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How do I pick a summer sport camp?
My son is interested in attending a summer sports camp. I have asked around and a number of universities and youth agencies sponsor ones in our area. How do I know which one to pick?
- Gloria
Summer sports camps are very popular and you certainly have many to choose from in our area. Attending one can be a very rewarding and enriching experience for your child. Your son can improve his athletic skills, meet new friends, and have a great deal of fun.
However, you need to recognize that not all camps are equal and that they are an income source for some of the coaches, universities, and organizations that sponsor them. Sports camps can also vary in their quality both across sports and sponsoring agencies. Hence, you want to do a little homework before signing your child up.A good camp will have a strong staff – experienced high school or college coaches and their players. So ask who will be working with your child on a daily basis. Also find out about the ratio of counselors to campers, how much skill instruction versus competitive games will take place, and the quality of facility in which the camp will take place. If your child’s goal is to improve his game, you want a camp that emphasizes skill instruction with a low camper to counselor ratio, where all kids have maximum activity time.
Safety is another issue to check out. Make sure the camp has athletic trainers or some other form of medical staff available in case of emergencies. It is also a good idea to ask about insurance coverage in case of an accident.
If it is an overnight camp, you also want to make sure the dorms are reasonable and that the children are supervised and entertained when they are not on the field. Ask about the dining hall and food choices available. Costs should also be examined. If one camp is much more expensive than the others, make sure it offers some special service or added value for your money.
Sports camps should also be fun, so find out what a typical daily schedule looks like. Make sure time is provided for doing such things as playing video games, swimming, and just hanging out with the other kids. Also see if any of the players from your son’s regular team are going to camp, as it would be fun to be with some of his friends.
Finally, if your son is interested in the camp because of the opportunity to meet a famous coach and some of his favorite players, find out how often the named coach and players are with the participants. Do they make a token appearance on one occasion or is there some contact on a daily basis?
Most of this information can be obtained by getting a camp brochure or checking its website. In addition, one of the best things you can do is talk to other parents whose kids have gone to the camp in which you are interested. They can be a great “unbiased” reference source.
Daniel Gould, Ph.D.
Director, Institute for the Study of Youth Sports
