Signing Day is Here

With today being the second Wednesday in November, that means today starts the fall signing period. These next few days allows athletes in a number of sports to signing Division I and II Letters of Intent to attend a school. This allows the athlete to relax that their college decision is now final and the college coaches to move on in recruiting knowing that they have at least a few players already signed and ready to play.

As I mentioned before in the verbal commitment vs. signing article (CLICK here to see more), that Letter of Intent binds your interest in the school. It is much more than just a verbal commitment that can be changed at any whim. After signing that LOI, it is not going to be easy to get out of. That means even if your coach leaves, the school recruits five other players at your position, or a host of other things, it is not easy to get out of that without spending a year away from the NCAA scholarship level.

By NCAA rules, a number of athletes do sign their Letters of Intent in the fall instead of later in the year. Sports that do not include football (They have only one signing period and that starts on the second Wednesday of February), track (Which changed their rules during the fall), soccer, water polo, and field hockey. There may be other smaller sports but those are some of the main ones.

What that means is schools will be signing athletes for baseball, basketball, equestrian, golf, softball, volleyball, swimming, and tennis. If these athletes decide to wait until after the season, they can sign with a school during the spring signing period. This allows more flexibility to a football player who only has a chance to sign after February.

There is a website, www.national-letter.org, which is a great resource for those who have more questions on the subject. Here is some information pulled from their FAQ that will help provide people with more information on this subject:

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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 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.

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.