Takedown Report

Canadian Collegiate U Sports Changes Transfer Rules

by Jake Bridges 2
September 18th, 2025Canada, College, International, News, Transfers, U Sports

U SPORTS, the governing body for university and college sports in Canada, has updated its transfer rules. First or second-year athletes in the Canadian university system can now transfer schools without penalty.  Previously, athletes who transferred in the Canadian system were forced to sit out one calendar year of competition; however, this rule did not apply to all sports. Swimming, cross-country, and track and field had exemptions. 
The update also paves the way for easier transfer from NCAA or NAIA schools to a Canadian University, as the 365-day sit-out period previously applied to such transfers. 
The new ruleset will come into effect in the 2026-2027 season. 
When speaking on the decision, U Sports CEO Pierre Arsenault said, “The landscape of post-secondary sport is evolving, and our role is to ensure our policies reflect the needs of those we serve.”
The change in policy is well timed. In the United States, the House Settlement established new limits on roster sizes across NCAA sports. Most programs are being forced to decrease their size and cut athletes, meaning that as we enter the post-House era, there will be more athletes in the U.S. than roster spots. U SPORTS’ new policy allows them to be a viable alternative for those athletes. 
While U SPORTS lagged behind the NCAA in transfer policy, historically, their rulebook has been less restrictive than the NCAA’s. 
U SPORTS, for example, does not impose a five-year window … more at … https://swimswam.com/canadian-collegiate-u-sports-changes-transfer-rules/

September 27, 2025 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | ncaa, news, sports