NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT
SIGNING DATES
The National Letter of Intent or NLI is used to provide a certain amount of certainty to the NCAA college recruiting process.
You are guaranteed a scholarship for one year by the college that recruits you.
You also agree to attend that college for one year.
All other colleges that are part of the NLI program have to stop trying to recruit you.
Once the letter of intent is signed it is binding on the college or university, not a coach or team. It is binding for only one college academic year. The NLI in itself does not guarantee an athlete a place on the team or playing time.
Colleges that are actively recruiting a student-athlete will send them a National Letter of Intent which will include an official scholarship offer.
If you are under the age of 21 then your letter of intent has to be counter-signed by a parent or guardian. THE COLLEGE COACH CANNOT BE PRESENT AT THE SIGNING.
The National Letter of Intent program is administered by the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Eligibility Center.
NLI signing dates are set each year as follows:
ALL SPORTS INCLUDING BASKETBALL early signing period begins on the second Wednesday in November and ends the following Wednesday.
FOOTBALL-MID-YEAR JUNIOR COLLEGE transfer signing period begins on the third Wednesday in December and concludes on January 15th.
FOOTBALL regular signing period begins on the first Wednesday in February and concludes on April 1.
BASKETBALL regular signing period begins on the second Wednesday in April and concludes on the third Wednesday in May.
FIELD HOCKEY, TRACK AND FIELD, SOCCER, MEN’S WATER POLO, CROSS COUNTRY: ( note; These sports do not have a early signing period ) regular signing period begins on the first Wednesday in February and concludes on August 1.
ALL OTHER SPORTS regular signing period begins on the second Wednesday in April and concludes on August 1.
NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING DATES 2009-2010 ACADEMIC YEAR
BASKETBALL:
Early Period: November 9, 2011 to November 16, 2011.
Regular Period: April 11, 2012 to May 16, 2012.
FIELD HOCKEY, TRACK AND FIELD, SOCCER, MEN’S WATER POLO, CROSS COUNTRY:
No early signing period for these sports.
Regular Period: February 1, 2012 to August 1, 2012.
FOOTBALL MIDYEAR JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFER:
December 21, 2011 to January 15, 2012.
FOOTBALL:
February 1, 2012 to April 1, 2012.
ALL OTHER SPORTS:
Early Period: November 9, 2011 to November 16, 2011.
Regular Period: April 11, 2012 to August 1, 2012.
NCAA rule change. Athletes must now be placed on the Institutional Request List IRL.