COLLEGE COUNSELING/CRITICAL ACTIONS
ADVISING
COLLEGe
OFFERS AND COMMITMENTS
A verbal commitment happens when a college-bound student-athlete verbally agrees to play sports for a college before he or she signs or is eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent. The commitment is not binding on the student-athlete or the school and can be made or rescinded by either party at any time.
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NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT AND THE DIVISION III CELEBRATORY SIGNING DOCUMENT
When a student-athlete officially commits to attend a Division I or II college, he or she signs a National Letter of Intent, agreeing to attend that school for one academic year.
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A National Letter of Intent is signed by a college-bound student-athlete agreeing to attend a Division I or II college for one academic year. Participating colleges agree to provide financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete as long as the student-athlete is admitted to the school and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules. Other forms of financial aid do not guarantee the student-athlete financial aid.
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The National Letter of Intent is voluntary and not required for a student-athlete to receive financial aid or participate in sports.
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Signing a National Letter of Intent ends the recruiting process because participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters with other participating schools.
A student-athlete who signs a National Letter of Intent but decides to attend another college may request a release from his or her contract with the school. If a student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with one school but attends a different school, he or she loses one full year of eligibility and must complete a full academic year at the new school before being eligible to compete.
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Division III institutions are permitted to use a standard, NCAA provided, non-binding celebratory signing form. A college-bound student-athlete is permitted to sign the celebratory signing form at any point, including high school signing events, after the student-athlete has been accepted to the institution. Institutions should keep in mind, however, that they are not permitted to publicize a student-athlete’s commitment to the institution until the student-athlete has submitted a financial deposit.
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Saddlebrook Prep performs two signing ceremonies each academic year – the first takes place on National Signing Day in November (the first or second Wednesday of the month) and a second ceremony is held in late April or early May. Students may sign their National Letters of Intent prior to the second ceremony – a facsimile of the NLI will be signed at the ceremony.
