Students who transfer because their school canceled fall sports can not be deemed to have transferred for athletic advantage, according to new rules announced Friday by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.

But there’s a catch — timing.

While those looking to transfer can avoid the scrutiny of a contested transfer based on athletic advantage, they must be cognizant of when they transfer and how it relates to eligibility.

Any student who transfers from an in-state school or to a New Jersey school from out of state after Tuesday, Sept. 1, regardless of the reason, will be required to sit for one half of the maximum number of games allowed in the sport or 30 calendar days, whichever is shorter, according the NJSIAA’s release.

The fall season starts Sept. 28 for girls tennis and Oct. 1 for all other sports except for football, which opens either Oct. 2 or 3 depending on the school. Teams finished the last day of summer workout sessions Friday and will now enter a two-week recess period before practices resume Sept. 14. The regular season ends Oct. 27 for girls tennis, Nov. 7 for football and Nov. 12 for soccer and field hockey.

As of Friday, 10 schools have canceled all fall sports while another has opted out of playing football. The NJSIAA’s membership includes 436 schools and more than 450,000 student-athletes.

“Our primary focus has and will continue to be providing student-athletes as many opportunities as possible to play the sports they love,” Colleen Maguire, NJSIAA’s chief operating officer said in the release. “So, whenever necessary or appropriate, we’ll revise regulations to accommodate the peculiarities of this unusual year. That’s what we’ve done today, and that’s what we’ll continue to do, as needed.”

While student-athletes transferring because their school canceled fall sports will not be considered athletic advantage, the NJSIAA said the rule will continued to be enforced. Those in violation may be subjected to an eligibility hearing with potentially stricter discipline.

The NJSIAA says athletic advantage may be, but not limited to, an athlete:

• Seeking a superior athletic team
• Seeking relief due to a conflict with the philosophy or action of an administrator, teacher or coach relating to sports;
• Seeking a team consistent with the student’s athletic abilities
• Seeking a means to nullify punitive action by the previous school

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Patrick Lanni may be reached at planni@njadvancemedia.com.