What follows is strictly my opinion and does not represent a position of the AIA executive board or its member schools.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association's Legislative Council convenes in about a week -- Friday March 1 in fact -- and one item on the agenda is a long-overdue attempt to curtail  whimsical, calculated transfers -- the 25-mile transfer rule. I would have preferred the originally talked about 50-mile rule, but I won't be greedy.

Ever since open enrollment became the law of the land in Arizona nearly in the mid-1990s, parents have had the option of enrolling their kids in any school they chose once the student enters ninth grade. The original intent was to foster opportunity for academics, but as we know has evolved in many cases to be athletics driven. Open enrollment has forever tipped the scales toward schools which are highly successful in a particular sport or sports, no more so than now.

I've grudgingly accepted open enrollment. It's fine for the reason originally intended, but not for athletics. Seeing students transfer once, perhaps twice for athletic reasons, after having their pick of the land as a ninth-grader is galling. Participating in athletics is a privilege, not a right.

The transfer stuff over the years has taken on a life all its own. As soon as a particular season ends (pick a sport), talk on the street and chat rooms are filled with wonder over where so-and-so is transferring next year or might transfer next week. It may be that they aren't the big fish in the pond at their school like they thought they'd be. Or they don't see the field enough for mom, dad or their own taste. Maybe don't get along with the coach. It's like free agency in professional sports. The media loves to speculate on where Super Stud may end up the following year.

These attitudes and reasons are flimsy. They shouldn't be honored, not as carte blanche as they are at present. Should the 25-mile transfer rule pass March 1, transfers can be made. However, the price is the sacrifice of a year of eligibilty in a sport(s) played at the school one is leaving. The caveat is even if the family changes domicile (moves) to the new school's attendance zone, they are still ineligible for a year. Apartment hopping, purchasing a new home won't cut it just so a kid can improve his athletic lot, sabotage the program they join or perhaps ultimately deny someone legitimately in the attendance zone a chance they deserve.

There will be hardship appeals for the 25-mile transfer rule, such as home foreclosure, or parent changing a job. If there is evidence a move from the sending to the receiving school is being made because of previously known athletic dissatisfaction of one form or another, I hope hardship committees pay close attention. It will be incumbent on the committees to scrutinize appeals for legitimacy. If this rule passes, it needs to have teeth. The damage from open enrollment for athletics has already been done. Every little bit that can be done to stem the transfer tide should be done.

Bring on the 25-mile transfer rule. Pass it. And AIA Legislative Council, don't wait until July 1 to enact should it pass. Invoke emergency legislation powers and make it effective March 1. The sooner the better.