NCAA National Letter of Intent Program Ends

Effective immediately, the NCAA has eliminated the National Letter of Intent Program.

The NLI program has been used by NCAA Division I and II athletic programs for many years to sign high school and junior college recruits to a commitment to attend their universities.

Here are a few key points of what that means for high school and junior college recruits and their families.

  • Official signing dates will still be determined each year. The signing dates for this year are listed in this linked article.
  • Once a recruit signs an athletic scholarship agreement with a university, coaches from all other universities are required to stop recruiting that athlete.
  • Unlike the former National Letter of Intent, which athletes had to sign within 7 days of issuance, there is no specific deadline to sign an athletic scholarship agreement with a university. That will depend upon the scholarship policies of each university.
  • Also unlike the former National Letter of Intent that required a parent or legal guardian to sign an NLI for any prospect under the age of 21, there is no NCAA requirement for a parent or legal guardian signature on the scholarship agreement. This will also depend upon the scholarship policies of each university (or upon applicable state laws).

If you have any questions, call our office at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

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September 1st NCAA DI Recruiting Opportunities for High School Recruits

September 1st of a high school recruit’s junior year “opens the door” for the following recruiting activities in selected NCAA Division I sports:

  • Baseball – Official and Unofficial Campus Visits. (Phone calls to or from D1 coaches, as well as text messages and email or printed recruiting materials, were possible beginning Aug. 1.)
  • Lacrosse – Official and Unofficial Campus Visits, as well as receiving phone calls, text messages, and email or printed recruiting materials. Also, lacrosse coaches can accept incoming calls from high school juniors starting Sept. 1 of junior year.
  • Softball – Official and Unofficial Campus Visits, as well as receiving phone calls, text messages, and email or printed recruiting materials. Also, softball coaches can accept incoming calls from high school juniors starting Sept. 1 of junior year.

Also, on September 1st of a Recruit’s Senior Year:

  • Women’s Basketball – Off-campus contact by Division I coaches.

If you have questions about the recruiting rules for these or any other NCAA sports, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or by calling 913-766-1235. You can also download the September and October recruiting calendars for ALL NCAA Division I sports at no charge HERE.

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Athletic Scholarship Tips and Reminders for High School Athletes

Here are some tips and reminders for high school athletes who have already signed with a college sports program for the upcoming year, as well as for those who may currently be in the recruiting process.

NCAA Division I

  • Coaches can offer one-year renewable athletic scholarships, or multi-year scholarships which are specifically written to cover multiple academic years.
  • Be sure to note which type of offer your athlete is signing – especially if in their recruiting pitch coaches are saying that “your scholarship will not be reduced or cancelled as long as you maintain academic eligibility and don’t violate team rules or misconduct policies.” Too many coaches don’t honor their word.
  • For athletes who are in the position of having multiple colleges recruiting them and can “negotiate” a scholarship offer, a multi-year scholarship offer is obviously an advantage, but especially so at Division I universities that are NOT in one of the “Power Five” conferences.
  • A scholarship can only be reduced or cancelled “during the period of the award” under specific NCAA guidelines.
  • Athletes who were receiving a one-year athletic scholarship the preceding academic year must be notified in writing not later than July 1 regarding the status of their scholarship for the following year.
  • A National Letter of Intent is not the same thing as a scholarship agreement issued by a university.

NCAA Division II

  • Coaches are not permitted to offer an athletic scholarship for more than one year at a time. They may say that the scholarship will be renewed each year, but there is no requirement that they do so since the rules specifically limit an athletic scholarship to no more than one year.
  • A scholarship can only be reduced or cancelled “during the period of the award” under specific NCAA guidelines.
  • Athletes who were on an athletic scholarship the preceding academic year must be notified in writing not later than July 1 regarding the status of their scholarship for the following year.
  • A National Letter of Intent is not the same thing as a scholarship agreement issued by a university.

NJCAA

  • An NJCAA Letter of Intent is the same thing as a scholarship agreement.
  • A scholarship from an NJCAA college is in effect from August 1 to July 31.
  • Renewal of a scholarship for the following year must be given in the form of a new NJCAA Letter of Intent on or before June 15. An athlete not given a second-year scholarship by June 15 becomes recruitable by other NJCAA colleges on June 16.

Need Advice?

If you have questions about your athlete’s specific situation, purchase a confidential scholarship strategies consultation online, write to us at rick@informedathlete.com or call 913-766-1235.

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Recruiting Season: Why June 15th is so Important

June 15th is an important date for high school and junior college student-athletes who are hoping to be recruited to play their sport at college and juco levels.

NJCAA Letter of Intent Signees:

For athletes who attended an NJCAA two-year college during the 2023-24 academic year as a Letter of Intent signee; June 15 is the date by which notification of renewal of the athlete’s Letter of Intent for the 2024-25 academic year is supposed to be provided by their college.

An NJCAA athlete who isn’t signed to a second-year scholarship by June 15 (which is supposed to be in the form of a new Letter of Intent) becomes recruitable by any other NJCAA college starting on June 16.

NCAA Division I Recruiting Information:

June 15 is the first date when most coaches at NCAA Division I programs will be able to place recruiting phone calls and send emails/messages to athletes who have just completed their sophomore year of high school.

The following Division I sports are the only ones that have a date other than June 15 as the earliest date for placing recruiting calls and sending emails/messages to prospects:

  • Baseball – Aug. 1 of junior year
  • Women’s Basketball – June 1 at conclusion of sophomore year
  • Men’s Ice Hockey – Jan. 1 of sophomore year
  • Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • Softball – Sept. 1 of junior year

NCAA Division II Recruiting Information:

For recruiting by NCAA Division II colleges, June 15 is the date when coaches in ALL sports can start to contact recruits who have completed their sophomore year of HS via phone, email, or direct messaging.

