FAQ regarding transfers
The UHSAA in the best interests of interscholastic sports has made a decision that transfers for athletic reasons are NOT acceptable and will result in the loss of one year of eligibility. The purpose of this page is to clear up any questions or misunderstandings about the transfer process and direct you to those resources that can best help you or your child find the right educational environment.
FAQ's
1.) Does Lutheran High offer athletic or basketball scholarships?
The answer to this question is an emphatic "NO!". Contrary to popular opinion, private schools in the state of Utah are expressly forbidden from giving scholarships for athletic ability. If you are looking at schools and someone offers a tuition free scholarship or tuition break for your education because of your athletic skills, watch out! This could lead to serious repercussions for both the athlete and the school including loss of eligibility, loss of school status within the UHSAA, or loss of titles or honors received. Lutheran High offers "need based financial aid", if you feel like you might fall into that category and are interested in attending LHS, you need to contact Shelly Davis, director of advancement, or Charles Gebhardt, executive director, for more information, or visit the school's website.
2.) Can I (or my child) still participate in sports if we transfer because we are looking for a Christian school or because we like the academic environment?
The answer to this question is somewhat variable. All transfers must complete the forms and procedures as outlined by the UHSAA. Following completion and submission of the forms to the UHSAA, a hearing will be held to determine eligiblity. If the UHSAA feels that the transfer is for legitimate reasons, the transfer will go through and you (or your child) can then participate in any extracurricular activities governed by the UHSAA. If the transfer is for legitimate academic or religious reasons the transfer application should be approved. You or your parents have the right to be present at the hearing. For more information regarding specific transfer cases please contact Nancy Asche, LHS athletic director, or view the UHSAA handbook regarding transfers. (UHSAA handbook)
3.) I tried out at a school and got cut, can I still transfer to LHS and play this year?
The answer to this question is again, "No". First, the second you tried out at your school you used your year of eligibilty. Whether or not you make the team does not matter and the UHSAA looks upon that as using a whole year. Secondly, you would be transferring for athletic reasons and that would fall under the category of an athletic transfer, you would have to sit out a year as per UHSAA guidelines.(see transfer rules, HSAA handbook)
4.) We are looking to transfer to LHS, but my child plays a sport not offered by your school (football, hockey, lacrosse, swimming, etc.) can he still participate in those sports at another school?
The answer to this question is "Yes". Under the co-op rule a student may participate in a sport not offered at the school they are attending. The student must compete at the school in which their primary residence is while still attending LHS. (see co-op rule, UHSAA handbook)
5.) I either represent an agency which places foreign exchange students, or I am a foreign exchange student planning on attending LHS, can they still participate in interscholastic sports?
The answer to this is again variable. There are two different types of visas (J-1 and F-1) issued to foreign exchange students and both carry different requirements for partcipating in UHSAA sanctioned activities. Students attending LHS on a J-1 visa are eligible for one year only and must complete a foreign exchange student transfer form A and be approved for participation by the UHSAA. Students attending LHS on an F-1 visa must complete the foreign exchange student transfer form B and be approved by the UHSAA. F-1 International students wanting to participate in interscholastic sports are not eligible to receive any kind of financial aid from their school of choice, even need based and must receive an I-20 from the school before applying for eligibility.(see foreign exchange transfer rules, UHSAA handbook)
Links to forms:
UHSAA transfer of eligibility form
UHSAA Foreign Exchange Student Eligibility Form (4a)
UHSAA International Student Registration Form (4b)
