The Pros & Cons of Camps.
It’s among the most frequently-debated topics in the world of college recruiting. Let’s start with some of your questions.
It’s among the most frequently-debated topics in the world of college recruiting. Let’s start with some of your questions.
What’s the big deal with summer camps? What’s the point of going to a camp, or two, or three this summer? How do camps help me? Should I include summer camps as part of my college recruiting strategy? Will attending summer camps warrant scholarship offers? Do they help increase exposure? Am I required to go to a school’s camp in order to be recruited by them? How many camps should I register for? HELP ME!
The truth is, as with many college recruiting-related
topics, you’re bound to find several different perspectives and various answers
to questions about summer camps. So depending on your individual collegiate goals, your
projected Division I or II status, your availability and your budget, perhaps
you should consider the pros and cons of attending summer camps before
filling your calendar with camp dates.
The Good:
Networking. Summer camps are great for networking with
coaches and prospective athletes. You’re going to meet other student-athletes
from around the country and be able to share your experiences with kids from
various backgrounds. Plus, it’s NEVER a bad idea to build relationships with
coaches, and camps are great face to face venues.
Instruction. Camps help enhance athletic development and
skill levels with advanced college-level instruction. So if you’re on the cusp
of starting next season, what you learn at a camp may help give you the edge!
Accurate Assessment. Gain new perspective on your abilities
by performing with and against other top players your age. It’s common to
overrate yourself. Camps often provide a stage for helping you more precisely
assess yourself.
Unbiased Evaluation. College coaches usually don’t “sugar
coat” things. So at camps, you’re likely to get the skinny about your true
potential from credible sources that aren’t around you everyday.
Fun. Camps can be a blast. Sure, you can pretty much count
on working hard while you’re there, but most camps reserve plenty of time for
fun activities as well.
The Not-So Good:
Expensive. Camps aren’t cheap. In most cases, fees for
overnight camps can range from $300-1,000, depending on the duration, format
and amenities. So choose wisely.
Crowds. It’s true… tons of kids show up to these things! You
might visualize a few days of 1-on-1 instruction, only to show up with 500+
other prospects who are all expecting the same thing. So do your due diligence
before registering. Know how many athletes will attend and understand the
teaching format. It will spare you much disappointment.
Exposure? Many camps have advertised in the past that their
event was a great venue for creating national collegiate exposure. In reality,
the only real exposure you should expect to receive is from the camp’s host
university. In fact, NCAA recently passed rules which prohibit coaches from
other colleges attending camps and combines off campus. So don’t attend a
college camp this summer expecting national visibility, because it typically
doesn’t happen.
Where? A common question among prospective campers… which
camps should I attend? Your big name, Division I powerhouses attract the
nations top prospects AND hoards of other campers every year. And it makes
sense, too. Traditionally, camping at Pac 10, Big 10 and SEC-level schools were
considered great resume-builders for hopeful college prospects. The problem is,
most college coaches at these schools are relying on the attendance of a few
key recruits. One college coach from an east coast Division I program told me
recently that of the 400+ campers he is expecting to host, only about 7 or 8 of these athletes are on his staff’s “short
list,” he called it. In fact, these were kids his staff had been corresponding
with well in advance of the camp, and that the camp was a great opportunity for
them to see these kids face-to-face. The other 290+ campers were sure to have
fun and learn some important fundamentals, but they weren’t going to factor
into any future recruiting plans with this staff.
Our message to high school athletes who are considering
adding summer camps to their already incredibly busy schedules is this: Choose
your camp locations carefully. Don’t go to a camp simply because it’s being
hosted by a big-name school. Instead, camp at colleges that have already
shown genuine interest in you; where you have begun building relationships with
the coaching staff long before the camp date. That way, camps aren’t just a
place to spend 3 or 4 days and hundreds of dollars. Instead, they become part
of your active recruiting game plan.
Also, if you have your sights set on a particular
college/university, and if you have the time and money to attend their camp,
then do it! Go to their camp and have a blast. Hopefully, attending the camp
will help solidify the coaches’ interest in you. But don’t put all your eggs in
one basket, and don’t be incredibly surprised if the camp doesn’t produce a
full-ride scholarship as a direct result of your attendance. For 99% of college
prospects out there, several other stages of the recruiting process must occur
before a scholarship offer is made.
Finally, remember that college camps are opportunities for
YOU to evaluate the coaching staff in person as well. While college coaches have
the daunting task of narrowing their list of prospects from hundreds (sometimes
thousands) down to just a select few, you too need to position yourself for
multiple college options, and you should put in the time to thoroughly research
these choices. Spending time on college campuses and spending time with college
coaches is among your best research tactics.
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