Watertown School Board Moves to Close Athletic “Redshirting” LoopholesWatertown School Board Moves to Close Athletic “Redshirting” Loopholes
- Steve Jurrens
- May 12
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown School Board has formally cast its support behind a series of statewide rule changes aimed at curbing the practice of “redshirting” and athletic reclassification in middle and high school sports. During its Monday night session, the Board voted unanimously to support three key amendments proposed by the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) that would tighten eligibility requirements for student-athletes.
Stopping the “Reclassification” Trend
The most significant change, Amendment No. 1, addresses a growing trend where parents have their children repeat 8th grade—often through homeschooling or temporary withdrawal—specifically to allow them an extra year of physical growth before entering high school competition.
Under the current rules, a student’s eight-semester eligibility “clock” begins when they enter 9th grade. The new amendment shifts the start date to 7th grade, providing students with a total of 12 semesters (six years) of eligibility, beginning with their initial enrollment as 7th graders.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen described the measure as a “loophole closure”.
“The clock starts ticking at 7th grade,” Danielsen explained to the Board. “Even though you may not be a varsity athlete at 7th grade, that’s when your six years or 12 semesters start”.
The SDHSAA rationale for the change noted that the practice of “redshirting” in sports runs counter to education-based activities. While the rule remains strict, the association maintains a hardship process to examine legitimate, non-athletic reasons why a student might need to be held back.
Fair Play During School Closures
Amendment No. 2 targets “early transfers” related to school closures. Currently, students at a closing school are granted a “free” transfer to a new district without the typical sit-out period. However, some families have attempted to use this rule to transfer mid-year, for example, moving after a fall sports season ends but before the school actually closes its doors in May.
The new language clarifies that such a transfer cannot occur until the actual date of the school closure or the end of that specific school year.
“You need to remain at your home school until the end of the school year when the school actually closes,” Danielsen said.
The rule does not affect “bona fide” family moves, which are still allowed at any time without penalty.
Early Graduation and Eligibility
The final measure, Amendment No. 3, puts into writing a long-standing administrative practice regarding early graduates. It explicitly states that a student’s athletic eligibility terminates immediately upon graduation, whether that be from a traditional high school, an online program, or by obtaining a GED.
This prevents “early grads”—such as those who finish their requirements in December—from returning to play spring sports. The rule includes an exception for students who graduate at the end of May; they remain eligible to compete in state tournaments (such as track, golf, or softball) held in the weeks immediately following their ceremony.
Board Consensus
The Board moved through the three votes quickly, echoing the sentiment that the changes protect the integrity of high school athletics.
“My money says it’ll probably happen someplace,” Board President Jon Iverson remarked regarding the ingenuity of those seeking loopholes, though he joined the unanimous support for the new restrictions.
The amendments must receive a 60% favorable vote from member schools statewide by May 31, 2026, to pass into the SDHSAA bylaws.
The Board also approved the 2026-2027 SDHSAA Division IV Representative ballot, casting their vote for Jeff Kosters of the Frederick Area School District to serve a five-year term on the SDHSAA Board of Directors.
