How to Navigate College Softball Camps/Clinics

In today’s softball climate, we believe it is critical for prospective student-athletes to attend camps or clinics at colleges they are interested in for multiple reasons.

However, we also know the amount of money shelled out every month for their participation on their travel ball team can break the bank. So how do you even choose? Where do you even start? 

Let’s face it, everything seems to be more expensive these days. Perhaps there is the additional pressure society puts on us as parents to “keep up with the Joneses” not only within your softball organization but on social media. Listen, we’re here to tell you, that NOT EVERY 10u SOFTBALL PLAYER NEEDS TWO $400 BATS sticking out of their $135 Boombah bag. Yes, gone are the days of $50 bottle bats that lasted 4+ years but please be realistic when purchasing needed vs. wanted equipment for your child’s age and athletic ability.

The older and more advanced your child becomes in a sport, the more the conversations and subtle comparisons to their teammates on where they are in the recruiting process begin to set in. You’ll start to ask how in the world will my child ever be seen and get recruited by a college coach?!

In an earlier edition of our Softball Climate newsletter, we described our Top 4 Reasons You May NOT Be Getting Recruited. Our #4 reason was Showcases over College Camps. First of all, “showcases” are not a one-size-fits-all-all. Some showcases your travel ball coach may have you signed up for and at the softball field for 12 hours isn’t a “showcase” at all but a series of timed games in a saturated tournament spanning 4 towns and a dozen complexes making it nearly impossible for a college coach to even track you down.

Secondly, there is an increasing number of college coaches who have expressed their concern and dissatisfaction with travel ball coaches prioritizing their own practice or game instead of supporting a family and their desire to attend a college camp.

There are several reasons why attending a college camp is beneficial. A few are:

1. Exposure.

2. Build a relationship with coaches.

3. Explore campus.

4. Meet the team (in some cases).

5. To LEARN.

But we also get it. Between every weekend being booked solid with tournaments often in other states and colleges you are interested in not conveniently located in your backyard…. it can add up! It’s a lot of miles and money. Cha-frickn’ ching $

So where do you even start? There’s a lot to consider here. It’s important to note, that recruiting rules vary by DIVISION, SPORT, and AGE of the PSA. For an up-to-date reference for all sports go to: https://www.ncsasports.org/ncaa-eligibility-center/recruiting-rules/recruiting-calendar.

If you’re not even sure WHERE to find college camp announcements we have you covered.

At any time, you can go to the college or university webpage - locate and select ATHLETICS - find the dropdown SPORTS or TEAMS, and select the sport desired - and often, not always, there is either a MORE+ dropdown or PSA QUESTIONNAIRE tab. Fill out the questionnaire. You are now officially on their mailing list and **BONUS!! The coaching staff now has your athletic and academic information in their system. The majority of these questionnaires can be updated at any time so do not worry if you fill this out earlier in your recruiting process you can always go back and update it.

Another place to find out about upcoming camps/clinics is through social media. Start to follow the programs and schools that interest you on all platforms - X, Instagram, Facebook (if applicable), and TikTok (again if applicable).

It’s also advantageous to follow the coaches of those programs as well. INSIDER TIP: The coach will see in their notifications your “follow” and you now can direct message that coach with game schedules (note, if Division I, they cannot respond). Coaches NOT knowing about you is one of our 4 Top Reasons You May NOT Be Getting Recruited. Might as well follow them so they instantly see your interest.

Now you’re in the know about camps and clinics, HOW do you choose?

Refer to the flowchart for where you are at in the recruiting process and consider what your budget is before committing to a camp/clinic. Make no mistake, some camps are indeed “money grabs” for college programs. They will not cap attendance and in turn, there may be a lot of standing around for participants. It is critical you set realistic expectations when investing.

Here are some good questions to ask or consider when deciding:

1) Ask yourself, what is the purpose of you attending this camp? Exposure only? Learning experience? This answer will help set an expectation.

2) Directly ask the college coach via email if they are recruiting your class and position. They may have completed your recruiting class! Move on.

3) Who is instructing the camp? Head Coach? Assistants? Players? Multiple coaches from other universities?

4) Were you personally invited or is this a school that you have more interest in than they have interest in you?

5) Where is this camp located? Distance can play a major factor in finances.

6) Find out if you can what the maximum number of players they are accepting. Pay attention to the coach: participant ratio. Those that do not cap registrations may either be using this money as a fundraiser for their program, supplemental income for coaches or to completely fund an additional assistant coach.

7) What is the camp promoting? Drill instruction? Competition? Both? Refer to your expectations.

8) Have you seen that team compete? Visually seeing a team compete will often give you an eye test if your child even can compete at that level. If you are dishing funds to attend a P5 camp but would be successful at the D3 level, then please save your money.

How do I get the most out of my camp experience now that I choose one or a few to attend?

You’ve committed to a college camp! Excellent. It is the day of the camp or clinic and we want you to maximize your experience both as a parent and participant. Here are our CAMP DAY TIPS:

Believe it or not, it sounds simple but can really through a well-organized clinic out of whack if players show up late. So pleeeeeease, BE ON TIME.

Parents, encourage your kid to approach the registration desk and do the talking. Please have all necessary paperwork and payment ready to go to help set up this initial conversation as a success. Talking to strangers can be scary but remember, one of the keys to getting recruited is LIKABILITY. Empower them to strike up a conversation and get the relationship-building started.

If you are EARLY, often players will stand around and wait. And wait. And wait. They’ve been so programmed to be told what to do and when to do it and in an unknown environment, they are often frozen in fear. Here’s a wild and crazy thought. Introduce yourself to another camper. Grab a ball and start to throw. YES! Start “showing” off and standing out from the crowd. There’s often downtime in a camp so fill it by being the self-motivated unicorn every coach wants in their program.

Do NOT WAIT to introduce yourself to coaches. After a camp, a line inevitably forms to say hi to the coach and introduce themselves. If brave enough, a photo will be snapped and inquiry on how that coach thought that player did during camp. NEWSFLASH!!!!!! In a camp of 60-100+ campers, no way will a coach remember specifically how everyone did. Be proactive and BEFORE the camp begins, introduce yourself and say “Hi, my name is ______. I’m a 202X grad and would love your feedback after the camp.” Holy crap you just started to build a relationship.

Don’t forget to HAVE FUN. It is a camp. It can be hard work. But remember you’re playing a game. Coaches want to be around players who are having fun and have an infectious personality. Do you have to be outgoing and a class clown? Not at all. Being competitive, getting dirty, and being a sponge for new knowledge can be a blast too!

Lastly, BE GRATEFUL. Players, unless you mowed lawns all summer and saved up to pay for your clinic experience, please thank your parents for driving you, supporting you, and paying for you to attend what could be a life-changing experience if the fit is right.

Parents, it’s not to say you are off scotch-free too. What you say and do in front of college coaches can also have an impact. Just once, we challenge you to drop your child off hold on your hats…… and leave.

Give them the gift of confidence and independence. You do not have to hang out all day or for several hours and “watch”. There is enough pressure your kid is putting on themselves with college coaches present. Tell them to be coachable and have fun, that should be enough ammo for them to realize Home to 1st Base is still 60’ in college as it is in high school. We know you want to see how well your kid did but are you really going to hover behind the fence and grab a video of them doing tee drills? Let them be. We promise they are in good hands.

Now get out there, go play, and get seen.

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