
Full Answer
What do you need to know about signing a letter of intent?
For the letter of intent to be valid, it must be signed by the player and his parents/guardian. 2. At the time of signing the letter of intent, a player must receive a written offer of athletic financial aid for the academic year. A player and his parents/guardian must also sign the financial aid agreement.
When do student-athletes sign their national letters of intent?
Technically, student-athletes do not need to sign their National Letters of Intent on the first day of the Signing Period, but many do. Below are updated signing dates for each sport for student-athletes signing in 2021-2022 for 2022-2023 enrollment:
Do you have to sign a letter of intent for sports?
Letters of Intent are voluntary and you don’t need to sign one to get a scholarship or play sports. However, some coaches can be very pushy about getting you to sign a LOI. They want to make sure that you will play for their team and not go to another college when you get a better offer.
What is a letter of Intent (LOI)?
A Letter of Intent is a legally-binding contract which says that you will attend that college for a minimum of 1 academic year in exchange for an athletic scholarship. Once you sign a LOI, the recruiting process is over.

When can you sign a letter of intent?
Signing the NLI is voluntary at any and all times. Prospective student-athletes are not required to sign the NLI on the first day of the signing period. Many prospective student-athletes do choose to sign their NLI on the first available day to bring an end to the recruiting process.
How long do you have to sign an NLI?
within 7 daysHow does the institution process the NLI? Institution issues NLI and offer of athletics aid to the prospective student-athlete. Prospective student-athlete and parent signs NLI and athletics aid agreement. Must be signed within 7 days of issuance date.
How do you sign a letter of intent?
How to Write a Letter of IntentChoose the Right Letter of Intent Format and Layout.Research the Company Before You Write.Find 3 Ways You Fit the Position.Get Attention with a Strong First Paragraph.Explain Why You're Interested in Them.End Your Letter of Intent by Asking for Action.Sign off with a Professional Closing.More items...
Can you transfer after signing letter of intent?
Sometimes, a recruit will change their mind about which university they want to play at after signing a National Letter of Intent. In this situation, the player must request a release from the National Letter of Intent organization to contact another school about transferring.
Do you have to commit on signing day?
National Signing Day & National Letter of Intent (NLI) It's the first day student-athletes can officially sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to commit to an NCAA DI or DII institution. While more than 600 NCAA DI and DII colleges participate, the NLI program is voluntary for both athletes and colleges.
Can you sign after national signing day?
Insider tip: You can sign a National Letter Intent after the last Signing Period ends, but it is rare that there will be any roster spots left. When your student-athlete receives their NLI document, the appropriate Signing Period should be checked.
What comes after letter of intent?
Once the LOI is signed, the next steps are to negotiate the purchase agreement and perform due diligence. These are separate processes, but they usually occur in parallel and take about 90 days to complete.
Should an LOI be signed?
A party that has signed a letter of intent (LOI) may be legally bound to honor it depending on how the letter is drafted. In a business-to-business transaction, a letter of intent normally contains a provision stating that the letter is non-binding.
How do you accept LOI?
Example: Job Acceptance Email Thank you for offering me the position of [Name of Position] at [Name of Company]. I am delighted to accept your offer and very excited to begin this journey. [As we have previous discussed / As stated in the offer letter], I accept my starting salary of [Salary] for this position.
What do you do on signing day?
Here are just a few ideas to get started:Gear up! Now that you're off to a new school, it's time to show it off. ... Tweet your commitment, and don't forget to add #NCSAcommit. This is your chance to show off a little bit. ... Ring the commitment bell. ... Think about what would make your Signing Day extra special.
How late can you commit to a college?
In general, U.S. colleges and universities accept first-year applications in the fall and send out admission decisions in the spring. But exactly when is Decision Day for prospective students? Traditionally, applicants must commit to a college by May 1.
Can you go D3 to D1?
The division terms that apply when transferring from a D3 or D2 school to a D1 institution occur if you're a baseball, basketball, football or men's ice hockey player. You'll likely need to sit out a year, something that wouldn't be required if you did a switch amongst D2 and D3 colleges.
Is an NLI legally binding?
The NLI is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an NLI member institution. A prospective student-athlete agrees to attend the institution full-time for one academic year (two semesters or three quarters).
Do you have to sign a NLI every year?
0:052:13Do you have to re-sign a NLI every year? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJulie's looking for some clarification here kyle we touched on this but the nli is only good for oneMoreJulie's looking for some clarification here kyle we touched on this but the nli is only good for one year so you resign it every year is there an option to sign one time for all four years can you
How do you decommit from a college?
To commit or decommit -- That is the question To commit to a college early is to give a verbal agreement before the official collegiate signing period. This agreement states that you plan to attend a specific college as a student athlete.
Do you sign a letter of intent for junior college?
If I sign a letter with a junior college or an NAIA school, may I sign an NLI? Yes. You may sign an NLI if you have already signed a letter with a junior college or an NAIA school.
How to sign a letter of intent?
Signing on the dotted line of the National Letter of Intent means three things: 1 Your student-athlete has committed to one year at the university. They do not need to sign an NLI after their first year. The school is required to let student-athletes know if their scholarship is being renewed after the first year. 2 The university is promising to provide an athletic scholarship for that year. The NLI and financial aid package are two separate documents. Your student-athlete will need to sign both. Only Division 1 programs are permitted to offer multi-year athletic aid in an NLI. 3 Your student-athlete’s recruiting journey is over. No other schools can continue to recruit them and they are not permitted to contact coaches at other institutions.
What is a letter of intent?
The National Letter of Intent is a legal contract between a school and a student-athlete; they are not tied to coaches . If the institution does not release the athlete from the contract, there is an appeal opportunity through the NLI Committee.
