Could not disagree more!! Camps are necessary until camps aren't necessary (you can figure out what I'm saying). The key thing for players and particularly parents is to be extremely selective. I have read in other posts in other threads that this player was "invited" to come to this camp. Let me be perfectly clear, getting something in the mail or a coach telling you to "come to camp" (without the premise of an offer) is meaningless unless you are going there for the purpose of being seen by another coach from another school that has been invited to a camp as an instructor which is why I state to be particular about what camps you go to and how many campers will be there and IF JC players are invited also.

To prove my point, I won't use the name, but a QB at a Big Ten school was personally invited by the OC of this particular school and was told that if he wanted an offer he MUST come to camp and be personally worked out in front of this HC. This player went and when he arrived he was worked out on a separate field in front of the other 400+ campers. So as you can imagine this could not have been a good feeling for those other campers. This player performed well and received his offer that day and was even escorted to take a physical that day. So to state that camps don't matter is not accurate but I see your point and why many might have that opinion.

Now, to say all you need is to have size and speed and you will be found is 100% FALSE. I've been at this game evaluating recruiting for a very long time and several things are certain:

1. Your better have size and speed (that's a given)

2. You better have a h/l tape that showcases what you can do (given #2 ) this is like not having a resume when applying for a job!

3. You better have decent grades (given #3 )

4. You better, if you don't have coaches knocking at your door, be selective and find camps where you can showcase your talents and stick out

5. From there if you have peaked a coaches interest he is going to tell you that he WANTS to see COMPLETE game film and copies of your transcripts. Send a whole game tape in advance of a h/l tape and I can assure you it won't get watched.

 

Accomplish these 5 things and you begin to move from "Suspect to Prospect"

 

As for moving a player from a low profile school and to a high profile school, it may make a difference but you better know what you're doing because you could put yourself in a worse position than what you had before. However, if you move to an EXTREMELY high profile school (insert Moeller or in a few instances Trinity) where backups with little or in many cases no playing time has been realized and those players are getting offers I can see the argument. Getting to the State Championship game has very little boost in you're exposure rating, if you can play a coach is going to know long before then. Regarding camps, every player that chooses to go to a camp and draw some interest or an offer, I will show 100 who won't get a sniff of interest for not attending. Like I stated "Camps are Necessary until they are no longer Necessary"....

 

Sorry for the long post but felt prudent to share experiences and not assumptions.

 

I've been through this game a while also. 1st) your QB was invited and I stated that as a stipulation. 2nd) for the overwhelming majority off kids you reference, that event WAS a waste of time and money! Do you think 400 kids enjoyed participating in what amounted to a glorified workout?

Could not disagree more!! Camps are necessary until camps aren't necessary (you can figure out what I'm saying). The key thing for players and particularly parents is to be extremely selective. I have read in other posts in other threads that this player was "invited" to come to this camp. Let me be perfectly clear, getting something in the mail or a coach telling you to "come to camp" (without the premise of an offer) is meaningless unless you are going there for the purpose of being seen by another coach from another school that has been invited to a camp as an instructor which is why I state to be particular about what camps you go to and how many campers will be there and IF JC players are invited also.

To prove my point, I won't use the name, but a QB at a Big Ten school was personally invited by the OC of this particular school and was told that if he wanted an offer he MUST come to camp and be personally worked out in front of this HC. This player went and when he arrived he was worked out on a separate field in front of the other 400+ campers. So as you can imagine this could not have been a good feeling for those other campers. This player performed well and received his offer that day and was even escorted to take a physical that day. So to state that camps don't matter is not accurate but I see your point and why many might have that opinion.

Now, to say all you need is to have size and speed and you will be found is 100% FALSE. I've been at this game evaluating recruiting for a very long time and several things are certain:

1. Your better have size and speed (that's a given)

2. You better have a h/l tape that showcases what you can do (given #2 ) this is like not having a resume when applying for a job!

3. You better have decent grades (given #3 )

4. You better, if you don't have coaches knocking at your door, be selective and find camps where you can showcase your talents and stick out

5. From there if you have peaked a coaches interest he is going to tell you that he WANTS to see COMPLETE game film and copies of your transcripts. Send a whole game tape in advance of a h/l tape and I can assure you it won't get watched.

 

Accomplish these 5 things and you begin to move from "Suspect to Prospect"

 

As for moving a player from a low profile school and to a high profile school, it may make a difference but you better know what you're doing because you could put yourself in a worse position than what you had before. However, if you move to an EXTREMELY high profile school (insert Moeller or in a few instances Trinity) where backups with little or in many cases no playing time has been realized and those players are getting offers I can see the argument. Getting to the State Championship game has very little boost in your exposure rating, if you can play a coach is going to know long before then. Regarding camps, for every player that chooses to go to a camp and maybe draw some interest or an offer, I will show 100 who won't get a sniff of interest for not attending. Like I stated "Camps are Necessary until they are no longer Necessary"....

