Page 308 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

Transfer Waiver Requirement – Failure to Enroll
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R signs an NJCAA Letter of Intent with Community College A during her senior year in high school in
preparation for the upcoming college season. During the summer, Student-Athlete R contacts Community College A and
notifies them that she has lost the love for the sport and is just going to attend the local college and take classes and not play
sports. Community College A releases Student-Athlete R to free up the letter of intent slot. Student-Athlete R enrolls at
Community College B and now wants to play sports again. Does Student-Athlete R need an NJCAA Transfer Waiver from
Community College A to be immediately eligible at Community College B?
ANSWER:
Since Student-Athlete R was signed to an NJCAA Letter of Intent in the previous, current or upcoming academic year, a
transfer waiver is required from Community College A for Student-Athlete R to be immediately eligible at Community College B.

Simulated Letter of Intent Signing

Case 1
Simulated Letter of Intent Signing
SITUATION:
Community College A participates in a simulated signing of a NJCAA Letter of Intent for that sport. Is this a violation of the
NJCAA bylaws?
ANSWER:
Yes. Signing a student-athlete to any document other than an official NJCAA Letter of Intent signifying the student has
committed to the college would be in violation of NJCAA bylaws. No representative of a member college, the college coaching
staff or a representative of the member college’s athletic interest may take part in any event that would indicate that a student-
athlete has signed a NJCAA Letter of Intent with the college. This practice is not permitted at any time during the academic
year. This would include a picture and/or an article appearing in the news media which indicates the student has “committed” to
such and such college. Signing a student-athlete to a simulated Letter of Intent or staging a Letter of Intent signing for the
media would provide benefits to the college that organized the event without actually signing the student to an NJCAA Letter of
Intent. If you want to show the student-athlete has committed to a member college then the student must be signed to an
NJCAA Letter of Intent and must be a counter in that sport.

Case 2
High School National Signing Day
SITUATION:
Student-athlete R’s high school is hosting a national signing day for the local media with all their student-athletes who have
signed with a four year or two-year school. Student-athlete R has not signed an NJCAA Letter of Intent but is included in the
event. Pictures are posted in the local new and the student-athlete shares the photo on social media. Can the coach share the
photo that was sent by the student-athlete on their personal or college social media?
ANSWER:
Because the student-athlete has not signed an NJCAA Letter of Intent no member of the college coaching staff or
representative of the member college’s athletic interest may take part in or originate any event or make any statement implying
that a student-athlete has signed an NJCAA Letter of Intent, including but not limited to, pictures and/or articles appearing in
news and/or social media.

Case 3
Offering Written Contract Before Signing an NJCAA Letter of Intent
SITUATION:
Community College A is recruiting Student-Athlete R. Prior to the official signing period in baseball, the coach at
Community College A provides a written copy of the athletic aid Community College A will be offering Student-Athlete R on
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November 1 (the official signing date in baseball). Is it legal for Community College A to provide a student-athlete with a
written copy of the verbal offer being made? If Community College A includes a disclaimer on the written copy of the offer
indicating that it is not a binding contract, but for informational purposes only, is it legal?

ANSWER:
Institutions, regions and/or conferences may not provide a written offer prior to the NJCAA signing date.

Case 4
Signing Conference Letters of Intent
SITUATION:
Community College A is not using the NJCAA Letter of Intent. Instead, it is using its own conference letter. The
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conference signing date for football is January 15 , however the National signing date is not until after that date. Which signing
date must Community College A abide by?
ANSWER:
Community College A must abide by the NJCAA signing date. No NJCAA member college can sign a student-athlete to an
institutional, conference or state Letter of Intent prior to the NJCAA signing date.

Case 5
Signing Institutional Letter of Intent
SITUATION: