It’s Summertime. Vacations are planned, the barbeque is in action, iced tea is flowing, and life is good. Then you will get the question, “Can I go to Soccer Camp?” You will look at your child, happy that they want to improve, and respond “Sure.” Later that day you will go online and look for a Soccer Camp for your child to attend, and BOOM…… your head will explode. Which one do I choose? Can I afford it? Which one is best for my child? This is an exaggerated example of my experience when looking at soccer camps for my child. After attending some that were good, and some that were not so good, below are the three questions I have learned to consider when signing up my child for a camp.
What would we like to get out of the camp?
This is always the first question you should ask when signing up your child for a camp. If the camp does not provide what you were trying to get out of it, you will be disappointed. Below are some of the types of camps that we have attended over the years.
Fundamentals – Some camps are designed for just that. They are not designed to showcase player skills to college coaches, rather, they are designed to help improve the basic skills of soccer. Usually, these camps will be more hands on and there will be less pressure on the players. A successful camp will usually provide your child with a knowledge base on how to get better at basic skills when through with the camp
College Exposure – Camps that provide college exposure, sometimes called ID camps, usually are not as focused on improving the fundamentals of the players. The camp is usually there to show off what your child can already do to those in attendance. These camps will place a little bit more pressure on the campers and be more competitive. I always felt that when my child left these camps, they should have an idea of how they did when competing with others, so they knew what they needed to work on afterwards. I also think that people should understand that just because your child attended does not mean you will get tons of feedback from coaches in attendance, no matter how well your child did.
Position Specific – Some camps are designed with a specific position in mind. If you are a parent of goalkeeper, sometimes sending them to a position specific Goalkeeper Camp will be more useful than sending them to a normal soccer camp. They will get specific instruction on how to play their position, be around other players who play their position, and coached by people who have experience coaching and playing their position.
Fun – Some camps are just fun. I sent my children to camps that were soccer camps, but it wasn’t the most important thing at the camp. These were some of my kids’ favorite camps, especially when they were younger. They were allowed to play, make friends, and do other activities that weren’t just soccer.
Is the camp good?
Good. You have narrowed down the list to the type of camp you would like to attend, now which ones are good? This is where you will have to research the camp a little bit. Some questions to consider:
Is it new or has it been around a while? A longstanding camp means they are doing something right.
What are the level of the players? Are the players at the same level as your child? The camp should be challenging but not overwhelming.
Is it age appropriate? Is your child ready for this camp? There probably isn’t much need to send a 10-year-old to a college ID camp.
Where is it located? Is it nearby or far away? Are the facilities nice or does it not seem like the facilities can handle a camp?
How many players usually attend? Will your child be one of many, or one of a few? It is hard to be coached on fundamentals when the number of campers far outweighs the number of coaches.
Does it provide value?
As you have found, camps come in all shapes and forms, and so do their cost. Remember, a lot of camps are used as a way to raise funds for a club or team. As soon as you have your camps narrowed down it is time to look at what is provided for the cost. Sometimes, it will make sense for you to spend more money, to get extra exposure, better coaching, or a more fun experience. But remember, just because it costs more, doesn’t always mean it is better. My children have been to plenty of camps that were free to relatively inexpensive and had a great experience.
Hopefully, this helps a little when looking at camps for your child. I know this list is pretty simple, but at least it will give you a place to start. In the meantime, stay cool this summer and keep on kicking it!