Text of the National Letter of Intent
1. Initial Enrollment in Four-Year Institution.
This NLI is applicable only to prospective student-athletes who will be entering four-year institutions for the first time as full-time students. It is also permissible for 4-2-4 transfers who are graduating from a junior college as outlined in paragraph 8-b to sign the NLI. With the exception of midyear transfer students in football, no prospective student-athlete enrolling at midyear shall sign a NLI.
2. Financial Aid Requirement.
At the time I sign a NLI, I must receive a written offer of athletics financial aid applicable for the entire 2004-2005 academic year from the institution named in this document. A midyear football junior college transfer must receive a written offer of athletics financial aid applicable for the remainder of the 2003-2004 academic year. The award letter shall list the terms and conditions of the award, including the amount and duration of the financial aid. If the stated conditions are not met, this NLI shall be declared null and void, and the institution submitting such a letter shall be in violation of the NLI Program and may be subject to sanctions.
1. Professional Sports Contract.
If I sign a professional sports contract in the sport in which I signed the NLI, I remain bound by the provisions of the NLI in all other sports, even if NCAA rules prohibit the institution named in this document from providing me with athletics financial aid.
3. Provisions of Letter Satisfied.
1. One-year Attendance Requirement Met.
The terms of this NLI shall be satisfied if I attend the institution named in this NLI for at least one academic year.
2. Junior College Graduation.
The terms of this NLI shall be satisfied if I graduate from junior college after signing the NLI either while in high school or during my first year of full-time enrollment in junior college, provided it is not the year I am scheduled to graduate from junior college.
4. 4. Basic Penalty. I understand that if I do not attend the institution named within this document for one full academic year, and I enroll in another institution participating in the NLI program, I may not represent the latter institution in intercollegiate athletics competition until I have completed two full academic years of residence at the latter institution. Further, I understand I shall be charged with the loss of two seasons of intercollegiate athletics competition in all sports, except as otherwise provided in this NLI. This is in addition to any eligibility expended at any institution.
1. Early Signing Period Penalties.
. A prospective student-athlete who signs a NLI during the early signing period (November 12-19, 2003) shall be ineligible for practice and competition in football for a two-year period and also shall be charged with the loss of two seasons of competition in the sport of football.
5. Qualified Release Agreement.
A Qualified Release Agreement shall be provided in the event the institution and I mutually agree to release each other from the NLI provisions. I must sign this form, along with my parent or legal guardian, and the Director of Athletics of the institution named in the document. I am required to file a copy of this Agreement with the conference office that processes this NLI. A Qualified Release Agreement may be obtained from the NLI website at
www.national-letter.org/documents/.
1. Authority to Release.
A coach is not authorized to void, cancel or provide any form of release to this NLI.
2. Extent of the Qualified Release Agreement.
The provisions of the Qualified Release Agreement shall apply to all participating institutions and shall not be conditional or selective by institution.
6. Appeal Process.
I understand the NLI Steering Committee has been authorized to issue interpretations, settle disputes and consider petitions for a full release from the provisions of this NLI when extenuating circumstances are determined to exist. I further understand the Steering Committee's decision may be appealed to the NLI Appeals Committee, whose decision shall be final and binding.
7. Letter Becomes Null and Void.
This NLI shall be declared null and void if any of the following occur:
1. Admissions Requirement.
. This NLI shall be declared null and void if the institution with which I signed notifies me in writing that I have been denied admission or, by the opening day of classes has failed to provide me with written notice of admission, provided I have submitted a complete admission application.
1.
It is presumed that I am eligible for admission and financial aid until information is submitted to the contrary. Thus, it is mandatory for me, upon request, to provide a transcript of my previous academic record and an application for admission to the institution named in this NLI.
2.
If I am eligible for admission, but the institution named in this NLI defers admission to a subsequent term, the NLI shall be rendered null and void. However, if I defer my admission, this NLI remains binding.
2. Eligibility Requirements.
This NLI shall be declared null and void if, by the opening day of classes in the fall of 2004, I have not met (a) the institution's requirements for admissions, (b) its academic requirements for financial aid to athletes, or (c) the NCAA requirements for freshman financial aid (NCAA Bylaw 14.3) or the junior college transfer requirements.
1.
If I become a nonqualifier (per NCAA Bylaw 14.3), this NLI shall be rendered null and void.
2.
If I am a midyear junior college football transfer, the NLI remains binding for the following fall term if I was eligible for admission and financial aid and met the junior college transfer requirements for competition for the winter or spring term, but chose to delay my admission.
