@timan2000, In Division 3, there only is a ceremonial NLI. Really it is just for high school photographs. The celebratory NLI form is non-binding and it cannot be signed until the athlete has been accepted at the school. The typical quid pro quo in D3 commitments is an agreement by the coach to support the athlete’s application for admission in exchange for the athlete applying early. The best a recruit could get by trying to enforce the commitment is coach support, and coach support means very different things at different schools.
This can happen at any level. The difference in D1 or D2 is that if you sign (once you sign) you’d be restricted from swimming/playing at another school for a year or taking a scholarship from that school for a year. You can always GO to another school and the NLI doesn’t prevent that.
I’m not sure how the new transfer portal works, but I think you can even get around the NLI now. Many athletes are transferring all the time now.
The coaches can cut anyone they want at any level too, or just not play you. They might not be able to re-award your scholarship. The athlete also has some rights to appeal if the scholarship is removed.