Timing of contact/ camps under the radar

Athletic Recruits
1

Summer after freshman year:

Is it absurd to go to a camp without talking to the coaches first? Kid and I both thinking it might be good (most camps are limited to ~40) to just see the level at the camps and what they are like before trying to get coaches attention. Plus this will
give her an idea of the college scene (location, large vs small, etc right now she has NO clue about these things). We may see “oh. All these players are so much better than me” or “after a couple years this will be my level so this camp makes sense.”

Then next year she can email highlights to coaches before attending a more targeted list of camps and she will have gpa/psat scores to send with the highlights.

Make sense or stupid?

I know people are going to say talk to coach. Coach is just not going to be helpful. He’s very nice but has some issues. Leaves in kids with shocking eff #’s and team is actively hurt by it. Doesn’t see when the team is playing better/worse based on who’s in. Says X had a great game when it was one of her worst. (This is not just my opinion nor does it have much to do with my kid being in or out. There are three coaches among the parents and one of them is keeping official stats so we all see the same thing and have hard stats.)

Planning to talk to club coach but as I’ve said before he’s new and has seen my kid play for maybe 16 min total. I need to sign up before next season starts since the camps fill up.

Continue to be confused by recruiting. We play teams where starting players are all high D1 commits and we don’t get it.

2

You have to decide if the camp is worth your time and money. I’d go to as many as I could afford. The think I wish my daughter had done more of is camps and showcases.

I don’t think a camp can ever hurt your chances, unless it prevented you from going to a better camp.

3

I wish I would have taken my son to a camp during his sophomore summer for exactly the reason you mention, to get a lay of the land and a sense of the competitive level. I think with that as the goal, and as long as the camp is affordable for you, a camp this summer.

4

Ok. Thanks so much. The collective wisdom on this board is turning out to be quite helpful.

We are lucky that for this summer at least all the camps will be driving distance and affordable.