What Does It Mean When A College Coach Invites You To A Camp?

As a recruit, or a parent of a recruit who plans to play in college, I’m sure you’re wondering about the importance of attending college camps.

Based on the specificity of the invite, the style of camp, and other factors, an invite from a college coach can mean a number of things. Generally, receiving an invite from a coach is a good sign that they are interested in seeing you play and potentially recruiting you. However, this is not always the case - coaches often invite prospects to camps to help fundraise money for their program.

In recent years, camps have become a major part of the college recruiting process. Many recruits use them as an opportunity to “be discovered” by college coaches. On the other hand, many people think the main focus of these camps is to make money - not to discover recruits. It is very important for recruits and their families to be able to determine how valuable different camps are. For this reason, we’ve given a more detailed explanation of camps and their value below.

The Different Types Of Camps And Their Value

While many athletes go to college camps hoping to be discovered, the reality is that new recruits are not often discovered by coaches at these camps. While coaches invite many prospects that they are interested in recruiting, they also invite numerous prospects who are just there to fill up the camp. It is important to know which category you fall into before spending money to attend a camp.

Generic Camp Invites: Coaches invite hundreds of prospects across the country to their camps, despite the fact that they can only actively recruit a small fraction of those prospects. For this reason, coaches don’t send out personalized invitations to everyone. Many prospects receive a generic invitation, and it is unlikely that they have significant interest in you as a recruit.

Specific Camp Invites: Prospects who the coach has significant interest in receive specific camp invites. While it can be hard to distinguish between the two, there are a couple of ways to do so. If a coach suggests you contact them, or leaves a way of contacting them, that is a great sign. Additionally, it is also a good sign if they mention being impressed by your personal highlight video.

Recruit Vs. Camper: Similar to specific and general camp invites, there are two types of prospects at college camps: recruits and campers. Campers are there mainly for skill development purposes, while recruits are there to impress the coaches and improve their chances to receive a future offer and/or scholarship. Receiving a specific camp invite is a good sign that coaches will see you as a recruit, and not as a camper, at the camp. While college camps can still be a valuable experience for campers, the difference between being a camper vs. being a recruit should be considered before you, or your parents, spend a significant amount of money on the camp.

College camps can be tremendously valuable if the coach has pre-existing interest in you. However, the reality is that the likelihood of you being “discovered” at a camp is relatively small. It is important to determine whether you will be seen as a recruit or a camper, so that you can know if the camp is worth attending.

Determining Which Camps To Attend

Not all camps are worth attending. In addition to determining whether you are a recruit or camper, there are a couple other things that should go into your decision to attend the camp.

Find Out What Other Coaches Work At The Camp: Coaches at smaller schools often work at camps of bigger programs during the summer. When you are thinking of signing up for a camp, be sure to ask the camp administrator what other college coaches will be at the camp. This knowledge will let you choose between camps that will maximize your exposure to the schools you are most interested in.l

Previous Communication With Coaches Is Important: As soon as you receive an invitation from a coach, respond. Coaches often invite a lot of student athletes, so communicating with the coach beforehand is a good way to get the conversation going. If possible, send (or have your coach send) a highlight reel to the camp so that the coach can get a better idea of how you play. This video can also generate further interest in you as a player! If the invite came from a coach you have never communicated with before, it is important you communicate with them before the camp begins. Otherwise, they will most likely think you are not interested in playing for their program.

Many factors, such as previous communication and the schools in attendance, determine the value of college camps. Not all camps are worth going to, so it is important that you research each before choosing which to attend.

Standing Out At Camp

So you’ve decided that you are going to attend a camp. Now the question becomes what can you do to put yourself in the best position to impress the coaches in attendance? Here are 4 tips to help you stand out.

Be Vocal And Positive During Drills And Scrimmages: You are going to spend a lot of time on the field. Make this time count. When playing, be a good communicator with your teammates. Coaches are looking for leaders and the best way to show that you are a good one is by helping your teammates during the game with constructive, positive feedback. Doing this will show your commitment and respect for both the game and the other players, which the coach will definitely pay attention to. Whenever you have the chance to take charge or to show off your unconditional positive support for the team, take it.

Respect Everyone: Coaches are not just evaluating your performance on the field - they are watching you off the field as well. College coaches seek out players who are encouraging and respectful to everyone - from coaches to the camp staff to your own teammates. By maintaining a respectful demeanor towards everyone you meet, you’re sure to stand out as a team player (and not just on the field).

Have Fun: Remember why you are there. Not just for the perks of making connections and training at new facilities, but because you love the game. Keeping your love for the sport at the forefront of your mind will show coaches you have passion - and this passion will shine through in your performance. Remember to have fun and enjoy yourself! It will only enable you to get even more out of this awesome experience.

Be Appreciative Of Feedback: You’ll receive a lot of coaching during your time at camp. Take the opportunity to learn how you can improve your game. By receiving coaches’ feedback positively, you’ll show that you are very coachable. Coaches want to see that you would be a good fit in their locker room. By receiving positive criticism with a good attitude and genuinely trying to incorporate that feedback into your game, you’ll show coaches that you are capable of playing at the next level.

In addition to proving your athletic ability, coaches want you to impress them off the field. They are evaluating you in terms of your fit in the locker room and your potential as a leader.

Things To Consider

Be Considerate Of Your Parent’s Money: amps are often expensive to attend. In order to minimize the burden placed on your parents, make sure you only attend the camps that you believe will be the most valuable.

Get To Know The Other Campers: Many of your fellow campers could be future teammates. It is a good idea to use these camps to get to know them, both as an athlete and as a person.

Be On Your Best Behavior: Coaches don’t want to recruit athletes who will be a burden to the program off the field. They want each of their players to represent the program well. Coaches are more likely to recruit you if you are kind, respectful, and well-behaved for the duration of the camp.