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Big changes could be coming to South Carolina high school athletics if legislators pass a bill that proposes a new governing body for sports.

Buzz around the state spread this week with the proposal of bill H.4163 by the South Carolina General Assembly. It proposes establishing of a new governing association for state high school athletics, essentially dissolving the South Carolina High School League. It would also allow high school athletes to transfer to another school, regardless of whether or not the school is in their attendance zone.

The bill names the South Carolina High School Athletic Association Act, which would be used to 鈥減romote, facilitate, assist and govern interscholastic athletic programs and events within and among middle and high schools in the state," through the new association.

Three Horry County representatives, among others from across the state, cosponsor the bill: Heather Crawford (District 68), Tim McGinnis (District 56) and Val Guest (District 106).

The , just days before next week鈥檚 annual state athletic directors conference in Charleston.

Among the 2025-26 SCHSL rule changes set to be considered and voted on at the conference is a major proposed change in the existing league's by-laws, which would allow a free, one-time transfer for high school athletes.

The proposal states that students could have one penalty-free transfer during the first six semesters after their initial high school enrollment, provided that transfer happens before the start of official practices for the sport.

There are other elements of the proposal 鈥� including rules for transferring after the start of practice/competition dates and penalties for second or subsequent transfers (like a one-year postseason ineligibility for the student).

The core focus point of the proposal is the free one-time transfer for students.

This means a student in their first six semesters after high school enrollment 鈥� freshman, sophomore or junior years 鈥� could transfer to another school, penalty free, and play athletics immediately.

There is no change-of-address rule in the proposal.

The current SCHSL rule is that a student who transfers is ineligible for 365 days.

The new proposals are voted on by athletic directors and principals across the state, and proposals need a majority to pass.

Bill H. 4163 is introduced by the state legislature at a time when many around the state feel the SCHSL proposal will not be passed, meaning that the free, one-time transfer rule would not go into effect for the 2025-26 academic year. The timing of the bill, some athletic officials say, is to put pressure on those voting on the proposal in order to get the new guidelines passed statewide ahead of the next competition year.

The proposed bill states that the South Carolina High School Athletic Association would be led by an 11-person board of directors who would be appointed by state officials, including the state superintendent of education, speaker of the house, chair of the senate education committee, leader of the senate majority caucus, and others.

The bill also states that no two members may reside within the boundaries of the same traditional school district, nor could they be currently employed as an athletics director, coach, principal, superintendent or other school leader.

Local representative Guest, who was added as a sponsor on Tuesday, March 11, said that stepping in was a result of the SCHSL not following past guidance. He says that he hopes the SCHSL would 鈥済o down the right path鈥� when making decisions related to those listed in the bill.

鈥淎t some point, we have to step in and get somebody there who is going to follow the guidance of what the people of South Carolina want,鈥� Guest said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why this bill has evolved. If we didn鈥檛 have these problems with the high school league handling things the way they have been doing it, we wouldn鈥檛 step in at all. So, that鈥檚 just kind of an evolution of what has happened over the years, where we would give them guidance and then they would just do whatever they wanted to do.鈥�

Some critics of the bill say that the potential dissolving of the South Carolina High School League, and the potential new governance by this new association, could be troublesome due to the nature of the leadership. Some believe that the 11-member board would be too far removed from the daily happenings of high school athletics across the state.

Among the functions of the board proposed in the bill are similar to the current duties of the SCHSL, but Section 59-9-160 specifically mentions the potential transfer rule and policy, stating the following:

鈥淣otwithstanding any athlete transfer rules and policies adopted by the association, students who attend a school outside of their attendance zone may immediately participate in interscholastic competitions if they are otherwise academically eligible and the following conditions are met:

1. for students enrolled in middle school, the association shall allow a one-time transfer after eligibility is established in the seventh grade; and

2. for students enrolled in high school, the association shall allow a one-time transfer after eligibility is established in the ninth grade.鈥�

While specifics are not listed, the bill states that academically eligible high school students may receive a one-time transfer after initial ninth-grade eligibility establishment.

Impacts to Horry

Horry County high school athletics could be impacted, if a one-time transfer rule is passed, because of the amount of Category 1 or a red-zone schools that are in the county. There are currently five high schools in Horry County that are designated as red zoned, meaning the schools are at or above 95% capacity: Carolina Forest High, Myrtle Beach High, North Myrtle Beach High, St. James High and Socastee High.

The Horry County Schools website is clear that no red-zoned school can accept transfers.

It is unclear at this point how red zone rules would be adjusted in response to any changes in high school athletics governance. However, if the rules currently stayed in place, none of the above schools would be able to receive transfers. Conway High School is the only Class 5A area school that is not a red-zone school.

The SCHSL one-time free transfer proposal is expected to be voted on some time during next week鈥檚 conference in Charleston.

MyHorry黑料社入口 has also reached out to Crawford and McGinnis for comment.