SJSU Compliance Office
October 27 & 28, 2010
True
 Bylaw 13.1.5.7.1 and NLI Provision 12
prohibit any in-person, off-campus delivery
of an NLI by an institutional staff member;
NLIs may be delivered by express mail,
courier service, regular mail, e-mail or
facsimile machine.
 NLIs must be sent to the prospect directly,
not to the prospect’s coach.

False
 NLI Provision 1 limits the signing of an NLI
to prospects who will be entering four-year
institutions for the first time as full-time
students, 4-2-4 transfers who are
graduating from a JC or JC transfer
students.

C. 21 years of age.
 The NLI document does not require a
parent/guardian to sign the document if
the prospect is 21 years of age or older.
 If a prospect is under the age of 21,
regardless of marital status, a parent/
guardian must sign the NLI in order for it
to be considered valid.

False
 The NLI Administrative Guidelines say that
only one valid NLI may be signed by a
prospect annually.
 The NLI is signed with an institution, not
with a coach or with a specific sports
team.

True
 Per NLI Administrative Guidelines, if a
parent/guardian is not available (i.e.,
incarcerated, death, etc.) another
individual may sign the NLI under
specified circumstances provided that
individual is approved in advance by the
NLI Office.
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

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False
The NLI program allows an institution to provide
an NLI to a prospect while on campus for an
official visit.
The prospect may sign the NLI during an official
visit, but remember that an NLI may only be
signed during a permissible signing period.


True
An NLI signed before the signing period begins is
invalid.




A. Yes, 14-days from the date of issuance, except during
the November signing period.
14-Day Signing Deadline: If a prospect fails to sign the
NLI and accompanying offer of athletics aid within 14
days after the date of issuance, it will be invalid. In that
event, another NLI may be issued within the appropriate
signing period.
Signing Deadline (November Only): NLI must be
signed between the dates of November 10-17, 2010 (the
14-day signing deadline is not applicable during the
November signing period).
Additionally, the institution must file the NLI with its
conference office within 21 days of the date of final
signature; otherwise, the NLI is invalid.




True
NLI Provision 8 sets forth the Recruiting Ban,
which states that all participating conferences and
institutions are obligated to respect the prospect’s
signing and must cease to recruit the prospect
upon his/her signing of an NLI.
It is the responsibility of the prospect to notify any
recruiter who contacts him/her of their signing of
an NLI.
Once the prospect enrolls in the institution the NLI
Recruiting Ban is no longer in effect.



True
Per Bylaw 13.9.2.2, prior to August 1 of a prospect’s
senior year, an institution may not indicate in writing
to the prospect that an athletically related grant-inaid will be offered by the institution.
On or after August 1 of a prospect’s senior year, an
institution indicate in writing to a prospect that
athletics aid will be offered; however, the institution
may not permit the prospect to sign a form
indicating his/her acceptance of such an award
before the initial NLI signing date in that sport.


Yes, only the sport of football is limited to signing
28 prospects to an NLI annually.
Bylaw 13.9.2.3 states there is an annual limit of 28
on the number of prospects who may sign an NLI
or an institutional offer of financial aid from the
initial signing date of the regular signing period
(February 2) of the NLI through May 31.



False
NLI Provision 11 says an NLI is signed with the
institution, not for a particular coach.
If a coach leaves the institution or the sports
program (e.g., not retained, resigns), the prospect
remains bound by the provisions of the NLI.



False
NLI Provision 7(b)(1) says the NLI shall be
rendered null and void if the prospect becomes
a nonqualifier.
If an Initial Eligibility Waiver (IEW) will be filed on
behalf of the nonqualifier, the NLI remains
binding through the Waiver process. We are
only required to send a notice of a null and void
NLI if the IEW is denied.


False
NLI Provision 7(a) says the NLI is null and void if
the institution notifies the prospect in writing that
he/she has been denied admission.



True
NLI Provision 7(a) says the NLI remains valid
and binding if the prospect defers admission;
however, the NLI will be rendered null and void
if the prospect is eligible for admission, but the
institution defers admission to a subsequent
term.
NLI Provision 7(c) says that an NLI shall be
declared null and void if the prospect has not
attended any institution for at least one
academic year.
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




Denied Admissions
Failure to meet initial-eligibility requirements (i.e.,
nonqualifier)
Failure to attend any institution for one year from
signing
Serving active duty with the US armed forces or
an official church mission for at least 12 months
Discontinued sport
Recruiting rules violations


Institutions are required to notify prospects in
writing that his/her NLI is null and void within five
business days from when the institution is made
aware of the status of the NLI.
A form letter will be sent to the prospect’s home,
head coaches will be copied on this notice.


