2023 College Golf
National Letter of Intent
Update Your Signing Status
Let us know where you are signing to be featured on the Hub website and social media!
Update Your Signing Status
Let us know where you are signing to be featured on
the Hub website and social media!
JGH Essentials
NLI specifies a student will attend a college for one year with a one-year athletic scholarship.
NCAA D-I and D-II, NAIA, and NJCAA have NLI signing programs.
Signing windows open November and last until August.
Signing an NLI is very common at top DI programs.
NLI is for seniors in high school and is a binding agreement.
What is the National Letter of Intent?
The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is simply an agreement that specifies a prospective student athlete will attend a given college for one year and the college has agreed to provide an athletic scholarship for one academic year.
Do all colleges offer the National Letter of Intent?
The National Letter of Intent is a contract specifically designed for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and Division II schools (DIII schools do not offer athletic scholarships). Most D-I and D-II programs offer the National Letter of Intent with some exceptions most notably the Ivy League schools. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schools or Junior Colleges also have NLI programs, but follow separate practices and procedures as they are unaffiliated with the NCAA.
When do I sign a National Letter of Intent?
The NLI program begins in November for prospective student-athletes signing in 2021-22 and enrolling in the 2022-23 school year:
NCAA Division I, II: Starts November 10th, 2021 – August 1, 2022.
NCAA Division III: No athletic awards and no recruiting calendar
NAIA: Anytime, no formal NLI program, non-binding.
National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA): November 1, 2021– August 1, 2022
A final thing to keep in mind is that you will have a deadline from the issuance date for you and your parents or guardian to sign the NLI so make sure to keep track of time!
Frequently Asked Questions
I heard that the National Letter of Intent is binding, is that true?
Are National Letters of Intent only for seniors in high school? Or does it apply to juniors or earlier grades?
Do I have to sign a National Letter of Intent?
What happens if I don’t sign a Letter of Intent?
What’s the difference between a National Letter of Intent and a verbal commitment?
Do you recommend that I sign a National Letter of Intent?
What if I don’t receive a letter early on in the Signing Period?
- After the early window, make note of all players that committed to the school you are interested in and how many spots remain.
- Maintain a competitive schedule through the spring to keep developing your playing resume.
- Continue to take official and unofficial visits as often as possible. This is a good way to show coaches how much you want to play for their team.
- Keep coaches updated with tournament results, upcoming tournament schedules, grades and standardized test scores. Let coaches know how hard you are working and how important it is to get a spot on their team.
- Ask your coach about their current recruiting situation and where you stand in that equation. It’s much better to get direct answers, even if some coaches say no. You are better off focusing your time and energy on the schools you have a chance with.
Remember: The first three sentences of any note or message you send to a coach are the most important. Be bold and direct to stand out and keep them reading.
It’s important to understand the recruiting calendars for the coaches at your target programs. There will be great opportunities to contact programs at certain points throughout the year and more difficult times to engage at other times.
I see people signing their National Letter of Intent with the coach in the background. Seems like a great photo op! How does that work?
Is the NLI just a sheet of paper?
How can I let coaches know I have signed an NLI on my JGH profile?
I want to learn more, where can I find more information?
Think you know what it takes to play college golf?
JGH Debunks Common Myths With New Groundbreaking Analysis of Over 900 Junior Golfers Who Got Signed in 2021
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The JGH College Golf Checklist: Don’t miss a step!
For example: When do I register for the Clearinghouse(s) and where?
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Containing in-depth, expert knowledge on college golf scholarships, communicating with coaches, evaluating your offers and more..
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Find the right college golf programs for you
It’s a big world out there – over 1,250 Men’s Programs and 950 Women’s Programs – where do you fit in?