Showball Softball camp in Vegas - worth it or moneymaker?

[softball**mom]

We probably all just got the e-mail from Showball Softball for the December camp in Vegas. Hefty price at $595, but they "guarantee" 40 coaches from certain schools. Is it worth it or is it just a money maker for the organizers?

Can't find out any other information on them but what's on their website. Any one ever attend one of these showcases?

[Trophy Hunter]

On Deck Softball is the only camp you would want to attend, if invited.

ALL THE OTHERS, first mark the email as SPAM, then UNSUBSCRIBE from their mailing list (if possible), then TRASH the email.

This is not the right away to go about getting recruited.

[WCV 12]

Took my daughter to the last one in Vegas. Lots of girls- skill drills we very boring, They tried
to not have to much standing around but there was some. Games were good- they were run
like a showcase all-star game.
Biggest down fall DD got her e-val from a well respected coach from So. Cal. and when
coach handed it to her she said "if I would have seen you hit in the soft toss and off the machine
yesterday like you hit in the games today your e-val would have been much higher".

My suggestion to them was evaluate the girls for the whole weekend not just Saturday
than have Showball either email or mail them out.

Way to much money for way too little of time. JMO

[fastpitchdad05]

On Deck Softball is the only camp you would want to attend, if invited.

ALL THE OTHERS, first mark the email as SPAM, then UNSUBSCRIBE from their mailing list (if possible), then TRASH the email.

This is not the right away to go about getting recruited.

I'm okay with your opinion TH, but in fairness if you're going to trash all other camps besides ODS then you should:

1. Explain why ODS is so much better
and
2. Explain the best way to get invited to ODS

[Trophy Hunter]

I'll answer #2 first - how to get invited.
write them like you would a college coach, let them know you are interested in their camp, send them your game schedules, etc, and keep writing them. Ask your travel coach to call and put in a good word for you. Ask any colleges recruiting you to put in a good word for you. In other words, do whatever it takes to get them to come watch you play. Then play really well when they show up.

now for #1 - why they are the best
Because they pre-screen the athletes prior to the camp, and only invite the best available players. They have been doing this for so long, and doing it so well (they know talent), that the college coaches trust and respect them, and know that there will only be top shelf players at the camp. Which is why so many college coaches attend and recruit from their camps.

Conversely, these email invite camps work off of mailing lists, with no regard for screening talent or skill level. It's a numbers game to them, the more players the more money they make. With ODS, they have a set number of players they will invite, and that's it. They don't pack in extra players just to make more money.

[lovsofbal]

I'll answer #2 first - how to get invited.
write them like you would a college coach, let them know you are interested in their camp, send them your game schedules, etc, and keep writing them. Ask your travel coach to call and put in a good word for you. Ask any colleges recruiting you to put in a good word for you. In other words, do whatever it takes to get them to come watch you play. Then play really well when they show up.

now for #1 - why they are the best
Because they pre-screen the athletes prior to the camp, and only invite the best available players. They have been doing this for so long, and doing it so well (they know talent), that the college coaches trust and respect them, and know that there will only be top shelf players at the camp. Which is why so many college coaches attend and recruit from their camps.

Conversely, these email invite camps work off of mailing lists, with no regard for screening talent or skill level. It's a numbers game to them, the more players the more money they make. With ODS, they have a set number of players they will invite, and that's it. They don't pack in extra players just to make more money.

I'd have to agree with Trophy for the most part. But i've seen some girls at ODS that i wouldn't have invited. But maybe that's all who is available and not signed. Or they had off days when i saw them. ODS does screen all the players for more than a game or two. They are also contacted by coaches and acquaintances of possible girls that would do well at the camps. However these kids are still evaluated by ODS before they get into the camp. Something to add about the ODS camp is, this fall the 2014's will be the feature group, then 2015's will be the feature group next summer. But they still have the other years attending.

[fastpitchdad05]

I'll answer #2 first - how to get invited.
write them like you would a college coach, let them know you are interested in their camp, send them your game schedules, etc, and keep writing them. Ask your travel coach to call and put in a good word for you. Ask any colleges recruiting you to put in a good word for you. In other words, do whatever it takes to get them to come watch you play. Then play really well when they show up.

now for #1 - why they are the best
Because they pre-screen the athletes prior to the camp, and only invite the best available players. They have been doing this for so long, and doing it so well (they know talent), that the college coaches trust and respect them, and know that there will only be top shelf players at the camp. Which is why so many college coaches attend and recruit from their camps.

Conversely, these email invite camps work off of mailing lists, with no regard for screening talent or skill level. It's a numbers game to them, the more players the more money they make. With ODS, they have a set number of players they will invite, and that's it. They don't pack in extra players just to make more money.

