The NCSA Contract Explained: Why It's Not a Subscription
·6 min read·Peter Kildegaard
When families sign up for an NCSA premium tier, most assume they're starting a monthly subscription — something they can cancel when it stops feeling useful. They see the monthly payment, they think month-to-month. That assumption costs families thousands of dollars every year. NCSA's premium tiers are not subscriptions. They are binding contracts with a fixed total value, paid in installments. Understanding this distinction before you sign is the difference between a service you chose and a debt you can't escape.
Why NCSA's monthly payments aren't a subscription
The word "subscription" implies something specific: you pay each month for access, and when you stop paying, you stop getting the service. Netflix works this way. Spotify works this way. Most recruiting platforms — SportsRecruits, FieldLevel, Stack Athlete — work this way. You pay, you access, you leave when you want.
NCSA does not work this way. When you agree to a premium tier during the sales call, you commit to a total contract value — the full price of the tier, fixed at signing. The monthly payments are installments on that total, not recurring access fees. If Champion costs $1,386, you owe $1,386 whether you use the platform for 18 months or 18 days.
One parent described the contract structure: "They have the contract formulated as if they are creditors, and you took out a loan to pay for their services." That's not a mischaracterization — it's how the contract functions. Another family discovered an 18-payment plan with a stated APR, structured as a financing agreement. They didn't recall signing a financing contract. They thought they were signing up for a service.
This matters because the mental model is different. A subscription you can walk away from. A debt follows you.
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What "binding contract" means for your family
Once the 3-day cancellation window closes, the contract locks in. Here's what that means in practice.
You owe the full amount regardless of usage.
If your athlete loses interest in the sport, decides they don't want to play in college, or your family simply finds the service unhelpful — none of these change your obligation. The total contract value remains owed. NCSA's finance department doesn't treat a stop-payment as cancellation. They treat it as a default.
Stopping your credit card doesn't cancel the contract.
Some families try canceling their card to end charges. This doesn't eliminate the debt. Families report that NCSA continues to pursue the balance, and in some cases the debt is sent to collections. The contract exists independently of the payment method.
The contract includes mandatory arbitration.
NCSA's terms require that disputes be resolved through binding individual arbitration, not in court. Unless you opt out within 30 days of signing — a separate deadline from the 3-day cancellation window — you waive your right to participate in a class action and your right to a jury trial. Most families miss this opt-out window entirely.
NCSA can change the terms.
The terms and conditions reserve the right to modify features, services, or contract terms at any time. Changes take effect when posted to the platform. Continued use of the login constitutes acceptance of the new terms.
When a representative on the sales call says "it is what it is, and you owe what you owe," they're not being callous. They're describing the legal reality of the document you signed.
The installment math: what you're committing to
NCSA doesn't publish pricing, but consumer reports and BBB filings give a clear picture of the contract values. Here's what the installment model looks like at each tier.
Tier
Reported total contract value
Typical installment structure
What you owe if you want out after 3 months
Champion
~$1,386
$77/month × 18 months
The remaining balance (~$1,155)
Elite
$1,500–$2,500
Varies by contract
The remaining balance
MVP
$3,500–$4,200
Varies by contract
The remaining balance
MVP+
~$4,559
12–18 month installments
The remaining balance (~$3,800+)
The column that matters most is the last one. Three months into a $4,559 MVP+ contract, you've paid roughly $760 in installments. If the service isn't delivering, you still owe approximately $3,800. The contract doesn't adjust to your satisfaction level — it's a fixed debt.
Some families report that their contracts include a stated APR, meaning the total cost includes finance charges beyond the base price. If your contract includes financing terms, it may be subject to Truth in Lending Act disclosure requirements. Ask for the full disclosure — including any APR — before signing.
For families who do want out, NCSA's finance department sometimes offers early termination options: a 50% lump-sum payment of the remaining balance, a temporary reduction to $10/month (which delays the balance but doesn't forgive it), or a negotiated buy-out. These are not standard refunds — they're settlements. For the full breakdown of cancellation mechanics, see our NCSA cancellation policy guide.
How NCSA's contract compares to other recruiting services
The installment contract model is unusual in the recruiting platform space. Most alternatives operate on structures that let families leave when the value stops.
Service
Payment model
What happens when you stop paying
Maximum financial exposure
NCSA (premium)
Binding installment contract
Balance remains owed; may go to collections
Full contract value ($1,386–$4,559+)
SportsRecruits
Annual subscription
Access ends at period's end
One year's fee ($399)
FieldLevel
Monthly or free
Access ends immediately
One month's fee or $0
Stack Athlete
Monthly subscription
Access ends immediately
One month's fee
Direct outreach
No payment
N/A
$0
The difference is structural, not just financial. If a $399/year SportsRecruits subscription disappoints you, you lose $399 and move on. If a $4,559 NCSA contract disappoints you after a week, you owe $4,559. Every other recruiting platform in the comparison lets families walk away from a service that isn't working. NCSA's contract turns a service into an obligation.
This doesn't mean NCSA's service has no value. For some families, the structure and recruiting specialist relationship justify the cost. But the contract structure means you're betting the full amount on that outcome — with no way to reduce your exposure if the experience doesn't match the pitch.
The bottom line
NCSA's monthly payment looks like a subscription. It isn't. It's an installment plan on a binding contract, and the total amount is owed whether the service delivers or not. The 3-day cancellation window is your only clean exit. After that, you're committed — and NCSA's finance department enforces that commitment.
Before the sales call, know the price range so the number doesn't catch you off guard. During the call, ask for the full contract in writing — including any APR or financing terms — before signing anything. And if the contract structure gives you pause, know that emailing coaches directly costs nothing and is the single most effective recruiting action any family can take. For the full picture of what happens when families try to exit these contracts, our cancellation policy guide covers every scenario. And for an honest assessment of whether the platform delivers enough value to justify the contract at any price point, our complete NCSA review covers the long-term experience.
