“Wow! A camp at a college where I get to be coached by real college coaches!” A lot of athletes have these thoughts when they sign up for a recruiting camp but the reality is a lot more complicated than that. Below is a list of pros and cons to consider before signing up for that dream camp.
Related: DIII Recruiting Tips
Pro: Exposure to college coaches
College coaches nowadays are inundated with emails from prospective athletes. Going to a camp puts you right in front of them to showcase your skills. It lets them know who you are and what you are able to offer.
Pro: Top college facilities
While clubs and high schools prep athletes for college, most of them aren't up to par with collegiate programs. A lot of camps now allow athletes to tour the college campus as well as the athletic facilities. It gives the athlete a feel for what it would be like to play for that school.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
Pro: Examples of players the coaches are looking for
Most schools require the incoming recruits and commits to attend camp. You will typically find them all on the same team. This team is a prime example of the exact type of player the specific coach is searching for. This includes skill as well as personality.
Related: Recruiting Tips for Parents
Con: No guarantees
At camps, you can't guarantee which group you will be placed into. This means you could be with more experienced players, similarly skilled players, or players who are a bit less experienced. It can make for a great camp or an extremely frustrating camp.
Con: Cost
A lot of college recruiting camps can be pricey. Add in the cost of travel, and you could be looking at spending a lot of money on a camp that isn't so much for educational purposes as it is for recruiting purposes.
Con: NCAA Rules
Depending on your school year and sport, there are NCAA rules in place about talking to coaches. This means that you may spend all that money and all that time and not even get to talk to your dream coach! The best you can do in this situation is email them before and after, and do your best to stand out in front of them skill-wise.
College sports camps have many advantages for young players, but they also have some downsides a lot of players don't think about. It is important for players to know what to expect to weigh the benefits and the costs of attending one.
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* Originally published on August 31, 2022, by Claire Borman
