Page 310 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R signs an NJCAA Letter of Intent with Community College A. Before the term begins, Student-Athlete R
decides not to attend Community College A and is unavailable to sign a Release Agreement. What can Community College A
do to free that Letter of Intent and scholarship from Student-Athlete R?
ANSWER:
The Release Agreement form indicates the situations that require a student-athletes signature. In those situations, if the
student-athletes signature is not obtained the Release Agreement cannot be submitted and the Letter of Intent remains valid.
In those situations that do not require the student-athletes signature, documentation must be provided showing the student-
athlete graduated, withdrew, loss of eligibility, discipline, or failure to enroll.

Case 5
NJCAA Release Agreement
SITUATION:
Can a student-athlete who signs an NJCAA Letter of Intent with Community College A for the academic year and then
transfers to Community College B during the term of that Letter of Intent, receive athletic aid from Community College B?
ANSWER:
No. A student-athlete who is bound by a Letter of Intent to Community College A is unrecruitable and cannot receive
institutional athletic aid from Community College B without first receiving a signed Release Agreement from Community College
A.

Case 6
Transfer Paperwork Requirements
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R is signed to a Letter of Intent and participates at Community College A during the 2018-2019 academic
year. Student-Athlete R transfers to Community College B for the 2019-2020 academic year. What documents are required for
the student to be eligible at Community College B?
ANSWER:
At a minimum, the following documents must be on file at Community College B for Student-Athlete R to be considered for
NJCAA eligibility at Community College B. Additional documents may be required based on the student specific history and
situation.
1. NJCAA Transfer Waiver since the student was signed to a Letter of Intent in the previous academic year.
2. Complete official transcripts or copies of the student’s official academic transcript.

Case 7
Transfers without a Release Agreement/Transfer Waiver
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R signs an NJCAA Letter of Intent for the 2018-2019 academic year at Community College A but never
enrolls. Student-Athlete R chooses to go to Community College B instead and enrolls in the fall 2019 term. In what capacity
may Student-Athlete R participate at Community College B?
ANSWER:
If Student-Athlete R does not receive a Release Agreement signed by Community College A, he/she cannot participate,
practice, become a manager, be associated with athletics nor may Student-Athlete R receive athletic aid at Community College
B during the 2018-2019 academic year. Student-Athlete R may have contact with athletics staff at Community College B if and
only if they are released from their letter of intent at Community College A or the terms of the signed NJCAA Letter of Intent
expire. In addition, a Transfer Waiver is required if they are to be considered for participation at Community College B.
Case 8
Release Agreements - Student Responsible for Paying Expenses at Release Date
SITUATION:
At the end of the women’s basketball season Student-Athlete R asks her athletic director for a Release Agreement so she
can be a recruitable athlete. She also wants to receive the remainder of her athletic scholarship for the academic year. Can
the student still receive her athletic scholarship after a Release Agreement has been signed and submitted online?

ANSWER:
No. As per the bylaw: A Release Agreement that is submitted online is for a student-athlete “no longer receiving or
intending to receive athletic aid.” Therefore, once the Release Agreement has been submitted online, the student-athlete is
responsible for paying for his/her own educational and living expenses from the date the release is granted through the
remainder of the year. The student-athlete will also become a recruitable athlete at the time of the release or the end of the
term which the sport ended, whichever is later.

Case 9
Scholarship Limitation – Graduation
SITUATION:
As of March 12 , Community College A has 15 basketball players receiving athletic aid, 13 players that began the season
th
and two more that were added at the beginning of the spring semester. Of those 15 players, nine of them will graduate from
Community College A on May 15 . Can Community College A add nine additional players for the upcoming summer school
th
session due to the nine players lost to graduation?
ANSWER:
Yes. Community College A will need to submit Release Agreements online for each of the nine student-athletes when they
graduate to free up those scholarships prior to signing the new nine student-athletes to Letters of Intent for the summer session.