Understanding The NCAA Transfer Portal

How It Works:

  1. Entering the Portal – A student-athlete notifies their school’s compliance office of their intent to transfer. The school then has 48 hours to enter their name into the portal.
  2. Recruitment – Once in the portal, the athlete can be contacted by coaches from other schools.
  3. Decision Time – The athlete can choose a new school, remain at their current school, or withdraw from the portal.
  4. Transfer Rules – Some athletes may have to sit out a season, while others (especially in Division I) can transfer and play immediately under the one-time transfer rule if they meet certain academic and eligibility criteria.

In NCAA lacrosse, the transfer portal follows general NCAA transfer rules, but there are some sport-specific factors to consider.

Key Transfer Rules for Lacrosse (Division I and II)

One-Time Transfer Rule (Division I)

  1. Players can transfer once without sitting out a season, as long as they:
  • Are transferring to another Division I school.
  • Maintain academic eligibility.
  • Have not previously transferred.
  • Notify their current school and enter the portal during designated transfer windows (more below).

Graduate Transfers

  • Players who have earned their degree can transfer to another school without penalty, even if they have transferred before.

Transfer Windows (New as of 2023-2024)

  • 30-day window starts Monday after Selection Sunday (May).
  • Players must enter the portal within these windows to be immediately eligible the next season.

Non-Scholarship (Walk-On) Transfers

  • Players who do not receive athletic aid can transfer without restrictions.

Division II & III Transfers

  • Division II follows similar rules to Division I, but without strict transfer windows.
  • Division III has more flexibility, and players can transfer without needing to enter the portal officially.