There are often posts here asking what the best camps are, or what the experience was at a particular camp. I'd love to get some first person feedback on camps that players are attending this Summer (ID, REsidential and otherwise) so I thought I'd start with some thoughts on the EXACT Sports Florida Boys Academic 50 ID Camp which was last week at Champions Gate (Orlando).
PROS
- Good concept in that it includes both field play and mental sessions
- The mental sessions included a focus on mindfulness and being in the present (i.e. having an attention span) which today's teens sorely lack
- EXCELLENT access to coaches. They did indeed have 50 coaches there, ranging from D1 to D3 from around the country. Lots of access including a required meet and greet in the beginning after a training session on an "elevator pitch"
- Very good recruiting session with a panel of coaches for both players and then with parents-only
- Lots of game play and training sessions done by the college coaches, great opportunity for juniors/seniors to be seen and 9/10th to start the process correctly
- Good feedback from the coaches, including a required mentoring and evaluation with a coach both verbal AND written
- nice location. the fields at Champions Gate were first rate and close to Orlando, the airport, and lodging
CONS
- the event didn't acclimate well enough to the weather. It was record-breaking heat index. There was water at the field, but they were lucky to not have players suffer heat ailments based on the temp, humidity and the amount of games. Would have been smart to have ice at the field for players to cool off with topically in addition to the water.
- it was a little pricey for a non-residential camp. $800-$1k. The access to the coaches did give some good ROI, but was still somewhat steep
- would have been smart to have some cameras on the games so that players could choose to get some film from the games if they wished. Not a complaint just a missed opportunity
Overall I can say I'd do it again based solely on the conversations my son was able to have with coaches and gain the exposure to his game. It seems it will in fact pay off down the road.
Happy to answer any questions, and hopefully others will share their camp experience!
PROS
- Good concept in that it includes both field play and mental sessions
- The mental sessions included a focus on mindfulness and being in the present (i.e. having an attention span) which today's teens sorely lack
- EXCELLENT access to coaches. They did indeed have 50 coaches there, ranging from D1 to D3 from around the country. Lots of access including a required meet and greet in the beginning after a training session on an "elevator pitch"
- Very good recruiting session with a panel of coaches for both players and then with parents-only
- Lots of game play and training sessions done by the college coaches, great opportunity for juniors/seniors to be seen and 9/10th to start the process correctly
- Good feedback from the coaches, including a required mentoring and evaluation with a coach both verbal AND written
- nice location. the fields at Champions Gate were first rate and close to Orlando, the airport, and lodging
CONS
- the event didn't acclimate well enough to the weather. It was record-breaking heat index. There was water at the field, but they were lucky to not have players suffer heat ailments based on the temp, humidity and the amount of games. Would have been smart to have ice at the field for players to cool off with topically in addition to the water.
- it was a little pricey for a non-residential camp. $800-$1k. The access to the coaches did give some good ROI, but was still somewhat steep
- would have been smart to have some cameras on the games so that players could choose to get some film from the games if they wished. Not a complaint just a missed opportunity
Overall I can say I'd do it again based solely on the conversations my son was able to have with coaches and gain the exposure to his game. It seems it will in fact pay off down the road.
Happy to answer any questions, and hopefully others will share their camp experience!
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