National Signing Day

The first Wednesday in February is known as National Signing Day, the day when senior high school football players can officially sign contracts to play football in the college of their choice. College football is one of the most watched sports by fans and the media, and every year, star players announce which team they will sign with. In recent years, the early signing period has begun at the end of December, many top players choose to wait until National Signing Day because it gets the most attention and coverage. The signing period ends in early April.

National Signing Day is sponsored by the National College Athletes Association (NCAA) of the United States.

History of National Signing Day

Prior to 1981, various colleges held their own signing day conferences on the second Saturday in December, but recruiters were allowed to sign letters of intent at earlier stages. During a conference in 1980, the head coaches of the Collegiate Football Association proposed a single National Signing Day where recruits would sign a national letter of intent with only one school of their choice, provided the university is part of the NCAA. In January 1981, it was stipulated that the original signing dates would be abolished, and the National Signing Day would take place on the third Wednesday of February. Since that year, this date has changed to be observed on the third Wednesday of the month.

Finally, in 2017, the NCAA restored the early signing period that had been held since late December.

For many college football fans, National Signing Day means a whole new start for their teams and raises hopes for a new star midfielder or full-back who can take the world to the next level they come to victory.

College football

College Football is one of the most popular sports in the United States and is considered the second tier of American Football, below the NFL. As the name suggests, this sport includes American football played by student-athletes of American universities, colleges, and military academies. In towns with strong collective pride, college football is more popular than professional football and is considered more prestigious.

During their time as college football student-athletes, players have the opportunity to be drafted by the NFL to play professionally, with 256 students selected each year to play in the league.

Between Princeton University and Rutgers University was the first college football match and played on November 6, 1869 at a field in Rutgers. This first match was more like English football than current traditional American football, with a ground ball and the players trying to score points by hitting the other team's goal. Rutgers won that first college football game 6-4.

One of the most famous competitions in college football is the one between Harvard and Yale, with an annual contest known as The Game. Without prize, it is the most expected sporting event in the year for both teams.

What is the significance of signing the bond?

Students conclude their college recruiting process by signing a national letter of intent. Once a student is selected to a university, that student must be offered a scholarship for the first year. The school must informed if the scholarship is renewed after the first year. It is not meant that a credential is intended to be the sole criterion for admission. A student may be refused if he or she does not meet other criteria regarding admission.

Why should there be a national signing day?

The National Signing Day is essential to make the recruitment process more organized. On the day of national signing, the process of signing the credentials will be regulated and will be easy for the students. Every student can't sign on the first day, but those who do feel extra special. The early signing stage by class is a potential group of prospects.

Recruiting athletes will be excited to sign the national letter of intent. Credentials are the pride that athletes have received for their hard work in sports during their school years.

National Signing Day Activities

If you're a fan of college football, make sure to pay attention to all the star players meetings that take place on this day, to see if your team is about to have a new star player in the mix ranks or not, that will hopefully lead the team to a big win!

Organize a soccer match with your friends at the local park and try to score the goal of a lifetime. If you were a player in school, this is a great opportunity to reminisce about those days.

Are you a crazy fan? Then you definitely have a mental list of all your favorite plays and events throughout the years. Take a moment to review your team's incredible wins, or those epic passes and catches won't happen again.