Signing the National Letter of Intent
Releases and Transferring
Junior-College Transfers
General
- When I sign a National Letter of Intent what do I agree to do?
When you sign the National Letter of Intent you agree to attend for one academic year the institution listed on the Letter in exchange for that institution awarding athletics financial aid for one academic year.
- Do I sign a National Letter of Intent every year?
No. Although under NCAA rules you must be notified annually regarding whether your athletics aid has been renewed, you only sign an NLI when you first enroll in a four-year institution or if you are a four-two-four (4-2-4) transfer student.
- How do I fulfill the National Letter of Intent?
You fulfill the National Letter of Intent in one of two ways: (1) By attending the institution with which you signed for at least one academic year as a full-time student; or, (2) By graduating from a junior college if you signed a National Letter of Intent while in high school or during your first year at the junior college.
- If I complete the playing season at the institution with which I signed, have I fulfilled the National Letter of Intent?
No. Completing a playing season alone does not fulfill the National Letter of Intent obligation. You must complete the entire academic year at the school with which you signed.
- By signing a National Letter of Intent am I guaranteed that I will play on a team?
No. Signing a National Letter of Intent does not guarantee you playing time or a spot on the team. Rather, by signing a National Letter of Intent, the institution with which you signed agrees to provide you athletics financial aid for the academic year.
- Am I required to sign a National Letter of Intent?
No. You are not required to sign a National Letter of Intent but many student-athletes sign a National Letter of Intent because they want to create certainty in the recruiting process. Specifically, by signing a National Letter of Intent, 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 a National Letter of Intent 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 a National Letter of Intent you effectively end the recruiting process. Once you sign a National Letter of Intent, a recruiting ban goes into effect and you may no longer be recruited by any other National Letter of Intent school.
- Once I sign a National Letter of Intent may I be recruited by other institutions?
No. Once you sign a National Letter of Intent, all other participating conferences and institutions are obligated to cease recruiting you. Accordingly, you have an obligation to notify any recruiter from a National Letter of Intent institution of the fact you have signed a National Letter of Intent.
- If I sign with an NCAA 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 National Letter of Intent program. With more than 500 participating institutions, the NLI program is truly national in scope. All Division I institutions, with the exception of the Service Academies, half of the Patriot League 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 schools, junior colleges, or community colleges participate in the National Letter of Intent program.
You can find a complete list of member institutions under the Member Schools section.
- Can I make a verbal commitment to a school and sign a National Letter of Intent 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 National Letter of Intent program does not recognize verbal commitments. It is not uncommon for a student to verbally commit to one institution and subsequently sign a National Letter of Intent with another institution. And, on some occasions, a university may accept your verbal commitment and later offer the National Letter of Intent to another prospective student-athlete.
- What is "Grayshirting?"
Grayshirting is a term used in the recruiting process to describe situations in which a student-athlete delays initial enrollment in a collegiate institution to the winter or spring term after the traditional academic year begins. Students who grayshirt often use the fall to take classes part time or choose not to enroll in college at all. Grayshirting is not a formal designation by the NCAA or the National Letter of Intent program. If you are interested in grayshirting and signing a National Letter of Intent, it is important to review the applicable NLI provisions and to be aware of the informal nature of this commitment. A few NLI policies to review and consider are:
- NLI Provision 2 Financial Aid Requirement
- NLI Provision 3 Provisions of Letter Satisfied
- NLI Provision 7A (2) Admissions Requirement
- NLI Provision 18 Nullification of Other Agreements
- Where can I find more information about the National Letter of Intent Program?
While certainly this web site is an excellent place to find information regarding the National Letter of Intent, the best way to learn about the program is to read the actual NLI. All the terms of the National Letter of Intent have been published on the document so you can read and understand the terms of the agreement. Signing a National Letter of Intent is a very important step and you owe it to yourself to read the document and to review it with your parent or legal guardian. When you sign a National Letter of Intent you are agreeing to attend the institution with which you sign for one academic year. Accordingly, you should be certain about your choice of institution before you sign a National Letter of Intent.
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- Who signs a National Letter of Intent?
