As a parent of a student athlete, it’s overwhelming to receive invitations to camps from colleges around the country, and you are faced with some difficult decisions. Which camp do I send my athlete to, and how can I get a return on my investment? As a recruiting coordinator, I typically like to check in with college coaches on behalf of my athletes prior to sending them to a camp, to ensure they are recruiting for her position. I also like to get a feel for where she is on their list, and see if they have begun to narrow for her recruiting class. Would it surprise you to know some programs narrow by an athlete’s sophomore year and will even make offers before an athlete finishes their sophomore year?!
Many colleges and university’s will host their own camps. These are fantastic if you are far along in the recruiting process with a program, or you have narrowed down to a small number of colleges who are actively recruiting you. My favorite college camps are those run by the volleyball clubs around the country who invite 12-14 college coaches in to run the camps. This is an opportunity to build relationship with 12-14 coaches, however your reach goes way beyond those 12-14 programs. College coaches move around, and they also talk amongst each other at tournaments. It’s common for coaches to talk about their recruiting needs, and when they come across another coach who is seeking a certain position, the coaches often reflect on everyone they have encountered to offer leads. The bottom line, you never know what will come out of the experience! Gaining exposure is critical for all uncommitted athletes from their freshman year on up!
TAV, Tstreet, Sunshine, City Beach, Mad Frog, all offer collegiate camps where college coaches from around the country come in and actually run the camp. This is an amazing opportunity to not only be seen, but actually get a feel for the coaching styles of these coaches, without having to travel across the country to several different camps. Tstreet’s camp in April 8th -9th, while the other clubs offer their camps throughout the summer. Sunshine and City Beach offer a high academic camp, while the others bring in coaches from various programs at competitive programs.
If you have questions about how to prepare for camp, college visits, and are looking for more personalized guidance throughout the recruiting process, call Kara Hill at 714-323-8088 or email Kara@myrecruitingsolutions.com.
