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Get Scouted Scouting CareersThousands of high school seniors will have seven days to sign a National Letter of Intent to attend NCAA Division I and II institutions. Those who don’t sign during the early signing period will sign their NLI during the regular signing period for their sport.
To help prospective student-athletes get ready to sign we’ve compiled valuable information from the NCAA, and from our scouts in the field.
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 one if they plan on entering a second four-year institution.
Do I need to Sign an NLI?
No. However, you must sign an NLI if you want to accept an athletic scholarship from an NCAA institution. Specifically, by signing an NLI, you agree to attend the institution for one year in exchange for the institution’s promise, to provide you athletics financial aid for the entire academic year. Once you sign to a D-I or D-II school a recruiting ban goes into effect, and no other NCAA school can recruit you.
How do I get an NLI?
The institution recruiting you will send you one through 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. The academic school year can be in semesters or trimesters.
When is the Permissible Time for Signing an NLI?
You can only sign during the designated signing periods. If you sign an NLI outside the appropriate signing period, it will be invalid and not accepted. Additionally, you only have seven days to send the signed NLI back. Once those seven days are up, the document will be invalid.
Does a Parent or Legal Guardian Have to Sign the NLI?
If you’re under the age of 21, regardless of marital status, your parent or legal guardian must sign with you. If you’re 21 years of age or older, it’s not necessary for your parent or legal guardian to sign the document.
What if I Don’t Have a Parent or Legal Guardian Available to Sign with me?
If your parent or legal guardian isn’t available it’s permissible for another individual to sign the NLI with you. You must be approved in advance before you proceed. 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.
If I Sign an NLI to a D-I Institution may I still Sign with a D-II institution?
The true issue is not whether a school is a D-I or D-II institution but whether an institution is a member of the NLI program. All D-I institutions, except for the Service Academies and schools in the Ivy League, are members of the program. Most fully-active D-II institutions participate in the program. No D-III institutions, NAIA schools, preparatory schools or two-year colleges participate in the NLI program.
Once I Sign an NLI, may Other Institutions Recruit me?
No. Once you sign with a D-I or D-II school, all other institutions have to cease contact with you and your family members. Accordingly, you should notify any coach that you’re signed and officially committed. Any contact outside of a greeting or small talk is against the recruiting ban. Even if the conversation has nothing to do with recruiting, it is still a violation. 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 with a Different School?
Yes. A verbal commitment 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 NCAA doesn’t recognize verbal commitments. It isn’t uncommon for a student to verbally commit to one institution and subsequently sign with another institution. And, on some occasions, a school may accept your verbal commitment and later offer it to another prospect.
If I Fail to Honor my NLI Commitment, can Another Institution Recruit me?
Yes, but only if you have received a complete release or had the recruiting ban lifted by the institution with which you signed. The lifting of the recruiting ban must be on the NLI Release Request Form. If the recruiting ban is lifted, it’s not limited to specific institutions, but to all institutions seeking to recruit you. Note the NLI recruiting ban policy is different from the NCAA’s permission to contact other institutions requirements.
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.
I signed a letter of Intent with a D1 School and now they School is trying to cut the amount in half. Can they do that?