Camps vs. Showcase

[kped]

Been pondering this for awhile. Ever seen a girl get recruited solely on attending a camp. The high price of showcase ball is driving a lot of talent away from the game.

Can a girl just go to camps or does she have to do both? My assumption is they want you to attend their camp for the revenue, but want to see you play in showcases to see how you preform in game situations.

Thoughts?

[tbjd33]

Been pondering this for awhile. Ever seen a girl get recruited solely on attending a camp. The high price of showcase ball is driving a lot of talent away from the game.

Can a girl just go to camps or does she have to do both? My assumption is they want you to attend their camp for the revenue, but want to see you play in showcases to see how you preform in game situations.

Thoughts?

They see your a player at a showcase... They test your skill and character at a camp... Don't go to a camp unless invited cause then your a revenue generator.

[tbjd33]

I have heard of kids getting offers from a camp only. Not the norm but still possible.

You are correct... I would say its becoming the norm.

[jonriv]

I guess some clarification is needed since the three terms are used sometiomes to describe the same thing.

Showcase Tournament: Tournament held with the sole purpose of having games to showcase potential players to college coaches. Sometime with a set number of games and sometimes with a tournament winner.


Showcase Camp: Usually takes place a day before or the morning before a Showcase tournament. Usually is a skills assement- home to first, hitting, catcher's POP times pitching speed etc.....

Camp- many times hosted by a single school, a group of schools, or by a private organization. many times held on the campus of the host school

Back in her recruiting days my daughter attended all three and received interest from all three. Each have there own benifits. Looking back I wish we attended more of the school hosted camps. Showcases are maximized by making sure individual coaches know that you are attending(when & where)

[Battle]

Been pondering this for awhile. Ever seen a girl get recruited solely on attending a camp. The high price of showcase ball is driving a lot of talent away from the game.

Can a girl just go to camps or does she have to do both? My assumption is they want you to attend their camp for the revenue, but want to see you play in showcases to see how you preform in game situations.

Thoughts?

Target colleges that she is interested in.... for camps. Make sure it's a camp where the coaches/colleges are hosting, not some outside organization holding a camp on campus. If you're not on their radar, get on their radar. There's nothing better than the one on one with the coach that you want to play for. That's the best thing that you can do IMO. Use showcases as a means of staying in contact with your target colleges.

[PDad]

They see your a player at a showcase... They test your skill and character at a camp... Don't go to a camp unless invited cause then your a revenue generator.

I presume you are talking about a specific invitation rather than a blanket one to the entire team.

Camps are great when you're really interested in that school, but they're not likely to be productive if you just register and show up. Groundwork should be laid in advance with emails and a call so coaches are aware of the player. The more highly advertised camps are generally money makers and the lower profile ones are intended for prospects. At the larger camps, they're likely to group the top prospects together.

I have heard of kids getting offers from a camp only. Not the norm but still possible.

You are correct... I would say its becoming the norm.

I'm not sure you and Spazsdad are talking about the same thing...

[extiger]

I would suggest attending camps that are listed as ID/Showcase camps at the schools your daughter is interested in. Theses camps are usually held in the fall. It worked for my daughter. The coaches said they liked her and wanted to see her in action and are coming to watch at showcases. I will also add they did talk about an offer at the camp but were not sure about an amount.

I would also highly suggest that she write a lot of emails. The coaches said they loved that my daughter was continuously communicating with them. Be sure to ask the coaches if they're looking to recruit your daughter's position and graduation year.

[tbjd33]

I would suggest attending camps that are listed as ID/Showcase camps at the schools your daughter is interested in. Theses camps are usually held in the fall. It worked for my daughter. The coaches said they liked her and wanted to see her in action and are coming to watch at showcases. I will also add they did talk about an offer at the camp but were not sure about an amount.

I would also highly suggest that she write a lot of emails. The coaches said they loved that my daughter was continuously communicating with them. Be sure to ask the coaches if they're looking to recruit your daughter's position and graduation year.

Uhh yup this sounds about right... Only difference on our end is our contact is made through our coach. For most that don't have a coach able to communicate email contact is good.

[BAM2]

Camps are great, as long as your targeting schools that your want to go with. But the type of camps makes a difference also. A lot of it also depends on your DD ability. Does she stand out, does she do something that sets her apart. We did camps that we wanted to attend and we did camps that was set up by her coaches. As a parent you can make contact with the coach, and your daughter should also. Attend camps if at all possible, not " Cattle call camps" but camps that have 30-40 kids. Sometimes the college of will have a pitchers camp or a catchers camp, if your dd is one, then that's a great place to start. We have been to one of the camps with 100 or so, but college coaches that are interested will make time to talk with you.
When it's showcase time, coaches do want to know when and where you are playing. It also helps when your team in general, brings in colleges to watch the team as a whole also.
Showcases should be about the girls, not about winning. Eveyone should play and and if a college coach wants to see a girl mutilple times at whatever they are asking for, then the TB Coach should make it happen..
Anyway, this is the stuff we experienced and learn from this past two years.
Good luck.

Been pondering this for awhile. Ever seen a girl get recruited solely on attending a camp. The high price of showcase ball is driving a lot of talent away from the game.

Can a girl just go to camps or does she have to do both? My assumption is they want you to attend their camp for the revenue, but want to see you play in showcases to see how you preform in game situations.

Thoughts?

Target colleges that she is interested in.... for camps. Make sure it's a camp where the coaches/colleges are hosting, not some outside organization holding a camp on campus. If you're not on their radar, get on their radar. There's nothing better than the one on one with the coach that you want to play for. That's the best thing that you can do IMO. Use showcases as a means of staying in contact with your target colleges.

[Pale Rider]

Agree with BAM2...
Avoid Cattle Call Camps...Money makers
Camps before a showcase are good IMHO...but don't expect them chasing you with a contract and a pen...
Be careful camps you attend even on an invited basis...personal type invites come in an email...and you cant see who all they went out to...BIGGEST thing you must have happen besides personal groundwork is have a coach who will actively seek out college coaches...and that coach should have the credibility factor also which is earned over time...hence the 'older' big name teams who have a track record...