There is a summer softball camp for everyone. Which one is the right one for you? That is another question.
Here are the things I think you should ask as you sort out where to spend some of your valuable summer time at a fastpitch camp.
1. Are you attending camp to improve your skills?
2. Are you going to camp to get in front of college coaches for recruiting purposes?
3. Do you want a camp that emphasizes instruction or game action?
4. Do you want to stay overnight in a dorm-type setting?
5. How many days of camp do you want to have?
6. Local or far away?
Each of these questions will go a long way in helping you determine which camp is the right camp for you. Here are some answers that should help:
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Most camps offer some instruction but you should ask what the emphasis is. How much instruction will take place? What is the ratio of camper to coach/instructor? Who are the instructors?
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College camps are almost always used to evaluate potential players for recruitment. However, this doesn’t mean that every player who gets invited to a camp is a real prospect for that college program. Some are prospects while others are customers.
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Most summer camps do include some game action. How much again is different from camp to camp. Make sure to ask.
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Some college camps offer the opportunity to stay in the dorms and get a real feel for what the campus atmosphere is like. Many other camps are true day camps that require you to find your own housing, usually at a motel with your parents.
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You can go to a one-day camp or you can go to a five-day camp or anything in between. Most camps are set up in a format with a couple days of camp with some options to add some extra time if you would like. You really can find whatever you want here.
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This depends totally on where you live and the schools that are nearby. For many people, the idea of going away to camp if very appealing, but of course, more expensive.
If you ask these questions, I’m sure you will find the right camp to meet your needs. Remember, camp is a great way to improve your game. Take advantage of it.
Please check out the camp and clinic options we offer at Fastpitch Prep. We offer great instruction and great coaches to help players of all skill levels take their game to the highest level they are capable of.
About the Author: Tory Acheson brings a wealth of knowledge to the Fastpitch Prep staff. He has coached at all levels of the game, including the last 25 years at the college level at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State. He began his coaching career at the high school level spending 9 years Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. and is now working as a professional softball instructor.
