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Wednesday, November 4, 2026Nov 4

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Chattanooga-area coaches share thoughts on TSSAA transfer rule

Staff photo / East Ridge High School football coach Chad Barger talks to a player during a home game against Hixson in October 2023. Like most major rule changes in the TSSAA, the debate over a one-time transfer rule is being driven by football and its potential effects on that sport.
Staff photo / East Ridge High School football coach Chad Barger talks to a player during a home game against Hixson in October 2023. Like most major rule changes in the TSSAA, the debate over a one-time transfer rule is being driven by football and its potential effects on that sport. Staff photo / East Ridge High School football coach Chad Barger talks to a player during a home game against Hixson in October 2023. Like most major rule changes in the TSSAA, the debate over a one-time transfer rule is being driven by football and its potential effects on that sport.

TSSAA rulemakers will meet Monday to discuss a potential one-time transfer rule that, if implemented, would be the most significant rules change for the governing body of Tennessee high school sports since private and public schools were split into separate divisions nearly 30 years ago.

Although updating the transfer rule would affect every TSSAA-sanctioned sport, football has more student-athlete participants and is once again a driving force behind the push for change. That was the case with the public-private split as well as the earlier decision to create a classification system based on school enrollment.

The Times Free Press surveyed all 32 TSSAA football head coaches in our coverage area on the subject and received 24 responses. Here is a sample of some of those, with opinions both for and against a one-time transfer rule that would not restrict eligibility.


Damon Floyd, Bradley Central