Thanks TH...great stuff. It would be interesting to know how Showball and the others form their list for invites. You say it's a mailing list, but where exactly did they get that list and is it "choosy" at all?

I'll tell you how I'm guessing it's done. I think it's formed from (at least in part) showcase all-star games. My DD has now been invited to two of these camps since she was at the Colorado Sparkler this past summer and was fortunate enough to be chosen to play in the All-American All-Star game.

Is this a "select" group then that they choose from? Kinda, sorta, but not really.

We had already made plans to try our best to get her invited to an ODS camp and I appreciate the advice. I didn't realize that you should contact them the same way that you contact schools.

Regards,
FPDad05

[fastpitchdad05]

I'll answer #2 first - how to get invited.
write them like you would a college coach, let them know you are interested in their camp, send them your game schedules, etc, and keep writing them. Ask your travel coach to call and put in a good word for you. Ask any colleges recruiting you to put in a good word for you. In other words, do whatever it takes to get them to come watch you play. Then play really well when they show up.

now for #1 - why they are the best
Because they pre-screen the athletes prior to the camp, and only invite the best available players. They have been doing this for so long, and doing it so well (they know talent), that the college coaches trust and respect them, and know that there will only be top shelf players at the camp. Which is why so many college coaches attend and recruit from their camps.

Conversely, these email invite camps work off of mailing lists, with no regard for screening talent or skill level. It's a numbers game to them, the more players the more money they make. With ODS, they have a set number of players they will invite, and that's it. They don't pack in extra players just to make more money.

I'd have to agree with Trophy for the most part. But i've seen some girls at ODS that i wouldn't have invited. But maybe that's all who is available and not signed. Or they had off days when i saw them. ODS does screen all the players for more than a game or two. They are also contacted by coaches and acquaintances of possible girls that would do well at the camps. However these kids are still evaluated by ODS before they get into the camp. Something to add about the ODS camp is, this fall the 2014's will be the feature group, then 2015's will be the feature group next summer. But they still have the other years attending.

Thanks lovsofbal...this is all very helpful information!

[softball**mom]

Took my daughter to the last one in Vegas. Lots of girls- skill drills we very boring, They tried
to not have to much standing around but there was some. Games were good- they were run
like a showcase all-star game.
Biggest down fall DD got her e-val from a well respected coach from So. Cal. and when
coach handed it to her she said "if I would have seen you hit in the soft toss and off the machine
yesterday like you hit in the games today your e-val would have been much higher".

My suggestion to them was evaluate the girls for the whole weekend not just Saturday
than have Showball either email or mail them out.

Way to much money for way too little of time. JMO

Perhaps the better question for me to ask was were all of the "guaranteed" coaches in attendance? My DD's top few schools are advertised as coming and I want to make sure that they do. The schools are far away from home and to have her play in front of them at the same time may be worth it.

Can you give me an estimate of how many girls were there? How many teams were formed and how many on a team?

Whether a camp is worth it I guess is very subjective. It may be worth it for us to have her play in front of several of her top schools at the same time, provided they are present.

[Trophy Hunter]

Took my daughter to the last one in Vegas. Lots of girls- skill drills we very boring, They tried
to not have to much standing around but there was some. Games were good- they were run
like a showcase all-star game.
Biggest down fall DD got her e-val from a well respected coach from So. Cal. and when
coach handed it to her she said "if I would have seen you hit in the soft toss and off the machine
yesterday like you hit in the games today your e-val would have been much higher".

My suggestion to them was evaluate the girls for the whole weekend not just Saturday
than have Showball either email or mail them out.

Way to much money for way too little of time. JMO

Perhaps the better question for me to ask was were all of the "guaranteed" coaches in attendance? My DD's top few schools are advertised as coming and I want to make sure that they do. The schools are far away from home and to have her play in front of them at the same time may be worth it.

Can you give me an estimate of how many girls were there? How many teams were formed and how many on a team?

Whether a camp is worth it I guess is very subjective. It may be worth it for us to have her play in front of several of her top schools at the same time, provided they are present.

For starters, let's assume these schools among your top few already know your DD because she has written them, sent her bio, her schedule, her video link, etc. (if not, you are already doing it wrong)

That done, now pick up the phone, call the coach and ask if they will be there. Simple. Take the guesswork out of the equation before you shell out $600! While you have them on the phone, ask what real showcases they plan on attending in your area next season where they might be able to see your DD play.

Actually, have your daughter call them. She may as well start getting accustomed to talking with coaches... the good news is that the coaches do this for a living and know how to direct the conversation, which makes it a little easier on the kid who is just starting out. Better now than later.