Generally, only prospective student-athletes enrolling in a four-year institution for the first time sign a National Letter of Intent. Student-athletes who start their academic career at a four-year institution and then transfer to a junior college may also sign a National Letter of Intent if they plan on entering a second four-year institution.
- How do I get a National Letter of Intent to sign?
The institution recruiting you will send you the National Letter of Intent. It can only come by express mail, courier service, regular mail, e-mail or facsimile machine. The materials you receive must include an offer of athletics financial aid for the entire academic year (two semesters or three quarters).
- Is it OK for a school to send me my National Letter of Intent via e-mail?
Yes. It is permissible for an institution to provide a prospective student-athlete with a National Letter of Intent as an attachment to an e-mail, provided the offer of athletically-related financial aid is also included in the e-mail. In this situation, you should print out the NLI and financial aid agreement, sign two copies, and send one copy of each document back to the institution. (Be sure to keep the other copy for your records.)
- Is a National Letter of Intent considered valid if I submit it to the institution via facsimile or electronically?
Yes. When you sign the National Letter of Intent you enter into an agreement with the institution. Fax and e-mail only represent the means by which you transmit the National Letter. Accordingly, a National Letter of Intent transmitted by facsimile or electronically is considered valid. In addition to sending the fax or e-mail, you should also return the hard copy of the National Letter to the signing institution. (Be sure to keep one copy of the NLI and financial aid agreement for your records.)
- Can a coach be present when I sign the National Letter of Intent off campus?
No. A coach cannot be present when you sign a National Letter of Intent off campus. Pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 13.1.6.7.1, any in-person, off-campus contact made with a prospect for the purpose of signing a National Letter of Intent or attendance at activities related to the signing of the National Letter of Intent is prohibited.
- Is it permissible to receive a National Letter of Intent while on campus for an official or unofficial visit?
Yes. While under the terms of the NCAA and National Letter of Intent program a coach or institutional representative may not hand-deliver a National Letter of Intent off campus, there is nothing that precludes you from receiving a National Letter of Intent while on campus for an official visit. Please remember that you may only sign a National Letter of Intent during a permissible signing period. Furthermore, signing a National Letter of Intent is a big commitment. Accordingly, it is strongly suggested that you consult your parent or legal guardian in this decision-making process.
- When is the permissible time period for signing a National Letter of Intent?
You may sign a National Letter of Intent only during the designated signing period. If you sign a National Letter of Intent outside the appropriate signing period, the National Letter of Intent shall be considered null and void. Presuming you are within the permissible signing period, you and your parent or legal guardian must sign the NLI and financial aid agreement within 14 days of issuance.
You may find the appropriate signing period for your sport on the Signing Dates page of the National Letter of Intent web site.
- Am I required to sign the National Letter of Intent on the initial signing day for my sport?
No. Signing the National Letter of Intent is voluntary at any and all times. Students are not required to sign the NLI on the first day of the signing period, commonly called "Signing Day" in the sport of football. Many students do choose to sign their NLI on the first available day to bring to an end the recruiting process, as the NLI recruiting ban goes into effect when the student signs the Letter. You should note NLI Provision 13 allows a student 14 days from the date the NLI is issued (or the initial signing date if the Letter is received before that date) to sign the Letter and still have it be declared valid.
- If I do not live with a parent or legal guardian, is it necessary for a parent or legal guardian to sign the National Letter of Intent?
Yes. If you are under the age of 21, regardless of marital status, your parent or legal guardian must sign the National Letter of Intent 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.
- If my parent or legal guardian lives in a different location than I do, is it permissible to sign a Letter sent by facsimile or electronically?
Yes. While not ideal, it is permissible to obtain signatures on a National Letter of Intent via fax or email. From a procedural stand point, you should make two copies of the fax or email and sign both individually. Once signed, you should retain a copy for your records and return the other copy to the institution. When the institution receives its copy, administrators will forward a copy to their conference office.
- Can I sign a National Letter of Intent if I don't have a parent or legal guardian available to sign with me?
