Dear FMS Families,
This summer, the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) updated its eligibility rules for the 2026-2027 school year. Here is what your family needs to know before transferring schools.
1. The Transfer Process, Step by Step
Coaches cannot approve or clear any athlete. Families considering a school transfer within our district must follow this exact sequence:
Step 1: Apply for an academic waiver through the district website. This is not automatic. There are several factors taken into consideration for approval or denial, with school enrollment and building capacity being one of the major considerations.
Step 2: If the waiver is approved, enroll your child at the new school.
Step 3: Meet with the school's Athletic Director, not a coach, to complete the NMAA transfer paperwork. Athletic Departments will give you the information you need. At no time should a parent or athlete contact a coach or athlete to discuss transferring.
Step 4: The Athletic Director sends the paperwork to NMAA for final approval.
Important Note: Your child cannot try out or practice until they are enrolled at the school, cleared in Rank One, and approved by the school AD. Your child cannot play in a competition until the NMAA has approved the transfer.
2. Key Timelines to Know
The "First Transfer" Rule: Every student gets one “free” transfer after their first high school enrollment choice.
Before the Season Starts: Make the transfer on or before the first official practice of the season to keep full varsity eligibility.
After the Season Starts: Your child will not be eligible for the rest of that season. Missing any day of tryouts means they cannot play that sport that season.
A Second Transfer: A second transfer triggers a 365-day varsity ineligibility period, unless a strict exception is proven (e.g., a bona fide and verified full family residential move).
8th Grade Sports
An 8th grader makes their official enrollment choice the moment they play high school sports. 8th graders are only allowed to play for the high school that their middle school officially feeds (see below):
Middle School | Eligible High School |
Hermosa or Tibbetts Middle School | Farmington High School (FHS) |
Heights or Mesa View Middle School | Piedra Vista High School (PVHS) |
If your child's middle school does not feed into an FMS high school, they can only play for their zoned neighborhood school. A signed 8th Grade Participation Form must be approved by NMAA first.
Private School and Homeschool Students
Home Zone Rule: Private school and homeschool athletes must play at their zoned public high school. There are no exceptions.
Switching to Public School: If your child later enrolls full-time at an FMS school outside your zone, that counts as their first transfer, and the standard timeline rules apply.
3. Club Sports: What to Avoid
The NMAA is strict about recruiting and “undue influence.” Keep these boundaries in mind:
Club Coach Rule: If your child's club, AAU, or summer team is coached by someone connected to a high school program, or the club program is associated with the high school you are transferring to, transferring to that school is an automatic 365-day suspension – No Exceptions.
Club Teammates: Sharing a club roster with athletes from another high school does not trigger an automatic ineligibility. However, if the team is associated with the high school, or the NMAA finds that athletes, parents, or coaches encouraged the move, that is a major violation.
Consequences: An athletic influence violation means a 365-day suspension for the athlete. If discovered during the season, the program must forfeit every game that the athlete played in, the school faces fines, and the athlete will receive a suspension.
4. Tryouts Are Fair for Everyone
FMS wants to support both our long-time student athletes and new students who enroll legally. To keep tryouts fair for all:
No Guaranteed Spots: Roster spots, varsity letters, and playing time can never be promised in advance to any student.
Equal Evaluation: Every athlete, whether new or returning, goes through the same evaluation. Athletes must attend every day of tryouts with no exceptions.
The FMS Standard: Coaches evaluate students on daily effort, character, performance, and grades.
Note: If an athlete has used their First Transfer, is then cut from a program, and then decides they want to go back to their original school (or another school), this would be considered a Second Transfer and would result in a 365-day sit out for all sports – No Exceptions.
Have Questions?
Please contact your school's Athletic Director before starting a transfer. They can help answer questions that you have so that you can make a decision that is best for your child.
Thank you for helping us keep FMS sports fair and successful.
Respectfully,
Isaac A. Gamboa
Executive Director of Operations & Athletics
Farmington Municipal Schools