I have just finished up my senior track season and am committed to a Divison 2 team already. The past few weeks questions have been arising and doubts have been coming to mind as to if the school i am signed with is the right place. So my question is if i am signed with a divison 2 team what happens if i decided i want to go to a divison 1 school instead. Thank you for your help.
I am not an expert on this, but the worst that could probably happen is you will have to sit out this coming year. But, this may not be a bad thing if you are a distance runner, you will get an extra year of strength building and if you are going to a decent D1 team, you may not make the traveling squad as a freshmen, so it may not matter if you have to sit out. Try looking on the ncaa site for the rules, I don't think that you can contact the D1 coach until you are released from the D2 school. Does anyone know if he could contact the D1 complaince office for that school and get the details?
Dont do it
Not sure but you may lose a year of eligibility. I think it's easier to transfer after completing a year, than signing a letter of intent and reneging on it.
You also need to tell the coach of the school you've signed with, since it is an NCAA violation for the school you are hoping to go to, to correspond with you regarding a transfer UNTIL you have been released.
Most coaches if you are honest and straightforward about something of this matter will release you, recognizing that it's in the best interests of both parties involved. However if you are sneaky or dishonest about it coach's seem to be less willing to accomodate you (if only out of spite).
If I were you I'd think hard about why you chose the school you did, and why you are having second thoughts. Make sure it's your feelings that are compelling you change your plans and not the words of others. Best of luck.
This happens all the time...first thing you have to do is tell your coach that you are thinking about transfering before you even get to school...then seek a release from the school...the NCAA does allow a one time transfer rule if you meet certain stipulations as prescribed in the NCAA Manual in section 14...
Not the same as a one-time transfer exception (see below):
Transferring
Is a National Letter of Intent binding if the coach of my sport leaves the institution to take another position?
Yes. The National Letter of Intent you signed with an institution is valid if the coach that recruited you leaves the institution with which you signed. When you sign a National Letter of Intent you sign with an institution and not with a coach or a specific team.
Do I sign a National Letter of Intent if I transfer to another four-year institution?
No. A student-athlete transferring from one four-year institution to another four-year institution may not sign a National Letter of Intent.
What happens if I change my mind and do not want to attend the institution with which I sign and want to attend another National Letter of Intent institution?
If you do not attend the institution with which you signed, or if you do not fulfill the terms of the National Letter of Intent, the basic penalty is that you lose two years of eligibility and must serve two years in residence at your next National Letter of Intent institution.
Can the Basic Penalty, which calls for the loss of two years of eligibility and requires that I serve two years in residence at the next National Letter of Intent Institution, be reduced?
Yes. The Basic Penalty under the National Letter of Intent agreement may be reduced by entering into a Qualified Release Agreement with the signing institution. By entering into a Qualified Release Agreement, the institution and the student-athlete mutually agree to release each other from any commitment and liability related to signing a National Letter of Intent. Pursuant to the Qualified Release Agreement, you may not represent a second National Letter of Intent institution in any sport during your first year of residence and you will be charged with the loss of one season of eligibility in all sports
Who executes the Qualified Release Agreement?
The Qualified Release Agreement must be executed by the Director of Athletics (or a designee), your parent or legal guardian and yourself. Your coach does not sign the Qualified Release Agreement. Furthermore, your coach does not have the authority to release you from your National Letter of Intent obligations.
Is the Qualified Release Agreement the same as the One-Time Transfer Exception as set forth in NCAA Bylaw 14.5.5.2.10?
No. The Qualified Release Agreement and the NCAA One-Time Transfer Exception are two different policies. Pursuant to NCAA Bylaw 14.5.5.2.10 (One-Time Transfer Exception), a student-athlete who has not previously transferred from a four-year institution and does not participate in the sports of Division I basketball, Division I-A football or Division I men's ice hockey, may transfer and not have to serve a year in residence under NCAA rules. To use the One-Time Transfer Exception, the student-athlete must have been in good academic standing and fulfilled progress toward degree requirements at the previous institution. Furthermore, the student-athlete must have been eligible at the previous institution and the previous institution must have no objection to the student being granted an exception to the NCAA residence requirement. The fact that a student is eligible for the NCAA One-Time Transfer Exception does not mean a student-athlete has received a Qualified Release Agreement pursuant to the National Letter of Intent program, nor does the One-Time Transfer Exception eliminate the penalty provisions of the National Letter of Intent.
The Qualified Release Agreement is a specific document created by the National Letter of Intent program. You may obtain a copy of the Qualified Release Agreement in the Document Library or from the compliance coordinator at your institution. If you have any questions about NCAA transfer and eligibility regulations, please contact the NCAA at (317) 917-6222.
Is an institution required to grant a Qualified Release Agreement if requested?
No. Just as the National Letter of Intent is a voluntary agreement, the Qualified Release Agreement is voluntary in nature. An institution is not required to provide you with a Qualified Release Agreement. If an institution denies your request for a Qualified Release Agreement, you may petition the National Letter of Intent Steering Committee for such an agreement. In order to petition the NLI Steering Committee you must document in writing that you requested a Qualified Release Agreement from the Director of Athletics of the signing institution and that your request was denied. Once proper documentation has been submitted, the NLI Steering Committee will consider your request. Petitions to the NLI Steering Committee should be sent to the NLI Program, 2201 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, Alabama 35203.
If I do not satisfy my National Letter of Intent agreement, may I practice or receive athletics aid at another National Letter of Intent institution?
Yes. Signing a National Letter of Intent does not impact your ability to practice or receive athletics aid at another National Letter of Intent institution. The Basic Penalty under the National Letter of Intent program is the loss of two years of eligibility in all sports and the requirement of two years in residence at the next National Letter of Intent institution.
If I fail to honor my NLI commitment and do not attend the institution with which I signed, may another NLI member institution recruit me?
Yes, but only if you have received a Qualified Release Agreement from the institution with which you signed, or the institution that desires to recruit you is granted permission to do so by the institution with which you signed. (If permission to contact is granted, it is not limited to certain institutions, but to all institutions seeking to recruit the student-athlete.)
If my request for a Qualified Release Agreement is denied, is the institution obligated to provide me an opportunity for a hearing as to why the request was denied?
No.
Quote:[By entering into a Qualified Release Agreement, the institution and the student-athlete mutually agree to release each other from any commitment and liability related to signing a National Letter of Intent. Pursuant to the Qualified Release Agreement, you may not represent a second National Letter of Intent institution in any sport during your first year of residence and you will be charged with the loss of one season of eligibility in all sports]
So the best you're gonna do, is sit out and lose a year of eligibility. The worst is lose two years eligibility. It's harsh!
You are right it is not the same...I thought he should know about the one time transfer as sometimes it is easier to go to the school honor your NLI and then transfer if it does not work...it gets sticky but getting the release and talking with the coach and the AD is always the best start...
TAhe athletes can appeal to the steering committee if they recieve letters from all schools agreeing to the realease but it really has to be a good reason for wanting out before they agree...best bet is to stay in the school where you signed and fullfill the year and then go if you still want to...
dude, when you say "commit" did you sign a letter of intent (scholarship) or are you just walking on and have filled out all your university registration stuff? If you're not on scholarship, or didn't sign a letter of intent, all the above stuff may not apply.
definitely talk to your D2 almost/former coach asap.