Why camps are so important…

Off season camps with college, pro and veteran players are an immense opportunity for your athlete to get better. there are multiple benefits of camps and today we will examine them. Camps are a great way for players to get better and have some fun.

Camps are usually thrown by former college and pro athletes. A lot of the time the athlete is from the area they are hosting the camp in. It is great for kids to see that someone from their same surroundings. The professional is able to relate on a level that another wouldn’t be due to their bond to the community and local upbringing, which rubs off on the players they are mentoring as well. They can answer insightful questions about making it to the next level and what it was like on their path. For many of the local kids, this may be all they need to get the spark they need to want to truly compete.

One of the cool things in camp, many times all kids work together. While there may be more advanced skill camps, but many teach all kids the same skills and techniques. While the younger kids are barely grasping the skills, the older kids. The little/big sister/brother feeling of the camp helps attendees relax, have fun and builds community within the kids and bonds with kids outside their age range. There is also a sense of fun and raw energy when a 6- and 16-year-old are playing together. It reminds older athletes the fun of the game and helps younger athletes see being serious is needed in sports.

Competiton begets competition and in a camp while nobody is keeping score everyone is on notice. Camps are a great place for kids to gauge their own talent within their sporting community. They see athletes who have different skills, techniques and mental fortitudes. They also will get paired up and grouped with athletes of all different sizes ages and skill levels. All athletes have an internal gauge for their own talent and other and camps give them a dose of reality in finding out how they measure up and where they can improve.

The bond, memories and skills combined are worth camps. Your athlete gets to meet other athletes of all ages and from different areas as well. They spend time learning about the sport they love and making friends along the way. This can often rekindle the love, effort and desire to play a sport. This can also increase the love of a sport and a determination to get better because there was competition at a camp that athlete hasn’t seen before.

Overall, camps are worth it. Camps give players chances to have fun and compete without there being an official score. Athletes of all ages and skill levels get to grow together and learn from each other as well. The pros and college athletes often inspire the camp goers who are from similar neighborhoods and beginnings.