Special from
WAM Sports
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It is almost that time again. Every November, student athletes from around the globe and college coaches from all divisions and leagues get ready to sign the "National Letter of Intent" (NLI) or equivalent. This is a document which commits the student for the season starting the following fall semester. This early signing period is increasingly gaining in popularity, both among players and coaches, but is it best for everyone to sign early?
I argue that it isn't. Working closely with numerous student athletes each year, I say: it depends. For some, it is the best move possible. But it is not the best for others. And by others, I mean the majority of players.
Let's begin with a few facts about the early signing period and the NLI before we go deeper into who it may benefit and who might be better off waiting until the regular signing period, which occurs between April and August the following year (next available regular signing period: April 15 - August 1, 2015):
1) Next early signing period dates are: November 12 - November 19, 2014
2) Coaches tend to utilize the early signing period mainly to lock in the players who they believe to be top-tier student athletes - those who were scouted to strengthen their team the most. Therefore, it is crucial for all you passionate "early committers" to find out whether the coach really deems you to be the top-tier student athlete they are looking for.
3) The NLI is a binding agreement between a prospective student athlete and an NLI member institution. Here, the student athlete agrees to attend the chosen university full time for one academic year and the university agrees to provide a mutually agreed upon athletic award for that same academic year. Some athletic conferences and universities now also offer 4-year athletic scholarship agreements, but this new approach is still rather rare. I suggest you discuss this option with the universities on your shortlist.
4) Once an NLI is signed, a student athlete is bound to this agreement. Not fulfilling it will almost certainly cause him/her to sit on the sidelines for a year as a penalty if the athlete attends another NLI-participating university. However, if they decide to attend a non-NLI institution, the penalty does not need to be served. That's important to note for those who plan on signing early.
5) Not all universities utilize the NLI process of committing student athletes. For example, NAIA and NCAA Division III member universities, two-year colleges and Ivy League colleges are not members of the NLI program. All other NCAA Division I - and most NCAA Division II schools - are members that utilize the NLI. Ask the particular college coaches you are in touch what - if any - form of written commitment is utilized at their universities.