1-day recruiting "clinics" seem to have become increasingly popular means for colleges to recruit players. And for good reasons: (1) showing up at a college's clinic demonstrates a higher level of interest in a school than merely sending out an email inviting a coach to come see you at a tournament and (2) a coach can see dozens of players interested in the school in one place at one time and can compare them against each other. Some schools (at least D3 schools that host clinics) are relying increasingly on these "clinics" for recruiting and are cutting back their tournament attendances. Is this a D3 phenomenon? The death of the much-maligned college showcase tournament?
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Also, since anyone can sign up to attend a "clinic" regardless of what level club team they play for, does the clinic model reduce the need to be part of a top level team for recruiting purposes? -
Money Maker. Don't kid yourselvesComment
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Usually they limit the number of players so if your kid can't stand out in this environment they certainly are not going to stand out at a showcase. These types of clinics usually cost less than $100. You'll spend more than that per day at a showcase and won't have a captive audience.Comment
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The fact that these things ARE becoming more popular with the college coaches should tell you what they think of the effectiveness of showcases as a recruiting tool.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Clinics are more money makers than for actually discovering or evaluating talent. They send out mass emails to their database and invite everyone. If you get personally invited to a clinic, then it's a different story.Comment
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We have been to several of these. There are usually less than 100 kids (typically about 50)and the amount of face time the players get with the school's coaching staff is greater than in any other environment. If you want to catch a coaches eye this is definitely the place to do it. The issue is you have to be able to deliver the goods and impress the coaches when you get there. Too many people get frustrated with these situations largely because they are chosing to attend clinics for programs that their children have absolutely no shot at playing in. Still, it is a heck of a lot cheaper way to find out your kid is a D3 prospect than the alternatives.Comment
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The coaches like them because they can send out one mass email and bring in $5-10,000 in a day. There are so many players in attendance who do not belong at any "recruiting" event for a D1 school that it's impossible for a coach to learn much of anything about a player who may actually belong.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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You are foolish if you think there is a more effecient way of getting on a coach's radar. Please tell us how you recommend doing that. Bet you are one of those who nitpick a $100 expenditure when you are spending 10's of thousands on showcase travel.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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As a parent of a keeper, I can say these one day "clinics" are fantastic!Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
Teams can make an average keeper look good at a tournament, there is no hiding at a clinic!
The best keeper is clearly evident at a clinic.
Great opportunity to interact with the coaching staff and returning players.Comment
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If our family could redo the HS soccer years, our kids would still play club at the highest level possible, while still playing HS in the fall and potentially another sport like basketball, track, or lacrosse. We'd likely encourage ODP freshman thru junior year to remain on regional college coaches radar. And we'd target clinics at specific colleges much earlier. Our oldest daughter was identified late in the recruiting cycle via a clinic. She showed better in free play than on her very structured, conservstive club team.Comment
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The important word is opportunity. IF your player is of the caliber the program recruits and IF they demonstrate it at the clinic this is a great way to go. IF they are not or don't then it is a rather inexpensive day of soccer.Comment
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My son is doing a couple of these this winter. We are trying to find the clinics that also invite coaches from surrounding colleges.Comment
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Be careful with quick clinics that claim to provide extensive exposure to multiple coaches and levels of play. It is tough to organize and evaluate too many players in a tight time frame. When a single school runs the clinic for their own benefit, if your child stands out, you know they won't be overlooked as may happen with too many kids or coaches in a different formatComment
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I agree (for field players too) - clinic can specifically isolate and show technical skills (or lack therof) that coaches are looking for- great opportunityfor strong players to show individual skills more effriciently then in a game/tournament in many casesOriginally posted by Unregistered View Post
coach in a game looking to win, focusing on team- college id camp clinic emphasis looking for individual skill (as well as team skill)- which wont show as well with 10 game touches vs 500 clinic touches
If you are truly elite, this is a chance to show it and will absolutely shine and get recruited-- in a tournament, the ball may be on your side of the field 2x while the coach is there for ten minutes, spottier odds.
Cant believe that 100 dollar fee is truly the issue - if you are that good 100 dollars gets you a scholarship - if not elite well you might be wasting the 100 but a tournament (which costs more then 100 dollars in gas food and hotel) wont get you there either in that case-
its a no brainer to pick the schools you want, show up at camp and if you are the best WILL be seen and recruited- if not means you werent the best thats the real truth.Comment
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