Recruiting Tip: Deciding on a college volleyball summer camp!
As summer approaches, invitations to summer camp are landing in inboxes from college programs throughout the country. Student athletes and their families are faced with some tough decisions. Which summer camps will you choose to attend? The cost can be extraordinary at up to $800 a piece. You need to evaluate what kind of return will you receive on your investment.
If you are a sophomore, junior or senior in high school, this decision is crucial. Your time is limited, so you need to have an idea of where you are on a recruiting list prior to signing up for camp. Realistically, you will only be able to attend 1 or 2 college volleyball summer camps. Here are some questions to help evaluate which summer camp is right for you:
- Has the college coaching staff had an opportunity to see you play live?
- If not, have you shared multiple game videos?
- Have you spoken to the coach over the phone?
- Has the coach shared where you are on the recruiting list?
Before choosing a summer camp, take the time to ask some serious questions about where you stand on the recruiting list. If you are not in the top 3 or top 5 of a program, it’s probably best to invest your money elsewhere. Remember, time is limited, so if you are trying to earn a college volleyball scholarship, you need to ensure you are focusing on programs who can offer a scholarship to you.
There are some great options to be seen by multiple college coaches at a time. For example, in Connecticut there is a division 3 camp offered by CollEdge Recruiting. This camp is heavily attended by some of the top academic institutions in the country. If academics are a huge priority, take a look at the list of coaches who are working the camp. It’s in your best interest to reach out to those coaches directly prior to the camp with video footage to get an idea of where you would fall on their list. Texas Advantage Volleyball Club offers a summer camp run by multiple college coaches as well. It’s a great opportunity to get exposure to multiple college programs, and actually get a feel for their coaching style.
For guidance on choosing the right summer camps, reach out to college volleyball recruiting expert Kara Hill via email at Kara@myrecruitingsolutions.com, or over the phone at 888-354-0052.