What is an NLI contract?
The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a contract signed by both the student-athlete and their college. All NLI contracts must include an athletic aid agreement or athletic scholarship that lists the amount of athletic aid the athlete is being offered for their first academic year.
When is the next NLI signing period?
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the National Letter of Intent has officially announced new Signing Periods for prospective athletes signing their NLI’s during 2020–2021 and enrolling in the 2021–2022 school year. The National Letter of Intent extended NLI signing dates for D1 football and basketball.
When will the NLI be signed?
The National Letter of Intent previously extended the NLI signing dates until August 1, 2020 for prospective athletes signing their NLI’s between 2019–2020 and enrolling in the 2020-2021 school year. Back to Top ^.
What is the first day of the sign period?
The first day of the Signing Period is Signing Day , and it’s marked by celebrations, reveals and a lot of college gear. Remember: Athletes can sign with their school of choice on any day of the Signing Period. Signing Day just marks the first day of the full Signing Period. Back to Top ^.
What sports have an early signing period?
Early Signing Period. Excluding men’s and women’s soccer and men’s water polo, all sports have what’s called an early signing period. This is the first time throughout the year high school seniors can sign their National Letter of Intent and lock down their scholarship offer.
Why do coaches use a letter of intent?
Remember that the LOI is there to protect you too. Coaches use the Letter of Intent to ensure that they’ve got all of the scholarship spots on their team filled. If you are a mid-level player and don’t sign a LOI right away, then the coach might just give the scholarship to another player who is ready to sign.
What happens if you break a LOI?
If you break a LOI by going to another college, you can still play at that college.
Can you get a scholarship if you break a letter of intent?
Since most colleges won’t give you scholarship money if you aren’t playing, breaking a Letter of Intent usually means you won’t be getting a scholarship from any college.
Can perspective athletes sign LOI?
There are specific periods when perspective student athletes are allowed to sign a LOI. There is an early signing period as well as a final signing period. The dates change slightly each year, so you will have to check with the NLI website to see when they are.
Do you need a letter of intent to play sports?
Letters of Intent are voluntary and you don’t need to sign one to get a scholarship or play sports. However, some coaches can be very pushy about getting you to sign a LOI. They want to make sure that you will play for their team and not go to another college when you get a better offer.
Can a letter of intent promise a college?
The Letter of Intent does NOT promise: Note that Letters of Intent are between the student and the college, not the coach. You could sign a LOI only to learn that the coach is going to a new college the next year. Even if the coach leaves, you are still bound to the college.
The Basics of the National Letter of Intent
Signing a National Letter of Intent is the first step for athletes solidifying their collegiate careers. But what is the NLI? What exactly do athletes and parents agree to when they sign on the dotted line?
What Does the NLI Mean?
The NLI is a contract that holds both the university institution and the student-athlete accountable for one academic year.
When to Sign an NLI?
Once the NLI is sent athletes have seven days to sign before the document is invalid. The period for athletes to sign their NLI’s vary from sport to sport. Typically, there are two different signing sessions for every sport, an early signing period and a regular signing period.
Who Signs an NLI?
Every athlete, attending a four-year institution on an athletic scholarship must sign an NLI for it to go into effect for the school year that’s stated in the document. Also, student-athletes under the age of 21 must have a parent or guardian sign their NLI as well. If an athlete is over 21, they do not need a parent or guardian’s signature.
How to Sign an NLI?
There are multiple ways to sign and return the NLI. However, it’s best that athletes and families follow the instructions provided by the institution sending their NLI. Every school can send an NLI in an email as long as the financial aid offer is an attachment in the same email.
What Happens if you Fail to Honor the NLI?
Athletes who fail to honor the NLI commitment will lose a year of eligibility and will have to attend their new NLI institution for one academic year before being eligible athletically.
What is the letter of intent for athletics?
At the time of signing the letter of intent, a player must receive a written offer of athletic financial aid for the academic year. A player and his parents/guardian must also sign the financial aid agreement. That documentation specifies the “terms, conditions and amount of the athletics aid award.” That document is also often accompanied by a document from the conference that outlines conference policies regarding the NLI and grant.
What happens if a player leaves a school?
If a player leaves a school and enrolls in another school, he cannot play until he fulfills one full year at the second school. By leaving in less than a year, the athlete also forfeits a year of eligibility in all sports. 4. Players sign with a college, not a coach. If the coach for whom the athlete expected to play leaves the school, ...
Can a letter of intent be voided?
The letter of intent is voided if the school notifies the player in writing that he has been denied admission or fails to provide notice of admission before the start of classes in the fall semester.
How many quarters does a full year of college count as?
3. Penalty for not attending for a full year. The full year covers two semesters or three quarters as a full-time student. Just spending the season with the team does not count as fulfilling the initial terms.
Does a letter of intent guarantee playing time?
No guarantee of playing time. There is no mention of playing time in the letter of intent. The letter of intent guarantees a player financial aid, not that he will start or even see the field. 6. Once a players sign, recruiting is over.
Can a player sign a letter of intent?
A player can sign a financial aid agreement and get basically the same assurance of a scholarship as he would with the letter of intent , but the player does not have to forfeit his ability to go elsewhere without being released by the school. For the letter of intent to be valid, it must be signed by the player and his parents/guardian.
Do you have to sign a letter of intent for a prospect?
Here are 10 things to know. 1. It is not mandatory that a prospect sign a letter of intent. By signing a players agrees to attend the school listed for one academic year, and the school agrees to award him athletic financial aid for one academic year. A player can sign a financial aid agreement and get basically the same assurance ...