College Planning content exclusively provided by the NCSA
Camping Out this Summer
With summer finally here, most youth soccer players are finalizing their summer soccer camp plans. Summer soccer camps can provide players with a great opportunity to improve skills during their off season months and receive evaluation and training from experts other than your club/high school coaches. Summer soccer camps can also be a great way to compare your level of play to others your age. (And they are lots of fun!)
If you still haven’t decided on a camp there are several factors to consider, but the number one reason you should attend the camp is for quality instruction. If your family is going to spend money on a camp, your goal should be to come away a better player, or at least with specific directions on what skills need to improve and what to work on to improve them!
If you have to choose between camps run by a university or by a local organization, keep in mind that if you chose a camp located on a college campus, it gives you the opportunity to visit the campus without having to plan an extra trip. With this in mind, if you have been to the same college soccer camp on more than one occasion, consider attending a different camp to get a feel for a different coaching staff’s style of instruction as well as the campus.
If you are receiving camp invites for college or university camps, that simply means you are on their mailing list. Keep in mind that camp invitations don’t necessarily mean that a particular coach is interested in you as camp invitations are usually sent to a number of athletes regardless of their skill level because summer camps help generate revenue for the athletic department. Remember that as an underclassman, the only contact that coaches can have with you is via camp invitations and questionnaires – so from that perspective, receiving these invites is a good start!
Make sure that whichever camp you do select, you let the coach know that you are attending. Summer camps are not try-outs; nonetheless you at least want the coach to know that you are a college bound student-athlete so he or she can watch you play. Even if you are not a match for the particular college/university, the coach may be able to point you in the direction of colleges/universities which may be a better fit.
About NCSA
NCSA, the “Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education” for Cal South, is the premier source for matching high school scholar – athletes with colleges and universities across the country. NCSA is the "Eyes & Ears" of more than 35,000 college coaches, who rely on NCSA's experienced scouting team and instant response capabilities to provide them with quality prospective recruits. NCSA prides itself in educating high school student-athletes and their families about the college recruiting process. Visit www.ncsasports.org for more information about NCSA.
