What football camp should I go to?
The question is posed often; just as often, a family has little background on the benefits of the hundreds of camps available. They’re presented with pure sales pitches and false promises: “get recruited”; “get ranked”; “the best coaching staff”; “build a national profile”. Very rarely are these fulfilled, nor are their benefits explained.
The decision to attend a certain camp impacts more than the student-athlete. It affects the entire family; opportunities presented to the student-athlete will differ from event to event. Some events welcome the involvement of parents/guardians/siblings, others do not. Some will have third-party media and recruiting analysts on-site, while some just use their logos on flyers as bait. Others still present the next step to a larger event to further athletic development, yet some have no end goal in sight.
Here’s how to determine the contenders and spot the pretenders.
1. The coaching staff.
Who is your athlete learning from?
Maybe the most important indication of the event your family should attend is the coaching staff.
Take a visit to the camp’s website and see if the coaches are listed anywhere. If they’re on the main menu and they’re highlighted on the homepage, chances are it’s for a reason: the coaches are good, and they’re qualified to train and teach your student-athlete no matter what age they are. That organization clearly values what your student-athlete is learning, and from whom.
Can’t find a coaches page? That’s for a reason as well. They’re not too concerned with the quality of what’s being taught. Any local coach will do for these camps. When it comes to an investment in your student-athlete — which is what these experiences should be, an investment — you should shy away from those events and look elsewhere.
Next, how many qualified coaches are there for each position? Will the event have one NFL coach/player in attendance? Better yet, is there an NFL-experienced coach/player at every position? Check out the individual camp pages on the website of the event in question: are the coaches listed, and named, on each camp page? Visibility and transparency are important for any organization to build trust with any family, not just for a football family. If you can’t find who your son will be learning from, how can you trust their camp instructor (and instruction as a whole) is valuable?
2. The curriculum.
What type of event are you looking for?
Visit any football camp event website and there will be some prominent information about what the athlete will be doing. Technique; fundamentals; full contact; 7-on-7 or 1-on-1 competition; combine drills; evaluation clinic — the descriptions go on and on.
Sometimes, a camp will have every single one of those listed on its website for one single camp curriculum. If you can’t decide what you’re about, then what are you about?
Player safety is of the utmost importance in today’s game, from the pros down to first grade. In high school football, 58% of concussions occur in practice, not in games (source). At the NFL level — where they’ve made the transition to limiting contact during practice throughout the year — that number is as low as 4% (source).
The first red curriculum flag would be the words “full contact”. The organization will sell you on the idea that their full contact curriculum was developed for all levels of play. And yet, the highest level of play, the National Football League, doesn’t practice in a full contact environment. Simple.
Next, what does a day at the event look like? Is it comprised of one on-field practice session and lunch, with nothing else at all? What about that will help your athlete improve? What about that is worth the investment? Camps that are truly committed to developing young men give a little bit more detail and have a lot more value. The very best dedicate time off the field, too, with X’s and O’s on the whiteboard and every drill being filmed for tape analysis in the classroom.
3. The progression.
Is there a path to follow? Where does the path lead?
Very rarely is there a beneficial next step in the process — the key word here is beneficial. Understand that in many cases there are next steps, in some cases there are numerous next steps, but many have no value whatsoever in the development of student-athletes. To put it another way, they won’t help you get better. So ask yourself next time you get an e-mail, what’s the progression from one event to the next? Is it a calculated model that increases the level of pressure and competition as you progress? Does it promote a maximum learning environment or are they just looking to fill a national team roster?
Getting better first will lead to getting exposure later. The college camp circuit could place you on a field with 499 other players who are as fast, as strong, or as determined as you. In front of coaches who could decide your future and keep you debt-free after you graduate, you don’t want to show up with one hammer and a couple nails in your toolbox. They’ve seen thousands of athletes come through their programs with one good skill and zero others. You want to have a full set of tools when you’re on campus hoping to earn an offer with your performance because the athletes that show up with advanced technique will immediately stand out and separate themselves from the pack. Your national team/All-American selection as a 7th-grader was probably warranted, but what set of equipment did you add to your toolbox because of it?
Does the organization’s process lead to development that will benefit the athlete for years to come, or is it about recognition today?
4. The mission.
Ask why, and ask what: why does this organization exist? what is the guiding vision? why do they want you to attend their event? what are they offering my athlete?
Is the upcoming event for your middle school athlete promising they’ll “get ranked” and “get exposure”? Will your sophomore be on a field with 999 others at a combine this weekend? Did you get a postcard that promises an appearance from an NFL player with an asterisk next to his name (and the fine print notes that the player is subject to change)?
If you answered yes to any of these, what is the overall value to your family as a whole? What is the one clear goal to any of the above?
Football University has one clear mission: help football players get better. FBU is where getting better starts. Our tagline is Get Better Here. It’s written on our homepage. It’s our header on our social media pages. It’s on all of our flyers and postcards. Come to our office — it covers our walls and our whiteboards and it fills our discussions.
So, what football camp should you go to?
Do your research, make sure it’s the right investment.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you. https://accounts.binance.com/el/register?ref=WTOZ531Y
Can you be more specific about the content of your enticle? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me. https://accounts.binance.com/en/register?ref=P9L9FQKY
I may need your help. I tried many ways but couldn’t solve it, but after reading your article, I think you have a way to help me. I’m looking forward for your reply. Thanks.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Hi there, I discovered your website by the use of Google even as searching for a similar subject, your site came up, it appears to be like good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hmm it appears like your site ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any points for first-time blog writers? I’d really appreciate it.
Howdy! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the superb work!
Its like you learn my thoughts! You seem to grasp so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I believe that you can do with some percent to force the message house a bit, but other than that, this is wonderful blog. A great read. I’ll definitely be back.
I believe one of your advertisings triggered my web browser to resize, you might want to put that on your blacklist.
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn something like this before. So good to find any individual with some authentic thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is one thing that’s wanted on the net, somebody with somewhat originality. helpful job for bringing one thing new to the internet!
I loved up to you will receive performed proper here. The comic strip is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. however, you command get bought an nervousness over that you want be delivering the following. ill unquestionably come more until now once more as exactly the similar nearly a lot ceaselessly inside of case you defend this increase.
Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would enjoy your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.
I think that is among the most vital information for me. And i am glad reading your article. However want to observation on few common things, The web site style is great, the articles is actually great : D. Just right activity, cheers
In these days of austerity in addition to relative stress and anxiety about having debt, lots of people balk against the idea of using a credit card to make purchase of merchandise or perhaps pay for any gift giving occasion, preferring, instead just to rely on a tried as well as trusted method of making payment – raw cash. However, if you have the cash available to make the purchase in full, then, paradoxically, this is the best time for them to use the card for several good reasons.
I used to be suggested this web site by means of my cousin. I am no longer positive whether or not this put up is written by way of him as nobody else recognise such exact approximately my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thank you!
I don?t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
Thanks for helping me to obtain new strategies about pc’s. I also possess the belief that one of the best ways to maintain your notebook computer in perfect condition is a hard plastic-type case, or perhaps shell, which fits over the top of one’s computer. These kind of protective gear are generally model specific since they are made to fit perfectly in the natural outer shell. You can buy these directly from the vendor, or through third party sources if they are readily available for your laptop, however don’t assume all laptop could have a cover on the market. Yet again, thanks for your recommendations.
I’ve noticed that credit repair activity has to be conducted with tactics. If not, you may find yourself endangering your rating. In order to grow into success fixing to your credit rating you have to ascertain that from this time you pay your complete monthly expenses promptly before their appointed date. It is significant simply because by never accomplishing so, all other actions that you will take to improve your credit position will not be helpful. Thanks for giving your suggestions.
A further issue is that video gaming became one of the all-time most important forms of fun for people spanning various ages. Kids engage in video games, and also adults do, too. The XBox 360 is amongst the favorite video games systems for individuals that love to have a huge variety of games available to them, along with who like to play live with other individuals all over the world. Thank you for sharing your opinions.
I’ve noticed that credit improvement activity must be conducted with techniques. If not, you may find yourself endangering your rank. In order to be successful in fixing your credit history you have to be careful that from this moment in time you pay your entire monthly fees promptly in advance of their timetabled date. Really it is significant because by definitely not accomplishing that area, all other measures that you will decide to try to improve your credit positioning will not be effective. Thanks for giving your ideas.
I’m impressed by the quality of this content! The author has undoubtedly put a huge amount of effort into exploring and structuring the information. It’s refreshing to come across an article that not only gives valuable information but also keeps the readers engaged from start to finish. Great job to her for making such a masterpiece!
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Hello, i believe that i noticed you visited my blog thus i got here to ?return the want?.I am trying to find issues to enhance my website!I suppose its adequate to make use of some of your ideas!!
Thanks for the post. I have usually seen that almost all people are needing to lose weight since they wish to show up slim plus attractive. Having said that, they do not continually realize that there are other benefits for losing weight as well. Doctors assert that fat people suffer from a variety of illnesses that can be instantly attributed to the excess weight. The great thing is that people who definitely are overweight and also suffering from numerous diseases can reduce the severity of the illnesses by simply losing weight. You possibly can see a gradual but marked improvement in health while even a slight amount of fat reduction is attained.
Helpful info. Fortunate me I found your website by accident, and I am stunned why this coincidence did not took place in advance! I bookmarked it.