person doing the ruling will change.”

Several high-profile players left Catholic schools for Public League schools in the spring and summer of 2017, which led to Catholic schools proposing that the IHSA change who rules on the transfers.

Most Catholic school coaches are unwilling to go on the record about the issue, but they say Public League coaches are recruiting their top players and say that in some instances the players don’t live in Chicago.

“We aren’t looking to hurt the individual players, but the fact of the matter is that when our transfers get investigated by the IHSA but the CPS transfers don’t, that is a red flag for us and the league,” Marian Catholic coach Mike Taylor said last year. “Our basic thing is calling attention to the IHSA that there is a lot of this going on,” Taylor said. “We just want them to investigate. Four schools in [the East Suburban Catholic] were effected. It’s not that we are trying to stop kids from playing. The adults have to start behaving like adults.”

The change applies to all sports, not just basketball.

“They are the governing body so we have to do what they say,” Simeon coach Robert Smith said. “There are so many reasons for kids to transfer. People don’t know that on the outside looking in.”

Phillips, the Public League’s football powerhouse, has received several transfers from Catholic schools the past few years.

“I think they are just trying to provide some more transparency to things,” Phillips coach Troy McAllister said. “There are a lot of questions we still need answered though. The IHSA is going to have to be super clear on what they want and need, especially when it comes to financial hardship situations.”