Written by JOHN RABY, Sports Writer for the Associated Press.

The NCAA, along with a group of states suing the organization, requested the federal court on Friday to prolong the limited time period for multi-transfer athletes to participate in competitions until at least the winter and spring semesters.

The proposed action aims to prolong the 14-day temporary ban on the NCAA’s implementation of a regulation concerning athletes who transfer more than once.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The ruling, part of a lawsuit by a coalition of seven states, said athletes who previously were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can compete in games for 14 days.

The NCAA later distributed a memo to its member institutions stating that the redshirt regulation for athletes would remain in effect should the court’s ruling be overturned: Any basketball players participating during this two-week period would exhaust one season of their eligibility.

Currently, it seems that both parties are working together to meet the demands of the athletes.

In a news statement, West Virginia’s Attorney General Patrick Morrisey stated, “Allow the children to play.”

After discussing with all involved parties, the motion is asking the court to change the restraining order into a temporary injunction that will be effective until the case is resolved.

During the period of the preliminary injunction, the NCAA is prohibited from retaliating against any athlete or school participating in the event, as stated in the motion. This is due to the athlete’s trust in the terms of the injunction.

According to a statement from NCAA representative Saquandra Heath, the organization will no longer enforce the requirement for multiple-time transfers to fulfill a year of residency and will inform member schools of this change.

Heath stated that the proposal offers the most favorable result for student-athletes who transfer multiple times and want to compete right away. This decision brings clarity to both student-athletes and member schools for the rest of the academic year. Any multiple-time transfer student-athlete who participates in this season will adhere to the same eligibility and season of competition regulations as other student-athletes.

The request is to cancel the hearing for the restraining order scheduled for December 27 and to postpone the trial until the end of the winter and spring sports seasons.

The legal case claims that the NCAA’s transfer rule and its waiver process are in violation of federal antitrust law. If the case is successful, it could greatly affect college sports. In official court papers, the NCAA has stated that the plaintiffs are attempting to completely change the structure of collegiate athletics and replace it with a system that allows for constant and unregulated free agency.

On Friday, West Virginia’s temporary basketball coach Josh Eilert announced that multi-year transfers RaeQuan Battle and Noah Farrakhan will be suited up and ready to play in Saturday’s game against UMass in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Since the court ruling in Wheeling on Wednesday, we have engaged in numerous discussions with various parties,” stated Eilert. “However, the most crucial conversations we have had are with RaeQuan, Noah, and their families. They have expressed their determination to compete alongside their teammates and proudly represent West Virginia University on the basketball court. Ultimately, it was their choice to compete. As I have previously stated, we will continue to provide our full support and eagerly anticipate their presence on our active roster.”

Under NCAA regulations, students in their first two years of college can transfer once without having to wait a year before competing. However, if they choose to transfer again during their undergraduate years, they must request a waiver from the NCAA to be able to compete immediately. Without the waiver, the student would be required to sit out for a year at their new school.

In January of last year, the NCAA established more stringent criteria for approving waivers on an individual basis.

According to Morrisey, if approved, the joint motion would be a significant achievement in the battle for student-athletes such as RaeQuan Battle from West Virginia University to participate in the sport they are passionate about. This is primarily focused on those student-athletes who were restricted by the NCAA’s strict transfer policy, allowing them to follow their passions and thrive in their college years.

The states affected by the protective order were Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Source: wralsportsfan.com