February 3rd is National Signing Day! (Signing pics included)

 Today is National Signing Day! February 3rd, 2010 is the day that many of Virginia's best in high school cross country and track & field will be signing their letter of intents to colleges across the state of Virginia and elsewhere. There have been quite a few verbal commitments prior to February 3rd, but this day is the first time which athletes are allowed to to sign their binding National Letter of Intent with their future college or university.

 

Recruits who have signed NLIs must attend the schools they have signed with in order to receive financial aid, and NCAA rules forbid coaches from recruiting them further; these restrictions aim to add certainty to the recruiting process for both athlete (who are certain to receive aid) and coaches (who are certain that a recruit will attend their school) alike. By contrast, verbal commitments are nonbinding; recruits may change or revoke a verbal commitment at any time, and coaches may continue to recruit a verbally committed athlete.