<p>So I was wondering if attending a summer camp before senior year can increase your chances of being recruited. I had soccer friends who visited colleges their senior year and attended camps. They were all recruited and told on the spot that they had made the team. I am talking about soccer and track and field. Lets say someone did really well at this camp and really stole the show. Their grades are great and they are dedicated athletes. Is there any possibility or is attending camp just attending a camp? Thanks for the answers!</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that camp before senior year often has the top recruits in a defined group or team so that the coach can watch them together. This is often based on a series of contacts, and the coach may well meet with each individually after the camp is complete to talk about committing, or transcripts, or whatever to complete the recruitment process.</p>
<p>If you are not in that pre-selected group, it may be just a camp…it really depends on how close to complete the recruiting process is for that coach and year group.</p>
<p>Lemonbars11,</p>
<p>I’m not sure on how to answer your question because there is a lot of info missing. So I’ll answer the best way I know how.</p>
<p>The best camps are the camps where they know who you are before you step foot on the field. Also, the more camps that you attend the better your chances of finding a coach that is interested in you, and you are interested in the school and coach. My son’s sport is baseball. He went to some of the larger showcase events (D1, Ivy, D3 level) where many, many coaches became interested. After that event, he targeted specific college camps where these coaches would be in attendence again so they could get another look at him, and he could tour the college. He told the coaches in advance, he would be at the camp and he wanted to spend a few minutes with them away from the field. At one of those camps, he was made a verbal offer to attend the school he was most interested in. </p>
<p>So, do your research and figure out 20-30 schools you are interested in. Find out if they have showcase events or large camps with many, many schools in attendence. Go to those and then follow up with a specific camp to seal the deal for those schools that are most interested in you and you are most interested in them. That is how my son did it for baseball, and it is pretty straight forward. I can’t imagine soccer is any different.</p>
<p>So should I tell the coach that I am attending if they didn’t reply to my interest emails? Or should I just sit back and wait? I feel like I am slowly losing time because I am a junior this year and my times this season have not been DI material, but I feel like if I train and then go to the camp, I can impress them and maybe voice my high interest in the school.</p>
<p>lemonbars11,</p>
<p>Absolutely tell them you will be there. Tell any coach who you think will be interested as well as if you have any interest in their school. This is kind of like dating…how do you know if their interested unless you ask. ;-). If certain coaches don’t respond, don’t worry, don’t panic, and try not to get discouraged. Be persistent if this is something you really, really want. Remember, you only need to find one coach/college that is looking for your skills & talent. It is nice to have many, but the reality is you only need one.</p>
<p>Under no circumstances should you sit back and wait in the recruiting process whether it is D1/D3 or whatever. Keep after it. </p>
<p>Recruited = passion + skill + exposure + persistence + luck</p>
<p>The whole problem thing is perfect! I will let them know that I am coming thanks everyone!</p>