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The following article is sponsored by National Scouting Report. Visit NSR’s web site at http://www.nsr-inc.com/
10 QUESTIONS ABOUT NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT
By Gary SilversThe NCAA’s one-week early signing period is underway.
Thousands of high school senior athletes have signed or will sign National Letters of Intent to attend NCAA Division I and II institutions. Those who don’t sign during the early signing period can sign NLIs during the NCAA’s regular signing periods, beginning in February and April.
To help explain NLIs and NCAA signing periods, here are 10 frequently asked questions and answers provided by the NCAA and NLI web site:
Who signs an NLI?
Prospective student-athletes enrolling in a four-year institution for the first time can sign an NLI. Student-athletes who start their academic career at a four-year institution and then transfer to a two-year college may also sign an NLI if they plan on entering a second four-year institution.
Am I required to sign an NLI?
No. You are not required to sign an NLI, but many prospective student-athletes sign because they want to create certainty in the recruiting process. Specifically, by signing an NLI, you agree to attend the institution for one year in exchange for the institution's promise, in writing, to provide you athletics financial aid for the entire academic year. Simply, by signing an NLI you are given an award including athletics aid for the upcoming academic year provided you are admitted to the institution and you are eligible for athletics aid under NCAA rules. Furthermore, by signing an NLI you effectively end the recruiting process. Once you sign an NLI, a recruiting ban goes into effect and you may no longer be recruited by any other NLI school.
How do I get an NLI to sign?
The institution recruiting you will send you the NLI. It can be sent to you by express mail, courier service, regular mail, email or fax. The materials you receive must include an offer of athletics financial aid for the entire academic year (two semesters or three quarters).
When is the permissible time period for signing an NLI?
You may sign an NLI only during the designated signing period. If you sign an NLI outside the appropriate signing period, the NLI shall be considered invalid. Presuming you are within the permissible signing period, you and your parent or legal guardian must sign the NLI and financial aid agreement within seven days of the issuance date noted on the NLI signing page.
Is it necessary for a parent or legal guardian to sign the NLI?
Yes. If you are under the age of 21, regardless of marital status, your parent or legal guardian must sign the NLI in order for it to be considered valid. If you are 21 years of age or older, it is not necessary for your parent or legal guardian to sign the document.
Can I sign an NLI if I don't have a parent or legal guardian available to sign with me?
If your parent or legal guardian is not available (i.e. incarcerated, death), it is permissible for another individual to sign the NLI with you. You must be approved in advance by the NLI Office before you sign the NLI. In order to gain approval, you should work with the school recruiting you to put together a statement with the following information:
(1) Explain why your parent or legal guardian is unable to sign the NLI with you.
(2) The name of the person (not a coach or athletics administrator) who has agreed to sign with you, and
(3) The reason why your parent or legal guardian is not able to sign. Your school will submit this information and any supporting documentation to the NLI Office for review and a decision.
If I sign an NLI with a Division I institution may I still sign with a Division II institution?
The true issue is not whether a school is a Division I or Division II institution but whether an institution is a member of the NLI program. With more than 600 participating institutions, the NLI program is truly national in scope. All Division I institutions, with the exception of the Service Academies and schools in the Ivy League, are members of the program, and most fully-active Division II institutions participate in the program. No Division III institutions, NAIA schools, preparatory school or two-year colleges participate in the NLI program.
Once I sign an NLI, may I be recruited by other institutions?
No. Once you sign an NLI, all other institutions are obligated to cease contacting you and your family members. Accordingly, you have an obligation to notify any coach from an NLI institution that you have signed an NLI. Any contact in excess of an exchange of a greeting is not permitted regardless of the conversation. The conversation does not have to result in recruiting discussion for a recruiting ban violation to occur.
Can I make a verbal commitment to a school and sign an NLI with a different school?
Yes. A verbal commitment, stating publicly one's intentions to attend a certain institution, is a non-binding, oral agreement between you and the institution. The only binding nature of the commitment is your word and the institution's promise. The NLI program does not recognize verbal commitments. It is not uncommon for a student to verbally commit to one institution and subsequently sign an NLI with another institution. And, on some occasions, a school may accept your verbal commitment and later offer the NLI to another prospective student-athlete.
If I fail to honor my NLI commitment, is it possible for another NLI institution to recruit me?
Yes, but only if you have received a complete release or had the NLI recruiting ban lifted by the institution with which you signed. The lifting of the NLI recruiting ban must be indicated on the NLI Release Request Form. If the NLI recruiting ban is lifted, it is not limited to certain institutions, but to all institutions seeking to recruit you. Note this NLI recruiting ban policy is different from the NCAA permission to contact requirements.
High school athletes who have not signed with colleges or have not received verbal offers from college coaches should contact National Scouting Report, the world’s oldest and largest high school scouting and college recruiting organization. NSR has received hundreds of requests from college coaches seeking qualified prospects (2016-19). More than 95 percent of NSR’s prospects receive scholarship offers. For a FREE in-home consultation, contact Area Director Gary Silvers at (215) 480-8764 or gsilvers@nsr-inc.com.