 

Sorry for the long post but felt prudent to share experiences and not assumptions.

Agree 100%. I know for a fact coaches will ask you to come to camp to get the offer. I have said this many times. Your not a recruit until you have an offer from that school.

I've been through this game a while also. 1st) your QB was invited and I stated that as a stipulation. 2nd) for the overwhelming majority off kids you reference, that event WAS a waste of time and money! Do you think 400 kids enjoyed participating in what amounted to a glorified workout?

I wouldn't go to a camp the kid wasn't invited too. Tape will get intrest and contact. find out who likes you. Go to their camp and compete.

If no one is intrested in your tape. Your not a D1 schorlarship player.

Edited June 21, 201511 yr by Mustang75

I've been through this game a while also. 1st) your QB was invited and I stated that as a stipulation. 2nd) for the overwhelming majority off kids you reference, that event WAS a waste of time and money! Do you think 400 kids enjoyed participating in what amounted to a glorified workout?

 

That same camp had nearly 30 other colleges their as well from all levels which is my point. If you don't show up how would those other 30 colleges evaluate the athlete? My point is this, every camp is not for everybody but to say all camps are a waste of time and money is incorrect IMO. Athletes can do what they want but to rely on your tape alone is a big mistake in my opinion. Again, do your homework before signing up for any camp. Most Camp Directors will tell you 1) how many kids they avg./year? 2) will there be other colleges there and if so who? 3) will there be JC players and graduated Srs. (YES THIS HAPPENS) there as well?

 

Most importantly...be realistic of your expectations. One thing I do know for certain, your % doesn't increase at all if you go to no camps vs. sitting around waiting on the phone to ring. To each his own but I'm a firm believer of making the $40-$60 investment at least couple of times/yr for a shot at a $25K-$50K/yr opportunity. 9 times out of 10 the worst thing that can happen is you got better that day and competed against some good competition.

That same camp had nearly 30 other colleges their as well from all levels which is my point. If you don't show up how would those other 30 colleges evaluate the athlete? My point is this, every camp is not for everybody but to say all camps are a waste of time and money is incorrect IMO. Athletes can do what they want but to rely on your tape alone is a big mistake in my opinion. Again, do your homework before signing up for any camp. Most Camp Directors will tell you 1) how many kids they avg./year? 2) will there be other colleges there and if so who? 3) will there be JC players and graduated Srs. (YES THIS HAPPENS) there as well?

 

Most importantly...be realistic of your expectations. One thing I do know for certain, your % doesn't increase at all if you go to no camps vs. sitting around waiting on the phone to ring. To each his own but I'm a firm believer of making the $40-$60 investment at least couple of times/yr for a shot at a $25K-$50K/yr opportunity. 9 times out of 10 the worst thing that can happen is you got better that day and competed against some good competition.

 

 

But typically the $40 - $60 camp fee is just the tip of the iceberg as far expenses are concerned. Travel and hotels make the camp expense closer $300 - $400 per trip. Go to 15 or 20 of these in a year and you are approaching the cost for year 1 tuition!

 

The biggest problems with these camps is that you have to pull teeth to get constructive criticism. And given the costs ,this is just flat out unacceptable. A kid will accept criticism from a d1 evaluator a lot quicker that they will from their own parent. The other problem is that just because you get invited to camp does not mean they are actually interested in you as a recruit. They are just interested in you camp fees!

 

We got invited to Toledo's big man camp. Then you go online and find out they don't have any scholarships left at that position. Needless to say, we declined the invite.

But typically the $40 - $60 camp fee is just the tip of the iceberg as far expenses are concerned. Travel and hotels make the camp expense closer $300 - $400 per trip. Go to 15 or 20 of these in a year and you are approaching the cost for year 1 tuition!

 

The biggest problems with these camps is that you have to pull teeth to get constructive criticism. And given the costs ,this is just flat out unacceptable. A kid will accept criticism from a d1 evaluator a lot quicker that they will from their own parent. The other problem is that just because you get invited to camp does not mean they are actually interested in you as a recruit. They are just interested in you camp fees!

 

We got invited to Toledo's big man camp. Then you go online and find out they don't have any scholarships left at that position. Needless to say, we declined the invite.

 

Again, not trying to debate the issue but if homework is done, as it appears you may have done with Toledo, it can prove beneficial. One thing I would not do is go to 15-20 camps as that is far too many. 2-4 regional camps is sufficient where the trip can be made in 1 day. Again, to each his own.