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Its the most important decision many high school athletes ever have to make.
Increasingly, its being made earlier and earlier.
The accelerated recruiting pace in NCAA recruiting has resulted in some varsity standouts committing to play at a college programs as sophomores.
Some, even sooner.
Thats because many colleges push them to do so hoping to snatch up as much available talent as soon as they recognized it, and before their competitors do.
While verbal commitments can come at almost any time for a high school athlete theres a limited window to actually make those commitments binding.
Its known as Signing Week and we're right in the middle of the first one for this academic year right now. (It started on Wednesday, Nov. 9 and ends Nov. 16.)
But theres a lot more to it than meets the eye.
Heres a quick Q&A that should make it clearer.
What is Signing Week?The time when recruited athletes may signing National Letters of Intent. For most sports (except football), those signing periods are in November and April of the recruit's senior year. The signing period for football runs from Feb. 1 to April 1.
What is a National Letter of Intent?Also known as an NLI. It is a written document signed by a recruit stating his attention to attend a particular college for a minimum of one academic year. In return, the college promises to provide financial aid for a minimum of one academic year. It is offered by Division I and Division II colleges in most conferences. Military academies and Ivy League schools do not offer NLIs.
Who runs the NLI program?The daily operations are managed by the NCAA Eligibility Center. The Collegiate Commissioners Association oversees the program.
What if a recruit signs an NLI and then decides he or she doesnt want to attend that college after all before enrolling?Signed recruits may request a release from their commitment. If it is granted by the college, they do not have to sit out a year if they transfer to another program for most sports, except basketball and football.
Joe Lombardi's look at sports of all sorts in Westchester appears Sundays.
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