MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WGNS) — A major change is coming to Tennessee high school athletics. The TSSAA Legislative Council has finalized the language of a new student transfer rule that will go into effect for the 2025-26 school year, allowing students to transfer schools for significant academic, social-emotional, environmental, or mental health reasons—provided there are no athletic or disciplinary objections from the sending school.

Under the new rule, once a student initiates a transfer, the sending school has seven days to notify TSSAA if the move is for athletic or disciplinary reasons. If no such claim is made, the transfer may be approved under the new eligibility criteria. The rule aims to balance student well-being with competitive fairness.

In other business, the TSSAA Board of Control and Legislative Council met jointly in Mt. Juliet to address more than 40 items, including a decision to officially elevate Girls’ Flag Football to full championship status. The Board voted to remove the sport from “emerging sport” designation, and the Council approved it to be played in the spring beginning in 2025-26.

Additional highlights from the meetings:

• E.J. Wood, Athletic Director at Green Hill High School, was named Assistant Executive Director for TSSAA, replacing Gene Menees, who retired after 34 years.

  

• The Board approved $40,500 to be distributed to 27 A.F. Bridges Award-winning schools to support athletics.

• A proposal by Page High School to introduce a “wild card” format in the state golf tournament was denied.

• The Board and Council also reviewed updates on the ongoing TSSAA building project and held a strategic planning session.

The Board of Control will reconvene Wednesday to complete its agenda.