THSADA/THSCA Positions on HB 619

THSADA News

Texas High School Athletic Directors Association

House Bill 619 Information

The THSADA Board of Directors created an addendum to accompany the THSCA position on HB 619. Specific to HB 619 is to point out the difficulties that UIL Athletic Administrators and Coaches will have implementing and providing oversight into this bill.

For as many years as the UIL has existed the concept of moving for athletic purposes has always been in place with a few exceptions along the way. This rule has ensured that all athletics remain focused on community-based participation and pride in your hometown or campus community school and school district.

Much of how public-school athletic programs operate trickle down from the University or College programs such as coaching philosophies, strength training, athlete conditioning and offensive/defensive concepts, no matter the sport. Athlete transfers in the manner to which this bill has been written has also never been an issue until it entered the University/College arena, and it is a mistake to think that because the Universities and Colleges do it that it can be done at the High School level. It is not the same.

Even though the rules and regulations at the University/College are still non-descript and essentially have no guardrails, the reason a Transfer Policy at the collegiate level is accepted does not equal the same at the High School level.

Reasons why a College Student-Athlete may transfer:

  1. Scholarship – a Student-Athlete may transfer in order to enhance a scholarship or receive a scholarship to improve their station financially. This reason does not exist at the High School level.

  2. Family/Social Life – A Student-Athlete may want to transfer and move back in his/her home area because of the social life or a family situation. If you go to school on the East Coast you may want to move back to the West Coast. This reason does not exist at the High School level.

  3. Draft status – A Student-Athlete may want to transfer from an FCS school to an FBS school or to a D2 school to a D1 school in order to enhance their profile as a possible draft prospect for their sport at the professional level. This reason does not exist at the HS level.

Reasons why a transfer bill at the High School level is a negative:

  1. When a Student-Athlete or multiple athletes transfer at the collegiate level, the coach has the ability to go recruit to fill those positions. When a Student-Athlete or athletes transfer at the High School level there is no possibility of recruiting that position or positions. You just lose a player or players.

  2. When a Student-Athlete or multiple athletes transfer at the collegiate level, that affects only one sport. At the High School level when an athlete or athletes transfer, especially at a smaller school, the impact can be felt among multiple sports and negatively affects more than one team. When should a transfer be allowed so that it does not affect more than one team?

  3. When a Student-Athlete or athletes transfer from a small school or an inner-city school that has a small roster to begin with, that could severely impact the school’s ability to compete at the level at which they are currently playing. Example: Teams with a small roster playing at the 6A level will be at a severe disadvantage.

  4. When a Student-Athlete or athletes transfer at the NCAA level, there are numerous campus athletic department staff that can facilitate the move along with over 500 employees at the NCAA. The NCAA has 1,100 members, the UIL has 1,200 members with 4 staff members in athletics with possibly a campus athletic coordinator to facilitate any transfers. Depending on the receiving school, administrative oversight could be a monumental task.

  5. When a Student-Athlete or athletes transfer at the college level there will be, in most cases, athletic department staff designated to assist with the transfer in all phases of academics, athletic eligibility, medical issues, etc. At the High School level this all must be done by a coach, who is also a full-time teacher, who is responsible for moving the transfer through all phases.

Summation

The THSADA is adamantly opposed to HB 619, believes it can negatively impact all the different sport programs, provide significant competitive disadvantage for programs that already struggle and will move Texas athletic programs towards a model that is used by other states that have seen turmoil and discontent within their high school athletic programs.

Texas High School Coaches Association

HB 619 Summary: House Bill 619 allows Texas students aged under 19 and eligible for grades 9-12 to transfer once to another school district for athletic participation purposes. The transfer requires written approval from the receiving district and the student’s parent. The transfer remains valid until the student graduates or withdraws. It prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, or disability. Additionally, the UIL cannot penalize students or districts for such transfers. Implementation begins with the 2025-2026 school year.

These points emphasize the risks associated with Rep. Gervin-Hawkins’ HB 619 and reinforce the message that preserving the community-based nature of Texas high school athletics is essential for maintaining its rich cultural heritage and valuable impact on student-athletes.

1. Opening Statement
House Bill 619 challenges the fundamental values that make Texas high school athletics a vital part of communities. Texas has long been a leader in education and community-based athletics, where school teams reflect the pride and identity of entire towns. The bill risks undermining this legacy by prioritizing individual mobility over collective culture.

The current transfer policy, developed and supported by University Interscholastic League (UIL) member schools, ensures fairness while preserving the integrity of education and community based programs. The Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) supports these rules and the role of District and State Executive Committees in upholding them. Texas’s community based teams—whether athletic, academic, or musical—have made UIL activities the gold standard in the nation. Preserving this structure is vital to maintaining the strong community bonds that define Texas.

2. Bullet Points/Talking Points for Media

Impact on Community-Based Athletics
• HB 619 threatens to dismantle the tradition of community-based high school athletics that is deeply ingrained in Texas culture.

• Texas communities rally around their local high school teams because these student athletes live, grow, worship, and shop within the community, fostering a strong sense of connection and pride.

• While competition always exists among student-athletes, HB 619 risks prioritizing out of-district student-athletes over local, community-raised student-athletes. Local student athletes stand to lose their chance to compete with neighboring student-athletes with the resources to transfer.

Cultural Significance of High School Sports

• Friday Night Lights and Texas high school athletics are woven into the very fabric of the state, bringing people together in ways that transcend sports. HB 619 jeopardizes this cultural legacy.

• Neighboring states with similar transfer policies have seen a decline in the cohesion and identity of high school athletics, leading to regrets and calls for reform.

Lessons from Other States

• Florida serves as a cautionary tale: since implementing a one-time transfer rule, their high school athletic programs have experienced a negative transformation, including diminished community support and engagement.

• States with transfer policies report the rise of “All-Star teams” and rampant recruitment, eroding the integrity of high school sports.

• Texas is unique to other states in that high school coaches are also teachers and administrators invested in not only the athletic success but also the education of student athletes. HB 619 focuses only on the athletic success of student-athletes.

Long-Term Consequences

• HB 619 risks turning high school athletics into a collegiate-style ecosystem dominated by recruitment, transfers, and potential NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) agreements, shifting focus away from education and local pride.

• High school athletics could lose their community-driven appeal, as demonstrated by declining attendance at games and state championships in states like Florida. Communities stop rallying behind teams when the student-athletes are transient and lack local ties.

Recruitment and Competition Concerns

• The creation of “super teams” through the transfer portal dilutes competitive balance and undermines fair play.

• Recruitment becomes rampant, leading to inequities and unfair advantages for schools with greater resources or geographic advantages.

Economic and Communal Ramifications

• Reduced community engagement in high school athletics can impact local economies, particularly small businesses that thrive on game-day support.

• The loss of community loyalty and identity associated with local high school teams weakens the collective fabric of Texas communities.