Q: What is a National Letter of Intent?
A: The National Letter of Intent is a voluntary program administered by the NCAA Eligibility Center. By signing a NLI, your son or daughter agrees to attend the selected institution for one academic year. In exchange, the institution must provide athletics financial aid for one academic year.
Q: What is a Verbal Commitment?
A: This phrase describes a college-bound student-athlete's commitment to a school before they sign ( or is able to sign) a National Letter of Intent. A Verbal Commitment can be announced at any time, but it is NOT binding on either the college-bound student-athlete or the institution. Only the signing of a National Letter of Intent accompanied by a financial aid agreement is binding on both parties.
Q: Is it OK for a prospective Student-Athlete or Parent to initiate communication with a college coach?
A: Yes, a parent or prospective student-athlete may initiate communication with a college coach at any time beginning Freshman year in High School, as long as the prospective student-athlete's family pays the expense.
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Q: What is the Quiet Period?
A: During this time , a college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents off the college's campus. The coach may not watch you play or visit your high school during this period. You and your parents may visit a college campus during this time. A coach may write or telephone you or your parents during this time.
Q: What is the Dead Period?
A: A college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents on or off campus at any time during the dead period. The coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time
Q: What is the Contact Period?
A: During this time, a college coach may have in-person contact with you and/or your parents on or off the college's campus. The coach may also watch you play or visit your high school. You and your parents may visit a college campus and the coach may write and telephone you during this period.
Q: What is an extra benefit or inducement?
A: An extra benefit or recruiting inducement is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or booster to provide a current student-athlete, prospect, or their relatives or friends a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
Q: What is an unofficial visit?
A: An unofficial visit by a prospect is a visit made to a College/University at the prospect's own expense. If any expenses are paid by the College/University, the visit will become an official visit.
Q: What is an official visit?
A: An official visit by a prospect is a visit to campus that is financed in whole or in part by a respective College/University. An official visit may not exceed 48 hours in duration. The College/University may pay the prospect's transportation costs for his or her official visit, provided a direct route between the prospect's home and the institution is used. As a reminder, boosters are not permitted to have contact with a prospect during his or her official visit.
Q: What is an evaluation?
A: An evaluation is any off-campus activity designed to assess the academic qualifications or athletics ability of a prospect, including any visit to a prospect's educational institution (during which no contact occurs) or the observation of a prospect participating in any practice or competition at any site.
Q: What is a contact?
A: A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the prospect's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and a College/University staff member during which any dialogue in excess of an exchange of a greeting occurs. Any encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect's school or at the site of organized competition or practice is considered a contact regardless of the conversation (including a greeting) that occurs.
Q: What is recruiting?
A: Recruiting is the solicitation of a prospect or the prospects parent(s) or legal guardian(s) by a College or University staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment at their respective College or University and/or participation in their College/University’s athletic program. Recruiting activities include correspondence, email, faxes, telephone conversations, in person contacts (on and off campus), and evaluations.
Q: Who is a prospective student-athlete?
A: A prospective student-athlete or a prospect is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not yet started ninth grade may become a prospect if College, University, Coach or booster provides the student, their relatives, or friends with financial assistance or benefit that is not generally provided to other students.