Division II coaches in all sports can also accept incoming calls and talk to prospects who call them at any time.

Do You Have Questions?

For specific questions about the NCAA transfer or recruiting rules, or scholarship agreements and letters of intent, schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies Consult Online, send an email to us at rick@informedathlete.com or call 913-766-1235.

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NJCAA Football Letter of Intent Signing Period

Wednesday, February 7 is also the first date for high school seniors to sign an NJCAA Letter of Intent (LOI) with a junior college football program that is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. (All other NJCAA sports have their initial LOI signing date on November 1.)

It’s important to note that unlike the NCAA National Letter of Intent (NLI), an NJCAA LOI can be issued to a recruit even if no athletic scholarship is being provided to that recruit.

As a result, even though a recruit who signs an NJCAA LOI may not be receiving any athletic scholarship funding, the recruit is still committing themselves to attend that particular junior college for at least one full academic year.

Once a recruit has signed an NJCAA LOI, they can’t sign with or contact coaches at other NJCAA football programs about a possible transfer until the recruit has completed one full year of attendance at that junior college or is released from their LOI by that college.

If you or your athlete have questions or need assistance including reviewing your scholarship offer before you sign, schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies consult online, call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com

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NCAA Football National Letter of Intent Signing Period

Wednesday, February 7 is the first day of the “regular” National Letter of Intent signing period for NCAA Division I and II football recruits.

Although Division I football programs had an “early” signing period in December, this upcoming period will be the first opportunity for NCAA Division II football programs to sign high school recruits to a scholarship for next year.

This signing period is open through April 1 for Division I football programs but continues through August 1 for Division II programs.

If you have questions about the NCAA National Letter of Intent and how it affects your athlete or if you would like us to review your scholarship offer and National Letter of Intent before you sign:

Schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies Consult online, contact us by calling 913-766-1235 or sending an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

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NCAA Name, Image & Likeness Recruiting Violation

In what I think may be the first reported NCAA Infractions Case of its’ type and signals that the NCAA is finally starting to set boundaries for NIL activities and involvement of NIL Collectives:

The Florida State University football program was recently penalized for the actions of an assistant football coach in arranging impermissible recruiting contact between a transfer recruit and a booster.

During an official visit by the transfer recruit, the assistant coach “…transported the prospect and his parents to and from an off-campus meeting with a booster, who at the time was the chief executive officer of an NIL that also was a booster.” The booster offered the prospect an NIL opportunity through the Collective a large amount of money per month during his first year at the school.

The penalties imposed on the Florida State football program include:

  • A three-year disassociation from the booster.
  • A one-year disassociation from the collective.
  • A reduction of five scholarships for the football program.
  • Reductions in official visits, off-campus recruiting opportunities and recruiting communications.

Those of you who may have interest in more details regarding this case can access the official NCAA case report via the link copied below:

Click to access Jan2024D1INF_FloridaStateNegotiatedResolution.pdf

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NCAA Convention: NIL Proposal Approved to Protect Student-Athletes

The NCAA Division I Council approved a proposal that is intended to provide student-athletes with “protections” related to Name, Image, and Likeness activities. This becomes effective on August 1, 2024.

The four elements of this legislation are:

  • Voluntary registration for NIL service providers. The goal is to collect and publish information about service providers to help student-athletes make informed decisions about who to work with.
  • Disclosure requirements. Within 30 days after signing an NIL agreement, current student-athletes will be required to disclose information to their school related to agreements that exceed $600 in value. Recruits with NIL agreements will be required to disclose such information within 30 days of enrollment.
  • Standardized contracts. “The NCAA will work with schools to provide student-athletes … a template contract and recommended contract terms, to ensure student-athletes and their families make informed decisions about NIL agreements.”
  • Comprehensive NIL education. The NCAA “…will provide ongoing education and resources to support student-athletes…on policies, rules and best practices pertaining to NIL.”

If you have any questions, contact our office at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

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Speaking of NCAA DI Official Visit Rules

  • High school recruits who are entering their junior year of high school are allowed to take official visits to Division I universities beginning August 1st in all sports other than baseball, women’s basketball, football, lacrosse and softball.
  • For the Division I sports of baseball, lacrosse and softball, the first opportunity is September 1st of a recruit’s junior year of high school.
  • For women’s basketball, the first opportunity is January 1st of the junior year of high school while April 1st of the junior year of high school is the first opportunity for Division I football recruits.

For Division II programs, all sports can provide a recruit with an official visit beginning June 15 preceding the recruit’s junior year of high school.

If you have questions about the NCAA recruiting rules and want to discuss your athlete’s particular situation, we can help with a confidential Recruiting Rules consultation. During the consult, we’ll answer all your questions, and can also discuss the athletic scholarship rules of the various college levels and how they pertain specifically to your athlete.

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New NCAA Division I Rules That Became Effective July 1st

Effective July 1, recruits can now take an unlimited number of official visits to Division I institutions, as long as they don’t take more than one official visit per university.

  • There are exceptions possible when there has been a head coaching change at a university since the recruit’s original official visit, and also if a recruit later on in their college career is transferring to another university.

Also, high school athletes who are being told by an NCAA Division I coach that they can join the team as a “student manager” because there are no roster spots available, should be aware of a new rule that will impact them.

  • At the NCAA Division I level, once an athlete takes the role of a “student manager” they are forfeiting any remaining eligibility to compete for that university in that sport. That rule has applied in Division I baseball since 2014 but is now applicable to ALL Division I sports.

If you have any questions regarding these new rules, call our office at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

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