3. One-Year Absence.
This NLI shall be null and void if I have not attended any institution (or attended an institution, including a junior college, not participating in the NLI Program) for at least one academic year after signing this NLI, provided my request for athletics financial aid for a subsequent fall term is not approved by the institution with which I signed. To receive this waiver, I must file with the appropriate conference commissioner a statement from the director of athletics at the institution named in this document that such financial aid will not be available to me for the requested fall term.
4. Service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Church Mission.
This NLI shall be null and void if I serve on active duty with the armed forces of the United States or on an official church mission for at least eighteen (18) months.
5. Discontinued Sport.
This NLI shall be null and void if the institution named in the document discontinues my sport.
6. Recruiting Rules Violation.
If the institution (or a representative of its athletics interests) named in this document violated NCAA or conference rules while recruiting me, as found through the NCAA or conference enforcement process or acknowledged by the institution, this NLI shall be declared null and void. Such declaration shall not take place until all appeals to the NCAA or conference for restoration of eligibility have been concluded.
8. Only One Valid NLI Permitted.
I understand that I may sign only one valid NLI, except as listed below.
1. Subsequent Signing Year.
If this NLI is rendered null and void under Item 7, I remain free to enroll in any institution of my choice where I am admissible and shall be permitted to sign another NLI in a subsequent signing year.
2. Junior College Exception.
If I signed a NLI while in high school or during my first year of full-time enrollment in junior college, I may sign another NLI in the signing year in which I am scheduled to graduate from junior college. If I graduate, the second NLI shall be binding on me; otherwise, the original NLI I signed shall remain valid.
9. Recruiting Ban After Signing.
I understand all participating conferences and institutions are obligated to respect my signing and shall cease to recruit me upon my signing this NLI. I shall notify any recruiter who contacts me that I have signed. Once I enroll in the institution with which I signed, the provisions of NCAA bylaw 13.1.1.3 shall govern.
10. Institutional Signatures Required Prior to Submission.
This NLI must be signed and dated by the Director of Athletics (or his/her authorized representative) before submission to me and my parents (or legal guardian) for our signatures. This NLI may be mailed prior to the initial signing date. When a NLI is issued prior to the initial signing date, the "date issued" shall be the initial signing date and not the date that the NLI was signed or mailed by the institution.
11. Parent/Guardian Signature Required.
My parent or legal guardian is required to sign this NLI if I am less than 21 years of age at the time of my signing, regardless of my marital status. If I do not have a living parent or a legal guardian, the person who is acting in the capacity of a guardian may sign this NLI. A written explanation of the circumstances shall accompany this NLI.
12. Falsification of NLI.
If I falsify any part of this NLI, or if I have knowledge that my parent or guardian falsified any part of this NLI, I understand I shall forfeit the first two years of my athletics eligibility at any NLI participating institution as outlined in Item 4.
13. 14-Day Signing Deadline.
If my parent or legal guardian and I fail to sign this NLI within 14 days from the date issued, it will be invalid. In that event, another NLI may be issued within the appropriate signing period. (NOTE: This does not apply to the early signing period.)
14. Institutional Filing Deadline.
This NLI must be filed with the appropriate conference by the institution named in this document within 21 days after the date of final signature or it will be invalid. In that event, another NLI may be issued.
15. No Additions or Deletions Allowed to NLI.
No additions or deletions may be made to this NLI or the Qualified Release Agreement.
16. Official Time for Validity.
This NLI shall be considered officially signed on the final date of signature by myself or my parent (or guardian). If no time of day is listed, the time of 11:59 p.m. will be presumed.
17. Statute of Limitations.
This NLI shall carry a four-year statute of limitations.
18. Nullification of Other Agreements.
My signature on this NLI nullifies any agreements, oral or otherwise, which would release me from the conditions stated within this NLI.
19. If Coach Leaves.
I understand I have signed this NLI with the institution and not for a particular sport or individual. If the coach leaves the institution or the sports program, I remain bound by the provisions of this NLI. I understand it is not uncommon for a coach to leave his or her coaching position.
20. Coaching Contact Prohibited at Time of Signing.
A coach or an institutional representative may not hand deliver this NLI off campus or be present off campus at the time I sign it. This NLI may be delivered by express mail, courier service, regular mail or facsimile machine. A NLI transmitted to an institution by facsimile machine shall be considered valid.
