Swimmers and divers remained largely loyal during the chaos of the NCAA transfer portal, posting the lowest transfer rate of any Division I sport last year with at least 50 transfers.
According to the public database currently provided by the NCAA, the transfer rate for both men’s and women’s swimming and diving in 2021 was approximately 5%. Field hockey and rowing were the only fields with low transfer rates last year. In 2020, rowing and women’s ice hockey alone accounted for less than 3% of men’s and women’s swimming and diving.
Last year, the portal brought about 10,000 athletes through the transfer process, up from about 7,000 the year before. Most of that increase was due to the extension of granted eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and his one-time transfer exception, which nearly doubled the population (from 1,631 to his 3,092) to a surge in graduate transfers. may be due. The FBS footballer accounted for more than a quarter of his total transfers last year.
This trend was also reflected in swims and dives, where the total number of school transfers increased from 185 to 245. Much of that increase is due to the transfer of he 46 alumni compared to just four he the previous year.
NCAA recently adjusted rules Regarding that transfer process while refusing the recommendation to allow immediate eligibility. The reform includes a new policy that requires schools to guarantee financial assistance for transfers until graduation or until they transfer or engage in professional sporting opportunities.
Recent changes should have a significant impact on swimmers and divers in the coming year. About 1 in 5 (17%) of him who had a scholarship at his alma mater lost his financial aid when he transferred. This is a total of 80 swimmers who may have received assistance or were denied a place on the roster due to financial restrictions.
Nearly half (47%) of transfer portal participants who received support at their new school transferred and retained their sports scholarship. On the other hand, his 36% of transfer portal participants received support at the transfer school and remain active on the transfer portal.
Swimmers and divers are set to provide 60 days of written transfer notice following their championship selection in March. Historically, March was the most popular month to enter the transfer portal, with the exception of last August when 68 swimmers and divers entered the transfer portal. Only 18 of him entered the portal the year before.
Transfer rates in both men’s and women’s swimming and diving, despite concerns over “free agency” in collegiate sports lower than 2004Finding a new home on a transfer portal isn’t easy, especially for most swimmers and divers. Did. This is down from last year when the majority (54%) were successfully transferred after entering the portal.
Transfer portals appear to have had a major impact on college football transfer rates, quadrupling at FBS level from around 4% before the start four years ago to 16% last year.
2021 NCAA Transfer Rates by Sport
- Men’s Basketball – 31% (total 1,692)
- Women’s Basketball – 22% (total 1,134)
- Baseball – 18% (2,126 total)
- Football – FBS – 16% (total 2,538)
- Beach Volleyball – 15% (167 total)
- Men’s soccer – 13% (total 755)
- Men’s Tennis – 13% (325 total)
- Football – FCS – 12% (Total 2,538)
- Women’s Volleyball – 12% (650 total)
- Women’s Tennis – 12% (340 total)
- Men’s Ice Hockey – 12% (205 total)
- Softball – 11% (764 total)
- Women’s soccer – 9% (total 909)
- Men’s Lacrosse – 9% (321 total)
- Men’s Athletics – 8% (905 total)
- Women’s Lacrosse – 8% (317 total)
- Men’s Wrestling – 8% (207 total)
- Women’s Ice Hockey – 8% (63 total)
- Men’s Cross Country – 7% (327 total)
- Men’s Golf – 7% (222 total)
- Women’s Golf – 7% (162 total)
- Women’s Athletics – 6% (total 864)
- Women’s Cross Country – 5% (310 total)
- Women’s Swimming and Diving – 5% (266 total)
- Men’s Swimming and Diving – 5% (198 total)
- Field Hockey – 4% (75 total)
- Rowing – 2% (105 total)
*NCAA does not provide transfer portal data for sports with less than 50 transfers
Transfers are not just between Division I programs. 13% of swimmers and divers go on to Division II and 2% choose a Division III program.
Check out the full database here. Updated every January.
