A new rule allowing a one-time school transfer in Tennessee while maintaining athletic eligibility has doubled the number of those jumping in the transfer portal.

According to the TSSAA, which oversees athletics in Tennessee, they have processed nearly double the number of transfer requests they had by this time last year after the Legislative Council passed a one-time transfer exception for non-athletic reasons in March.

The TSSAA says it has processed 1,004 transfer requests as of mid-August, up from 580 at this time one year ago.

It is suspected that most of this year’s requests have been filed by athletes eager to utilize the new rule. Of the totals, 711 one-time transfer requests have been made since July 14 — an average of about 20 per day. Ninety-two were still processing as of Aug. 18, with 557 approved and 60 denied. In addition to athletes using the new one-time transfer, students whose families move into new residences in different school zones are considered transfers.

As a matter of checks and balances, if a sending school is notified that one of their athletes is transferring, they receive an email connecting them to the process via the TSSAA’s portal system. If a sending school replies that it believes the athlete is transferring to another school for athletic or disciplinary reasons, then the student is denied immediate eligibility unless they gain a hardship waiver from the Board of Control. Athletes can use the rule only for “significant academic, social-emotional, environmental or mental health needs.” The TSSAA heard 14 hardship requests at its Board of Control meeting on Aug. 18.

Schools have denied initial one-time transfer requests at a rate of about 10% thus far. Of the 619 one-time requests made as of Aug. 18, 60 were denied.

In other TSSAA news from the board of control’s recent meeting:

 The Board approved the creation of a new position on the state office. The position of Director of Officials Education and Services will play a vital role in supporting the mission of the TSSAA by providing leadership, training, and oversight to the athletic officials across all sanctioned sports. This individual is responsible for the recruitment, education, evaluation, and retention of officials throughout the state.

Numerous spring sport championship locations that were not decided at the June Board of Control meeting were selected. The boys and girls lacrosse championships will be held at two Williamson County schools and the girls flag football championships will be held at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro. The middle school baseball championships will be held at multiple locations in the Chattanooga area while the middle school softball championships will be held at Warner Park in Chattanooga.

Classification for girls’ flag football was set by the Board. There will be two classes (Class A and AA) and eight regions in each class. The Board also approved official’s fees for girls’ flag football for the upcoming school year. The following officials’ fees were approved with 3-person crews.

During the regular season and 4-person crews during the postseason.

● $65 per official for a single varsity game

● $55 per official per game if more than one varsity game at a site

● JV games left to negotiation between school and local officials’ association

Fairview Christian Academy, Devout Academy, Maryville Christian School, and Nurses Middle College Nashville were all approved for membership in the association.