Camps can be the best money you spend on recruiting, or the worst. The difference is whether the coaches who can recruit you are there, and whether they know you are coming.
The main types of camp
- College prospect / ID camps — run by one college’s staff on its campus. The staff that evaluates you can recruit you.
- Multi-school camps — hosted by one college with coaches from several others attending.
- Showcases and exposure events — run by private organizers; value depends on which college coaches actually attend.
- Skills camps for younger players — good for development, rarely for recruiting.
How to choose
Pick camps at schools already on your target list, at a level where you could realistically play. A camp at a school you’d never attend, or at a level far above yours, is development — not recruiting.
For showcases, ask which college programs are confirmed before you pay.
Before camp: email the staff
Two to three weeks before, email the coach who recruits your position: you’re coming, your graduation year and position, a film link and what you want them to see. Coaches evaluate athletes they are expecting.
After camp: follow up within a week
Thank the coach, mention something specific from camp, ask for feedback and share your upcoming schedule. A follow-up is what turns a camp into a conversation.