In today’s youth sports climate Talent ID camps are in abundance. There are more opportunities than ever before to get seen by a college or pro scout. Sometimes when things become easily accessible it can make things seem common, but in the case of ID camps that couldn’t be further from the truth. The recruiting process requires a bit of a fine touch to navigate with success. This article will shed light on exactly what to look for in a Talent ID camp and who exactly should be attending them.
What To Look For In A Talent ID Camp…
With the abundance of options out there today for young athletes and parents it can be hard to know what to choose. Talent ID camps are no different, when thinking about attending an ID camp make sure you do your research. Too often I see kids going to camps simply based off proximity or how many friends they have going. With any other camp have at it but with a Talent ID camp the purpose is to display skill not to simply learn a few tips and tricks.
You need to look into the training schedule and who is going to be there before signing up. These types of camps need to have a clear goal in mind. If that means you have to drive an extra 2 hours to go to the one that fits you…Do it! You also need to research the coaches and schedule. Don’t get caught up in marketing or the promise of a desired organization being in attendance. Remember that you are still developing as an athlete and need to take every opportunity to learn. Don’t go to a camp if its all flash and no substance.
A lot of young athletes and their parents treat the recruitment process like its a numbers game, attending as many opportunities as possible and flying all over the country to do so. In reality getting noticed is far more related to the work you do outside these camps than it is to the few days you spend attending. The goal with Talent ID camps should be to pick opportunities that combine quality coaching with the ability to get noticed on a competitive stage. Be calculated and attend sparingly.
Are You Ready To Be Identified?
The first thing you have to ask yourself before even thinking about going to a Talent ID camp is…Are you ready to be identified? This can be a hard question because you have to real with yourself. Your skill level has to be worthy of being looked at. You should be competing at a high local level before you even consider it. There are some key things to consider before you spend money and time on an ID camp.
Are you competing in the highest level of competition your area provides?
Do you consider yourself the best or one of the best players on your team?
Are you one of the best players on the field when playing games?
And finally, How do you think you match up on a national level?
Look at your answers to these questions and then decide if now is the time to go to a Talent ID camp. If it’s not, don’t worry about it, that just means there is more time to train. Ultimately that is the path to the end goal, to train and get better over time. Athletic development is a long game and one that will oftentimes surprise you. Focus on developing and have a plan. If you do that consistently year after year you are far more likely to be identified.
If you are in the Orlando area and interested in a great camp opportunity check out this link. Also, check out this article I wrote going over the best sports camp options for young athletes this summer. I hope this article helped give you some information on the what and when for attending Talent ID camps. If you have any questions feel free to reach out.