UAAP revises eligibility rule for transfers of student-athletes to other member schools

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) announced on Wednesday its revised rule on eligibility of transferring student-athletes from one member school to another.

UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag announced the policy on Wednesday during the league's press conference.

"The UAAP as a collegial body decided that any transferee after Academic Year 2023-24 or equivalent after Season 86, aside from the usual being charged of residency, from member school to member school, will be charged a residency and that said residency will be considered as eligibility year. Instead of just one, it will now be two," Saguisag said.

With the revised rule, instead of just sitting out for one year for residency, two years of eligibility will be deducted from a transferee's playing years.

If players transfer after their first year, then they still have two remaining playing years. If athletes move after their second year, they basically will become a 'one and done' for their new team.

"Simplehan lang natin, from the initial rule of residency na counted as a playing year, now they will be charged two. So it depends on when they transfer," added the UAAP executive director.

Previously, Senator Pia Cayetano reminded about RA 10676 or the Student-Athletes Protection Act which protects the playing years of student-athletes, when the first report of the change in eligibility rule came out.

"I trust that the UAAP Board of Trustees shares my concern for the welfare of our student-athletes and will not do anything to circumvent the intent of RA 10676," Cayetano said in a statement last June.

RA 10676 regulates the residency requirement and prohibits the commercialization of student-athletes.

According to the law, "In the case of a tertiary student-athlete transferring from one college or university to another, a maximum of one (1) year residency may be imposed by an athletic association before a student-athlete could participate and represent a school in any athletic competition."

Saguisag, however, said the league is ready to defend the revised rule.

"We’re ready to defend if called upon. Allow me to state, however, that that is the beauty and gift of democracy, everybody has their own views and their own perspective and we understand and respect where she’s coming from," Saguisag said.

"However, let me state for the record that all of us in this room, the welfare and interest of each and every student athlete is of paramount importance. There’s no question about that. We all agree on that and that’s the most important thing. We may have different views on how to get there, but again, allow me to state that the welfare of each and every student athlete is of paramount importance," he added.

The revised rule announcement also came months after a few collegiate stars transferred one school to another in the UAAP.

Asked if that was one of the board's motivations in revising the rule, Saguisag said it was part of the consideration.

"I wouldn’t call it a motivation, maybe it’s part of the considerations. Interestingly, that is where we are coming from, we have to consider. In as much as we protect, we guarantee the protection of the rights of each and every student-athlete, we have to balance that to other interests. I’m talking about the member-schools per se and the UAAP as a collective. So there are three parties concerned here that we need to balance their interests because at the end of the day, a better member-school will lead to a better UAAP which leads to a better environment for the student-athlete." he said.

Saguisag also reiterated that this will be implemented for those who will be enrolled and academic records will be the basis of the rule implementation.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News