A. One Academic Year
NLI Provision 3(a) says an NLI will be fulfilled by
attending the institution with which it was signed
for at least one academic year as a full-time
student.


D. Both A and C
The Basic Penalty for failure to fulfill the terms of
the NLI (attend the signing institution for one
academic year) requires that the signee lose one
season of competition in all sports and he/she
must serve one year in residence at the next NLI
institution per NLI Provision 4.

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True
The NLI Release Request Form allows an institution to
grant a complete release from the NLI.
A Complete Release permits the prospect to attend
any NLI institution without being subject to the NLI
Basic Penalty. It releases both the institution and the
student from any further NLI obligations. The NLI
release is not the same as NCAA permission to
contact (i.e., releases are not specific to schools).
Additionally, when a Complete Release is granted, the
NLI Recruiting Ban is no longer in effect, allowing the
student to be recruited by other NLI member
institutions, provided permission to contact is granted.



False
The NLI Administrative Guidelines state that a
prospect is only permitted to sign one valid NLI in an
academic year.
Therefore, if a prospect signs an NLI during the early
period and receives a Complete Release by the
institution or one of the NLI committees before the
spring signing period ends, he/she is not permitted to
sign a second NLI in the spring. The prospect must
wait until the next academic year to sign another valid
NLI if he/she has not enrolled at a four-year institution.



True
The NLI Release Request Form allows a prospect to
petition the NLI Policy & Review Committee for a
release if an institution denies a request for a
Complete Release.
In order to file an appeal, the prospect must provide a
copy of the NLI Release Request Form, signed by the
director of athletics, indicating "No Release." Once
proper documentation has been submitted, the NLI
Policy & Review Committee will consider the request.

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

True
The NLI Release Request Form allows an institution to
grant “No Release” from the NLI.
The No Release option keeps the NLI in tact, thereby
requiring the student to lose one season of
competition in all sports and to serve one academic
year in residence at the next NLI member institution.
The student may appeal an institution’s decision not to
release to the NLI Policy and Review Committee. In
the event of an appeal, the institution will be required
to cite their reason for not releasing the student.


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True
The NLI Release Request allows removal of the
NLI Recruiting Ban from a student without granting
a Complete Release.
The Recruiting Ban would be lifted for all NLI
member institutions and cannot be restricted to
institutions.
The only way to restrict recruitment by certain
institutions is to deny permission to contact
(applies to enrolled student-athletes only).



D. All of the above.
Phone Call Exceptions Surrounding the Initial NLI
Signing Date
All Sports: Countable coaches may make unlimited
phone calls to a prospect on the initial NLI signing date
and during the two days immediately following the initial
signing date per Bylaw 13.1.3.3.2.
Football: Countable coaches (and 2 designated GAs)
may make unlimited phone calls to prospects during the
period 48 hours before and 48 hours after 7 a.m. on the
initial NLI signing date per Bylaw 13.1.3.3.2.1.

No Limit: After the calendar day on which a prospect signs an
NLI, there is no limit on the number of phone calls that may be
made by the institution with which the prospect has signed per
Bylaw 13.1.3.3.3.
Noncoaching Staff Members


After the calendar day on which a prospect signs an NLI, a
noncoaching staff member or a noncountable coach may make
phone calls to or receive phone calls from the prospect (or the
prospects parents/guardians) per Bylaw 13.1.3.4.1.2(a).
For a prospect who is not eligible to sign an NLI (e.g., four-year
college transfer), a noncoaching staff member or a noncountable
coach may make phone calls to or receive phone calls from a
prospect (or the prospect's parents/guardians) after the calendar
day on which the prospect signs the institution's written offer of
admission and/or financial aid per Bylaw 13.1.3.4.1.2(a).




