Purdue Winter Softball Camp

[coolstuff]

This past Sunday, I took DD to Purdue's softball camp. This was the first softball camp that DD has attended, so I don't know how Purdue's compares to others, but here is our experience.

I had a sinus attack that morning, so we didn't make it to the optional recruiting seminar. Sorry, but I was in no condition to make it. DD attended the hitting and defense sessions.

The camp was well-organized and well-run. Check in went very smoothly. It appeared that all the coaches and the entire team including managers were on hand to help out. The camp was held in the Mollenkopf Center, the indoor football practice facility. There was one little glitch at the end of the day when a fuse was tripped and the lights went out, but that was corrected quickly. The coaches pulled the campers together and struck up an impromptu Q&A session to fill the 10 minutes that the lights were out. The camp was run by asst. coach Boo Gillette, and I saw the head coach was there the entire time. Oh, another small glitch was that the men's basketball game was going on that afternoon, and the lot for Mollenkopf is reserved during Bball games. But the lot attendant let parents drop of campers and bags but we had to high-tail it out of there and find parking in the nearby neighborhoods, which are also filled up during bball games. I dropped off DD and found a spot about a 5 block walk away. In the cold. Down icy sidewalks. During the break between sessions we walked to Mickey D's for a snack. There are a few restaurants close to the facility. When the second session started, I bailed out and went to Starbucks to wait out the game and the post-game traffic, then drove back to Mollenkopf and was able to get into the lot and park literally right outside the front door.

DD thought the camp was worth her time, and I thought it was worth our time to get a feel for these camps and what goes on. I overheard one parent talking about things they were doing the next day - a campus tour, attend a practice, etc. I believe that some campers were potential recruits who had been invited to attend the camp. DD said that she met a girl from Seattle, WA. I can't imagine someone traveling that far unless there was more for them than just attending a camp.

During the hitting session, every camper was filmed by a team manager at one of the stations. He made sure he had each camper's number, then taped them taking a few soft tosses. Campers were asked to wear their travel team or HS team jersey or t-shirt. One of the Purdue players commented to DD that she had also played for the same travel team. Hm, maybe we did make the right choice in teams after all.

Hope this info helps, and based on my very limited experience with college camps, I will recommend Purdue's.

[da60]

Coolstuff, did you think this camp was more of an instructional camp or an exposure camp?

[bucketboy]

Why do schools offer these camps?

I would like to hear Coolstuff's answer as to his opinion of last weekend's camp at Purdue, but below is my opinion of why all schools have camps.

Answer is 3 fold and not in any order.

1. Fundraiser- 100 kids at $100 a head or more nice way to raise funds.

2. Instructional- However sometimes with a big group it is tough for kids to get one on one time with coaches but the kids are taught something at all camps.

3. Exposure or recruiting- Understanding that college coaches can't email or contact any recruit by mail before September 1st of their junior year, but if a young player is on campus they may speak freely with them and even make offers as long as they are on campus. How did Boston College make an offer to a great kid that is a sophomore as mentioned in another post. It was mentioned that a young lady from Seattle was at Purdue's camp. Unless the parents have big bucks I would assume they are at the camp because Purdue has shown interest in her and it allows the staff to watch her again and allows her to work with the coaches, talk etc...or maybe they have already made her an offer and she came to the camp to help make her final decision.

[da60]

Bucketboy, I will throw in my two cents..when my son was playing baseball he would attend exposure camps by the different colleges/universities. At these camps the head baseball coach with the help of his assistants would put the players through the paces...how quick a throw from ss to 1st, or right field to home..speed from home to first, etc. etc. At the end of the camp the coach would give the players he was interested in a "recruiting brochure" asked them to fill out and keep in touch. What I had heard about "instructional camps" were they were an opportunity for assistant coaches to make some extra money. No recruiting at these camps. This is only my personal experience from the baseball side. Others may have differing opinions, my daughter has not attended a softball camp. The statement about the girl coming all the way from Seattle and the talented Shockwave going to a Boston College camp raises some interest about these camps.

[coolstuff]

Coolstuff, did you think this camp was more of an instructional camp or an exposure camp?

There was instruction going on, and like I said, every camper was filmed at one of the hitting stations. Everyone wore a number on their back and a nametag on the front. They were asked to wear their travel/HS team jersey or t-shirt. So I think that there was a little of both going on.

[coolstuff]

Why do schools offer these camps?

I would like to hear Coolstuff's answer as to his opinion of last weekend's camp at Purdue, but below is my opinion of why all schools have camps.

Answer is 3 fold and not in any order.

I agree with you, bucketboy. I think all three of those are reasons that colleges offer these camps.

[TexasYellowBall]

My daughter just attended the Oklahoma camp and she is signed up for three more starting this weekend.

I think the winter camps are way better then the summer camps. You really have to do your homework on these camp. Some are overloaded and some cap the number of players that can attend. Of course the least amount of players, the more exposure you get.

I do think coachs are using camps for recruiting. My DD was asked to attend ( through her travel coach) one of the camps she is attending on the 24th by the head coach. Most of these camps will break the girls into teams of 10 or 20, and there could be 10 teams. If you are not in the top group, then you are there for the money. But that does not mean you are wasting your money. They are always looking, but they are looking at the main group more. You will know if you are in the top group. ( for example: girls that traveled 800-1500 to attend the camp)


I will continue to send my DD to camps of her choosing, and camps of schools that show interest in her.

If you are not asked to attend the camp, it is always a good idea to send them a email or call them to let them know you are coming. That could help you get into a higher group.

Just my opinion

[jag1]

If someone wants to see my kid 1500 miles away, they better send a couple plane tickets with hotel vouchers, which is probably what they're doing. The paying camp attendees are just paying for the real recruits..!! Don't kid yourself, an Indiana kid at Purdue is there for fundraising purposes only......

[TexasYellowBall]

I am not from Indiana, but do not sale the Indiana girls short. There is a lot of good softball players in Indiana.

[bucketboy]

Jag,

Don't mean to bust your bubble but the NCAA won't allow a school to send a plane ticket to a young kid to attend a camp. They can't pay for anything till the official visit in the player's senior year and in most cases the deal is already done thru a verbal so it is not what it once was. Camps are a great time to get those kids that are 1500 hundred miles away there to spend some time with the coaches and see the school. Better yet since in most cases the recruit's parents have to foot the billl due to NCAA rules.

Our new friend from Texas is right. You can tell if your daughter is really being looked at by the group she is in. Pay attention to those. It is also not uncommon for a kid that is already verballed or may have just signed to that school to be placed in a group of possible recruits to help sell the university as well.

Do your homework, make sure they have interest in your kid, or you may be a little disappointed when you take your kid somewhere and she is 1 of 120 kids and may not get the instruction/exposure you were hoping for.