Arizona’s AIA passes emergency bylaw on in-season student-athlete transfers

In the recent events of several former Bishop Montgomery (Calif.) football players transferring into Mesa (Ariz.) and a few others also looking for new homes, the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) decided to act before more players made moves.

According to ArizonaVarsity.com’s Zach Alvira, the AIA voted on an emergency bylaw, 15.5.2.7, that will prevent out-of-state transfers who enroll into Arizona schools in-season from playing immediately. The new rule makes student-athletes ineligible for one year from the date they first enroll/attend school.

Though the AIA made the new transfer rule official this morning, the bylaw will not impact any transfers that were enrolled/attending school prior to today’s decision, per AIA Executive Director Jim Dean via Alvira’s report. Players that transfer in, however, will still have the ability to apply for a hardship appeal in order to gain athletic eligibility.

Mesa head football coach Jeremy Hathcock confirmed with Rivals on Thursday that four former Bishop Montgomery players, tight end Caleb Tafua (Texas A&M commit), linebacker Kainalu Skipps, quarterback Kane and wide receiver Kingston Anetema had all transferred into the Arizona high school.

The Jackrabbits are currently 2-2 on the season after defeating Desert Ridge 53-6 on Thursday night.

Alvira also reported on Friday that reportedly six more players from California had registered with Arizona East Valley schools, with several others being turned away. With the AIA passing the emergency legislation, it should slow down the in-season influx of student-athletes transferring into the Grand Canyon State this 2025 high school football season and beyond.

Regarding the case of Bishop Montgomery, the Knights had 19 incoming transfers were ruled ineligible over the offseason by California’s CIF Southern Section for breaking Bylaw 202, which is listed by the association as ‘Penalty for Providing Incorrect, Inaccurate, Incomplete or False Information.’ Since then, Bishop Montgomery has canceled the rest of their 2025 season, fired head coach Ed Hodgkiss and saw the resignation of president Pat Lee.

For Arizona high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the state, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Grand Canyon State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the state of Arizona.