Coaches Camps

[MJ2]

Do athletes benefit by going to coaches camps to show off their stuff?   Does one bad performance typically label a kid or do the coaches focus more on their "on the field" performances?   Is it a risk to send a kid to a camp?

[Tammany Tom]

Camps are instrumental in 2 ways:

1. For schools to get prospects to come to their campus for unofficial visits. The coaching staffs use these camps to show desired prospects their facilities and their coaching methods. The staff also get "real" measurements on prospects for their files. Lots of prospects commit immediately after attending summer camps.

2. For prospects to show case their talent to the coaching staffs of schools they are interested in. Lots of kids that were under the radar and not recruited by a school will turn the coaching staff's necks and get offers based on their performance at a summer camp.

Summer camps show coaching staffs what prospects can do against other equally talented prospects. The staffs have question marks on lots of prospects based on their tapes alone. Especially prospects from small schools. They need to see the players compete against top level talent. Camps allow this to happen.

I guess to answer your question. Summer camps are like the Pro Combine in Indianapolis. If you are an elite player then you will get lots of offers before the camps even begin and have your pick of schools without ever attending a single camp. However, if you are a really good player then you need the summer camps to show off your stuff to get offers that you probably won't get without attending.