Under specified circumstances. If your parent or legal guardian is not available (incarcerated, death, etc.), it is permissible for another individual to sign the NLI with you. He or she must be approved in advance by the Policy & Review Committee before you sign the NLI. In order to gain Policy & Review Committee 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) Include the name and signature of someone (not a coach or athletics administrator) who has agreed to sign with you. (3) Sign the statement yourself. (4) Have the school submit the statement and any supporting documentation to the NLI Policy & Review Committee for review and a decision.
- If I sign a National Letter of Intent in one sport may I sign a second National Letter of Intent in a different sport?
No. You may only sign one valid National Letter of Intent annually. Furthermore, when you sign a National Letter of Intent, the Letter is signed with an institution and not with a coach or with a specific sports team.
- If I am going to walk on to the team, may I sign a National Letter of Intent?
No. An institution is strictly prohibited from allowing you to sign a National Letter of Intent if you are a non-scholarship walk-on. In order for a National Letter of Intent it be considered valid, it must be accompanied by an athletics financial aid award letter, which lists the terms and conditions of the award, including the amount and duration of the financial aid. The athletics financial aid offer must be signed by both the student and his or her parent or legal guardian. Simply put, there must be an athletics scholarship for a National Letter of Intent to be valid.
- May I sign a National Letter of Intent before I am certified as eligible by the NCAA Eligibility Center?
Yes. You may sign a National Letter of Intent before you receive your final certification determination from the NCAA Eligibility Center. When you sign a National Letter of Intent you agree to submit the necessary information and documents to the NCAA. If you are classified by the NCAA Eligibility Center as a qualifier, the National Letter of Intent is considered valid. If you are classified as a nonqualifier pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 14.3, your National Letter of Intent is rendered null and void.
- Where is my signed National Letter of Intent filed, and who is responsible for filing it?
You should sign your National Letter of Intent in duplicate. Once you have signed it twice, retain one copy of the signed Letter for your records. You should send the other copy back to the institution. When the institution receives your Letter, it will keep the signed document and forward a copy to its conference office. The institution must file your NLI with its conference office within 21 days after the date of final signature. If this filing deadline is not met, the Letter will be void.
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- What happens if I change my mind about attending the institution with which I signed, and I want to attend another National Letter of Intent institution instead?
If you do not attend the institution with which you signed, or if you do not fulfill the terms of the National Letter of Intent, the basic penalty is that you lose one year of eligibility in all sports and must serve one year in residence at your next National Letter of Intent institution.
- What is a year in residence?
A year in residence is the two semesters or three quarters, while enrolled full time at all times, that a student is required to sit out from competition. The National Letter of Intent program requires students who do not attend the institution with which they signed, or who attend that school for less than one academic year, to serve one year in residence at the next NLI member institution before being able to represent the second school in intercollegiate athletics competition.
- Can the National Letter of Intent basic penalty be eliminated or reduced?
Yes. The basic penalty may be eliminated by asking for and receiving a National Letter of Intent complete release. If the institution does not grant a complete release from the NLI, you may appeal for a release to the NLI Policy & Review Committee, which may grant a level of relief if extenuating circumstances warrant.
- What are extenuating circumstances?
Extenuating circumstances must be presented in any appeal to the National Letter of Intent Steering Committee as grounds for a complete release. In general, the committee determines what constitutes extenuating on a case-by-case basis. However, prior examples include the illness of the student, illness or death of a parent, and financial hardship of the student's family.
- Is an institution required to grant a complete release if I ask for it?
No. Just as the National Letter of Intent is a voluntary agreement, granting a complete release is voluntary in nature. If an institution denies your request for a complete release, you may petition the National Letter of Intent Policy & Review Committee for such a release. In order to file an appeal, you must provide a copy of the NLI Release Request Form, signed by the director of athletics, indicating "No Release." Once proper documentation has been submitted, the NLI Policy & Review Committee will consider your request.
Petitions to the NLI Policy & Review Committee should be sent to the NLI Program, PO Box 7132, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46207-7132.
You can find a copy of the NLI Release Request Form and the Appeals Form in the Document Library.
- If my request for a complete release is denied, is the institution obligated to provide me an opportunity for a hearing?
No. You are not entitled to a hearing under National Letter of Intent policy inasmuch as you are permitted to file an appeal when denied a complete release by the signing institution.
