Page 311 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

Letter of Intent Signee – Non-attendance

Case 1
NJCAA Letter of Intent Signee Attending Non-Member School
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R signs an NJCAA Letter of Intent with Community College A. Student-Athlete R then decides to attend a
college which is not a member of the NJCAA. Is Student-Athlete R's NJCAA Letter of Intent automatically invalid?
ANSWER:
No. Community College A must submit a Release Agreement online to gain the Letter of Intent slot. Student-Athlete R
may not return to a NJCAA member school and participate in athletics or receive athletic aid in that same academic year until
the terms of his/her original Letter of Intent is completed or the Release Agreement has been signed and submitted online. If
the student returns to a member college, they would require a Transfer Waiver from Community College A since they were
signed to a Letter of Intent in the previous, current or upcoming academic year.

Case 2
NJCAA Release Agreement for a 4-Year Multiple Transfer
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R signs an NJCAA Letter of Intent at Community College A for the 2019-2020 academic year in the sport
of baseball. He decides before the start of the fall 2018 term that he wants to go to an NCAA institution instead. Student-
Athlete R is not released from his NJCAA Letter of Intent. After attending the NCAA institution during the fall term he decides to
transfer to Community College B to participate in baseball during the spring 2020 term. Does Student-Athlete R need a signed
Release Agreement from Community College A in order to participate at Community College B?
ANSWER:
Yes. Student-Athlete R’s Letter of Intent is for the 2019-2020 academic year at Community College A. This Letter of Intent
does not automatically become invalid because of his attendance during the fall term at a non-member college and therefore he
must be released by Community College A before he is recruitable by any other NJCAA member college for the remainder of
the 2018-2019 academic year. In this case, the original terms of the Letter of Intent have not been fulfilled and therefore the
Release Agreement must be signed.
If the Release Agreement is not signed by Community College A, he remains unrecruitable and may not have any contact
with any member of the athletic department at Community College B or any other member college. Student-Athlete R may not
practice or be involved in any way with any athletic team at Community College B until the original terms of the Letter of Intent
at Community College A have been fulfilled. Student-Athlete R also requires a Transfer Waiver from Community College A in
order to be certified for participation.

RECRUITMENT
Recruitable Athlete

Case 1
Non-Letter of Intent Signee – Season Over – Still in Term
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R is a walk-on volleyball athlete at Community College A. She is unhappy with her playing time during
the season and as soon as the season is over she begins contacting other NJCAA member colleges looking for a team for the
following year. Is this student in violation of NJCAA bylaws?
ANSWER:
Yes. Student-Athlete R would be in violation of NJCAA bylaws. While she is not on a Letter of Intent she is still
enrolled in the term when the volleyball season ended. She does not become a recruitable athlete until the end of the fall term.

Case 2
NJCAA Letter of Intent Signee – Representative Contact
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R is a basketball player signed to an NJCAA Letter of Intent at Community College A. Student-Athlete
R’s mother contacts Community College B to see if there is interest in her son for the following year. Has a violation of NJCAA
bylaws taken place?
ANSWER:
Yes. Student-Athlete R’s mother is acting as a representative of Student-Athlete R who is currently in season and
signed to an NJCAA Letter of Intent. The mother would not be able to make this contact until Student-Athlete R is released
from his Letter of Intent and the spring term has come to an end.

Case 3
Released – Still in Term
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R is a basketball player signed to an NJCAA Letter of Intent at Community College A. Immediately at
the end of the season Student-Athlete R is released from their letter of intent. When does Student-Athlete R become
recruitable once released?
ANSWER: