Right now your asking yourself, “should I go to a softball camp to get noticed and recruited”? Keep in mind softball is not a gate sport and does not make hundreds of thousands of dollars in TV money, entrance fees, food, souvenirs and parking. Softball programs cost schools money. They are not a money making programs. So they make their money thru fundraising and softball camps.
Per NCAA rules, CAMPS are instructional and not intended for recruiting. They are positioned to help the program make money.
In general, “Camp” invites are generic and invite anyone who is on their mailing list. You are not being recruited as some parents think or want to believe. In essence, you are receiving “Junk Mail”. It’s not a personal invitation as a possible future player (recruit) that they want to personally work with during the camp.
Softball programs may advertise as an “Elite Camp” or “Prospect Camp” but must state that such a camp is “open to any and all”, so does that by definition make it Elite… is every person so to speak a Prospect? Camps or clinics must be open to any and all on a first come basis. Coaches cannot hold a spot or discount for specific players (limited only by number, age, grade and/or gender). Per the NCAA.
Camps are mainly set up for instruction, skills development, and the ability to interact with a coaches and college players on a college field. Those who participate are called campers as they are not being actively evaluated by a coach. Campers are “Fundraisers” for the program, nothing more.
However, Parents believe that once the coaching staff see their daughter and how she will overly impress them with all her skills and abilities, they will fall in love with their daughter personally and want her as their next recruit.
The reality is this! You go there believing the above. The coaches are thinking differently; for your $200 you are getting a great value in learning new softball skills, getting to play on a real college field and rub shoulders with college softball player in their program along with a t-shirt and a great experience.
No recruiting, just taking your money to help fund their program and or to increase the coaches income. As many camps are not paid to the school but to a LLC (Limited Liability Corporation).
My recommendation on Camps. If there is a local camp at a low price, go and get the experience of being at a camp to get rid of any butterflies for future camps you may go to where a coach is truly interested in you.
If you go to any camp. Make a call and find out if a coach is recruiting your year of graduation and your position, if so go. If not, then you are wasting your money in going to that camp.
Better yet if a coach is recruiting your year of grad and position and they know who you are and are impressed with you beforehand and know your name then the money and time is well spent because you would be considered a recruit! And the coaches are excited to work with a possible future player and develop a connection.
Other than that, do not be drawn in by the camp advertisement. Written to entice you to spend your money.
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