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National Letter of Intent

Feb. 5, 2008 - Where are you going to College? February 6th marks the National Letter of Intent signing day for many NCAA sports and it’s the time of year when high school seniors across the country make their commitment to a college.

By signing a National Letter of Intent, a prospective student-athlete agrees to attend the designated college or university for one academic year. Students are not required to sign the NLI on the first day of the signing period (commonly called “Signing Day” in the sport of football) but many do so to bring to an end the recruiting process.

Started in 1964 with seven conferences and eight independent institutions, the National Letter of Intent program now includes 55 leagues with more than 500 participating institutions. The program has many advantages to both prospective student-athletes and participating educational institutions:

Once a National Letter of Intent is signed, prospective student-athletes are no longer subject to further recruiting contacts and calls.

Student-athletes are assured of an athletics scholarship for one full academic year. (If not for the program, a student could find her scholarship taken by a more highly recruited student at the last minute.)

Institutions can be certain that once the student-athlete has signed a Letter of Intent, there is no need to continue recruiting for that position.

For some athletes, the day is immortalized. When every girl on an Idaho club team committed to play soccer at the college of their choice, the players went to the Boise Capitals soccer complex to sign their letters of intent together. Three different news stations attended along with several broadcasting members from the respective high schools.

Others commemorate the event by signing in their school gym or library surrounded by friends and classmates. If you’re one of the lucky ones signing a LOI this month (or in the coming months) congratulations - your hard work and dedication has paid off!!