- If I sign a National Letter of Intent in the early signing period and later get a complete release, can I sign another NLI in the spring signing period?
No. NLI policy states a prospective student-athlete is only permitted to sign one valid NLI in an academic year. Therefore, if you sign a NLI during the early period and get a complete release by the institution or one of the NLI committees before the spring signing period ends, you are not permitted to sign a second NLI in the spring. You must wait until the next academic year to sign another valid National Letter of Intent.
- Is a complete release from the National Letter of Intent basic penalty the same as the One-Time Transfer Exception as set forth in NCAA Bylaw 14.5.5.2.10?
No. The NLI complete release and the NCAA One-Time Transfer Exception are two different policies. Pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 14.5.5.2.10 (One-Time Transfer Exception), a student-athlete who has not previously transferred from a four-year institution and does not participate in the sports of Division I basketball, Bowl Subdivision (I-A) football or Division I men's ice hockey, may transfer and not have to serve a year in residence under NCAA rules. The fact that a student is eligible for the NCAA One-Time Transfer Exception does not mean a student-athlete has received a complete release pursuant to the National Letter of Intent program, nor does being granted the NCAA One-Time Transfer Exception eliminate the penalty provisions of the National Letter of Intent.
The National Letter of Intent complete release is a specific decision made by a member of the National Letter of Intent program through the NLI Release Request Form. If you have any questions about NCAA transfer and eligibility policies, please contact NCAA Membership Services at (317) 917-6222.
- If I do not satisfy my National Letter of Intent agreement, may I practice or receive athletics aid at another National Letter of Intent institution?
Yes. The National Letter of Intent basic penalty is the loss of one year of eligibility in all sports and a required one year in residence at the next National Letter of Intent institution. It does not include a prohibition against receiving athletics financial aid or practicing with a team.
- 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 in NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.3.
- Is a National Letter of Intent binding if the coach of my sport leaves the institution?
Yes. The National Letter of Intent you signed with an institution is valid if the coach who recruited you leaves the institution with which you signed. When you sign a National Letter of Intent you sign with an institution and not with a coach or a specific team.
- Do I sign a National Letter of Intent if I transfer to another four-year institution?
No. NLI policy prohibits student-athletes transferring from one four-year institution to another four-year institution from signing a National Letter of Intent inasmuch as they are no longer prospective student-athletes.
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- May a midyear enrollee sign a National Letter of Intent?
No. Under the terms of the National Letter of Intent program, a written award of athletics aid for the entire academic year must accompany a National Letter of Intent. Accordingly, the National Letter of Intent program does not allow for prospective student-athletes enrolling at midyear to sign a National Letter of Intent. The National Letter of Intent program has created an exception to this general rule for midyear junior college transfer students in the sport of football. A midyear junior college transfer student in the sport of football may sign a National Letter of Intent during the designated signing period.
- Is my National Letter of Intent valid if I sign as a football midyear enrollee, meet other NCAA transfer requirements, but I fail to graduate from junior college at midyear?
No. If you are a football student-athlete and you do not graduate from the junior college at midyear, a National Letter of Intent signed during the December to January period is not valid, regardless to whether or not you are required to graduate based on NCAA transfer policy.
- If I sign a letter of intent with a junior college or an NAIA school, may I sign a National Letter of Intent?
Yes. You may sign a National Letter of Intent if you have already signed a letter of intent with a junior college or an NAIA school. The National Letter of Intent is a voluntary program with more than 500 participating institutions, all of which are members of either NCAA Division I or II. By entering the National Letter of Intent program, participating institutions agree to honor one another's commitments. Make certain you understand the difference between a NAIA or junior college letter and the National Letter of Intent before you sign more than one letter.
- If I sign a National Letter of Intent, may I attend a school that does not participate in the NLI program without incurring any National Letter of Intent penalties?
Yes. If you sign a National Letter of Intent, you may attend any institution that does not subscribe to the National Letter of Intent program without incurring any National Letter of Intent penalties while at the non-participating school. Please note, though, if you transfer to an institution participating in the National Letter of Intent program, the National Letter of Intent penalties would be applied at your next National Letter of Intent institution.