Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

quote:
Originally posted by shortnquick:
I doubt a HS A.D. will ask you to put it together or for suggestions. The AD is probably well versed in having a signing day. First ask what their plans are, if any. If you need to suggest something suggest what your original post said about football "press conference and ceremony".


If you have a good AD then I agree with the above but some places the AD is just a name and a paycheck. If that's the case with your AD then I would have some ideas ready to present.

I'm sure the coach of the team he's signing with would show up for a picture and bring a drape for a table with the school name or something like that. Have the player (obviously), parents, siblings, HS coach(es), college coach(es) and anybody else you feel is relevant. This might not always be true but with my guys the piece of paper they sign is actually a blank sheet. The NLI is either done before or after on certain days or whatever. Nothing wrong with that.

I've seen where the college coach came from a significant distance and they had finger type food / cake available. The whole team would be there but not in the picture.

You can really do anything you want. But if you have a good AD he should already know who is signing and have something planned. But if he's not a good AD then you may need to prod him.
Both D2 and D1 have the same rule:
13.1.5.7 Letter-of-Intent Signing. Any in-person, off-campus contact made with a prospective student-athlete for the purpose of signing a letter of intent or other commitment to attend the institution or attendance at activities related to the signing of a letter of intent or other commitment to attend the institution shall be prohibited.

I believe that JCs or NAIA coaches could attend a ceremony. D3 schools are not permitted to allow a player to sign any agreement other than those available to all prospective students.
The National Letter of Intent is a program which issues a particular letter of intent, which has a set of conditions that are agreed to by all institutions which are part of the program. Only D1 and D2 institutions may participate.

The NLI is a contract between player and college, and so the college has to offer something tangible in return for the player's signature. The program thus mandates that some amount of athletic scholarship be part of the NLI. So Ivys can't participate in the NLI program.

However, Ivys can and do issue a letter of intent, and the rule posted just above applies to those letters just as it does to an NLI. 13.1.5.7 is not restricted to the NLI program.

At my son's high school, there is a ceremony for fall NLI signers, and they include players who are obviously recruited to Ivys. Nobody dwells on the technicality.
Kind of funny...I just emailed my son's high school coach about this today. The AD will call the local papers to set up the photo op. The college coach told us right away that they are not allowed to attend.
And yes, many schools have the athletes that verbally commit come to campus for an official visit. My son had his a few week ago and it was very nice. At least those guys that commit early get one official visit out of the deal Smile
We set the whole thing up... but I do work at the school. Talked to the AD, invited the HS coaching staff and admin., local press.... baked the cake and cookies, and our son invited all his friends.
He signed the NLI in the morning and sent it off... he "signed" his copy in the afternoon in front of friends and family.
I would think most schools would be happy to 'host' the event... proud for their student and loving the PR.
Our school would have two gatherings, one in the fall and then one in the spring, with each being for the corresponding National Signing Days for each sport. They would set up a table in the library with a nice banner from the school adorning the table and then each athlete was given an opportunity to "sign their letter", which was a faux ceremoney but served the purpose of allowing each athlete and their invited family members to have their photo op which was also attended by all the local press and, depending on the level or caliber of a given years' crop, television coverage as well. The various sports coaches were also invited and it made for some great photo chances as, for example, my son and three of his teammates wore their respective "soon to be college" hats and each took individual and then group photos with the coach. Nothing official in terms of signing anything but nobody will know that years from now when those pictures are drug out and looked at as it sure looks official when they are looking down and signing the paperwork with Mom and Dad looking over their loved one's shoulder.

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×