Tis the season for soccer camps targeted at the thousands of youth soccer players striving to take their game to the next level, whether it’s enhancing their skills or showcasing their talents for recognition by collegiate programs. Nowadays, there are so many soccer camps targeting youth athletes and it’s often hard to decipher which ones are really worth it.
I often get asked by parents how to select the best camps for their student-athletes. I’m always reluctant to answer that question. It used to bother me that I didn’t have a simple answer for parents, particularly being the parent of a youth soccer student-athlete myself. The reality is, it’s not one size fits all. Selecting whether to participate in camps and what camps to participate in are individual decisions. Below includes my top five considerations for attending camps.
Consideration #1: What is your overall objective? Are you seeking a camp where your student-athlete can continue development during off-season, expand their skills or showcase their talents during college recruiting season?
Unfortunately, many camps can be money-grabs and lack the number of trainers or staff to truly help develop or ID players. Many parents find themselves rushing to send their soccer players to camps too early, only to learn that they may have to repeat the process when their student-athlete is closer to recruiting age. If your student-athlete is too young for college ID camp consideration, and you’re exploring general camps, be sure to validate the experience of the staff executing the camp - the trainer to athlete ratio and specific skillsets you can expect your child to learn while at the camp.
Consideration #2: If at recruiting age, is the camp held at a school that your student-athlete is really interested in? Can the school and the soccer program meet the needs of your athlete? If in fact, the ID camp is on the top five list, it may be worth exploring the opportunity, but be cautious because the financial obligation can add up pretty quickly.
Consideration #3: Did your athlete receive an invitation to the camp or was it an email-blast that went to tons of youth players after a showcase? It may be beneficial to have your student-athlete talk to other players on their teams and if you’re finding that the majority are attending the same camps, that may be a dead-giveaway that the camp is just looking to fill slots versus personalized consideration for your student athlete.
Consideration #4: Have you checked reviews or watched testimonials on the camp? Do they receive good ratings and work on various aspects of the game? While reading reviews can be quite tedious, they can be highly beneficial in providing insight from a previous participant.
Consideration #5: Does your student-athlete have real potential? I know, I know, every parent believes their student-athlete has high potential, but it’s important to honestly assess how your athlete compares to other athletes who play their position in their age group and unfortunately, if they lack the necessary skillset it may not be worth spending the dollars. There are less costly ways to get your athlete more training or exposure without signing up for the higher priced camps.
Keep in mind that ID camps can be valuable for your student-athlete. Increased visibility, access to coaches, ability to experience college campuses and opportunities to test your skills against comparable players are just a few reasons you might decide to bite the bullet and invest in camps. However, going in blindly without proper consideration will only end in huge financial commitments that may not deliver a return on your investment.
By: Linda Miller