game on
recruitment camps
GETTING EXPOSURE
Are summer camps and clinics essential for high
school athletes looking to play in college, or just
a waste of time and money? Chances are you’ve
heard the question answered both ways. Mark
Fuller, former Auburn baseball coach and player
for the Mets and Rockies, says the truth depends
on the athlete.
Here’s what you need to know!
DO COACHES REALLY “DISCOVER”
PLAYERS AT CAMPS?
It is true that college coaches prefer the opportunity to see many
possible recruits at one time rather than having to travel from
school to school. However, in most cases coaches are going to
see players they are already aware of, rather than discovering
unknown talent.
“Travel baseball is so big at the high school level, there are very
few unknown prospects that show up to a camp. ” On the whole,
most players aren’t “discovered” at a summer recruiting camp or
clinic. “The coaches do use their camps to invite the players they
already know about to come to the campus, get to know the staff
and build a relationship. Lots of money is spent on recruiting and
I think across the board, there are very few kids by their junior
year in high school who are unknown.”
“I think football is probably one of the few sports that does find
prospects at camps. There is not a lot of travel football, so most
of the camps are inexpensive and attract good players that are
“found” at those events.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A CAMP?
It’s important to remember that for the most part, camps and
clinics exist primarily as a profit-generating event for the school
or organization. However, this does not mean that camps and
clinics have no value; athletes and parents should just remember
to be realistic about expectations.
“Find a camp that advertises low numbers of athletes and has a
good reputation for actually teaching. College camps are very
expensive so do your research and make sure you will actually be
getting your money’s worth.”
I’M A FRESHMAN; IS A CAMP OR CLINIC
BENEFICIAL TO ME?
“College coaches are looking mostly for athletes 10th grade and
older, so most kids that age would do better to find a good travel
team that attracts high caliber athletes, which leads to exposure
to college coaches.”
However, if you choose to go to a camp or clinic, your age is a
factor in what you should look for. “Kids that are in the 10th
grade and up need camps that will showcase their skills and have
college coaches in attendance. Younger kids need camps that will
train their skills and teach proper mechanics.”
SHOULD I REACH OUT TO THE COACHES?
Once a player has signed up for a camp, can it be beneficial to
reach out to the coaches before and/or after? “Kids and parents
are free to contact coaches whenever they want,” however “Most
rules do not allow the coach to respond to an email or phone
message. The college coach can take a call or communicate
through a team coach.” This means emails and phone messages
may not get returned.
“The best thing to do is to train hard in the off season, take your
God-given ability to the athletic venue and perform well. If you
are of age and are being evaluated as a possible recruit, you will
not have to worry about contacting the coaches; the coaches will
hunt you down.”
Mark Fuller is an Auburn University graduate, former college baseball player & coach (Auburn
University and NC State) and former professional baseball player (NY Mets & CO Rockies) with over
25 years of playing and coaching experience. He is also a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), National
Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified, Co-owner & Director of Baseball at Sports Academy
in Opelika, and Sports Performance Specialist at RehabWorks of Auburn/East Alabama Medical Center.
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Spring 2016
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