False
Per Bylaw 13.4.1.2, electronically transmitted
correspondence that may be sent to a prospect (or the
prospect’s parents/guardians) is limited to e-mail and fax.
All other forms of electronically transmitted correspondence
(e.g., Instant Messenger, text messaging) are prohibited.
However, per Bylaw 13.4.1.2.1, after the calendar day on
which a prospect signs an NLI, there shall be no limit on
the forms of electronically transmitted correspondence sent
to the prospect or his/her parents/guardians by the
institution with which the prospect has signed.
For a prospect who is not eligible to sign an NLI (e.g., fouryear college transfer), there shall be no limit on the forms of
electronically transmitted correspondence sent to the
prospect or his/her parents/guardians by the institution after
the calendar day on which the prospect signs the
institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid.


False
Per Bylaw 13.4.1.1(h), necessary pre-enrollment
information regarding orientation, conditioning,
academics and practice activities may be provided
to a prospect if any one of the following has taken
place:
> He/she has signed an NLI;
> He/she has signed an institutional financial
aid agreement; or
> He/she has been officially accepted for
enrollment.



False
Per Bylaw 13.10.2, before a prospect signs an NLI or
an institution's written offer of admission and/or
financial aid, a member institution may comment
publicly ONLY to the extent of confirming its
recruitment of the prospect.
The institution may NOT comment generally about the
prospect’s ability or the contribution that the prospect
might make to the institution's team; further, the
institution is precluded from commenting in any
manner as to the likelihood of the prospect's signing
with that institution.



False
Press Release: Per Bylaw 13.10.9, publicity concerning a
prospect’s commitment to attend the institution may take place
after one of the following has occurred:
> The prospect has signed an NLI (validity MUST be
confirmed by the Director of Student Service);
> The prospect has signed an offer of admission; or
> The prospect signed an offer of financial aid (validity
MUST be confirmed by the Director of Student Services)
Press Conference: Per Bylaw 13.10.9.2, an institution may
conduct ONE formal press conference on the institution's
campus for the purpose of presenting the names of all prospects
in a sport who have signed an NLI or accepted written offers of
admission and/or financial aid from the institution, with the
understanding that no prospects (or their friends or relatives)
may be in attendance at such an announcement.
For Prospective Student-Athletes
Enrolling in the 2011-2012 Academic Year
Sport
Initial
Signing Date
Final Signing
Date
Basketball and All Other Sports Not Listed (Early
Period)
November 10, November 17,
2010
2010
Football (Midyear JC Transfer)
December 15, January 15,
2010
2011
Football (Regular Period)
February 2,
2011
April 1, 2011
Field Hockey, Soccer, Track and Field, Cross
Country, Men's Water Polo
February 2,
2011
August 1,
2011
Basketball (Regular Period)
April 13, 2011
May 18, 2011
All Other Sports Not Listed (Regular Period)
April 13, 2011
August 1,
2011
1.
2.
Coach submits NLI/GIA Request Form to Dir. Of
Student Services. (DOSS)
DOSS passes form to Compliance/ Academics
staff to approve:

SJSU Admissions Status

NCAA Initial Eligibility Status
If issues with either area arise, the head coach will be contacted.
3.
4.
5.
DOSS creates NLI and/or GIA documents.
DOSS obtains signatures from SJSU Financial
Aid Office & Dir. Of Athletics Designee.
DOSS gives NLI Packet to Coaching staff to
send to prospect.

Instructions Sheet for Prospect

NLI Document
◦ Copy of NLI Document for prospect to keep

Grant In Aid Document
◦ Copy of Grant in Aid Document for prospect to
keep

Self Addressed, Pre-paid envelope for prospect
to return originals to DOSS.



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
Prospect faxes signed NLI/GIA to DOSS & mails
hard copies
DOSS checks documents for correct signatures
and dates.
Valid NLIs – DOSS emails Coaches and Staff
notifying them of valid signees that can be
released.
Invalid NLIs – DOSS contacts coaches and
prospects informing them of corrections that need
to be made to documents.
DOSS faxes all valid NLIs to the WAC Office.

In January DOSS will letters from the Athletic
Director to all NLI/GIA signees as well as GIA
renewal candidates.
◦ Signee Letter will welcome them to SJSU as well as
include FAFSA filing instructions and deadlines for
completion in order for their athletic aid to be disbursed.
◦ Renewal letters will outline the FAFSA Renewal Process
and deadlines and explain that GIA Renewals will not be
processed for those candidates with incomplete FAFSA’s.