How to select the right lacrosse camp
Dec 27, 2003

Summer sports camps are a fantastic opportunity for youths who want to play or learn to play a sport. Not all sports camps are the same. The "buzz" about a particular camp, whether the talk is among parents or youths, should always be 'taken with a grain of salt'. I strongly recommend that parents and their youths discuss the youth's camping selection together prior to choosing a camp.
by Gerald Goulder, editor, YouthLacrosseUSA.com

Overview

I cannot sufficiently stress that not all camps are the same. Not all lacrosse camps are as they are marketed. Lacrosse camp is expensive. You should not choose a camp just because a big name lacrosse player, coach, college or sports manufacturer is associated with the camp. Not all players, coaches, schools and sports manufacturers can run a camp, teach lacrosse or supervise one or several hundred youths.

In my experience and for my money the Camp Director, his experience and reputation, and that camp's reputation are always crucial factors in selecting a lacrosse camp. Many college and university lacrosse camps are not really managed by the university or their coach. The camp may be contracted out.

The camp staff may be adult coaches, college students or even high school students. Teaching abilities may vary widely among individual camp staff which takes me back to the Camp Director and the Camp's reputation--who is hiring the camp staff and on what bases are they being hired. A low camp staff to camper ratio has different meanings depending on the maturity and teaching and sport skills of the staff. And just because someone can coach a sport at the college level doesn't mean he/she can teach a sport at the elementary, middle or high school levels.

Other factors to consider which will be addressed below include: camp location; overnight or day camp; type of camp (instructional, game playing, positional, recruiting camps;camp facilities; camp staff; previous campers' experiences; your goals in attending lacrosse camp; and your current lacrosse skills.

Location
There are many factors to consider when choosing a camp. In my experience location drives many of the key concerns in selecting a camp.

The first two items that must be discussed are location and whether the camp is an overnight camp or a day camp. Location is important. How far are you willing to travel to get to camp? Are you looking for a day camp or an over-night camp? And, of course, in many regions you may need to travel to attend a good lacrosse camp, whereas, in other regions you may have many camps close by.

Closely related is how far are others in your area traveling to go to camp? Is it important to you that there be other children from your home area at the camp? It has always been my belief that youths have more fun at camp when they share their camp experience with one or more friends from their home area.

Another concern is supervision. Are there any camp staffers from your home area. Is there a local coach on the camp staff? Have other youths from your home area attended the camp previously?

Types of Lacrosse Camps

Once you have considered the geographic area in which you are looking for a camp, the next item to consider is the type of camp you want to attend. Are you a beginning player looking to learn basic lacrosse skills? Or have you played for several years already? If you have been playing for several years have you and your coaches discussed the position(s) you play well?

General Instruction Camps
There are General Instruction camps, Position camps, Game/Team camps and Recruiting camps. The parent and youth should make an honest evaluation of what the youth is looking for when going to lacrosse camp.

At General Instruction camps more focus will be placed on drills, skills and rules. Better general instruction camps will teach individual skills based on the player's position and skill level. At better general instruction camps the camper will be coached by an experienced lacrosse coach who accomplished at teaching young players.

Generally, these camps include positional drills and skills development followed by game play each day.

Game Camps
The Game Camps are designed for more experienced players who has been playing competitive lacrosse at youth and either the middle school or the high school level.

Some game camps the campers are divided into camp teams from the start of camp. At other game camps, entire high school teams come to play and improve as a team. Many team camps allow "at-large" players to attend, as well. "At-large" players comprise separate teams from the high school teams that attend. Camp staff coach "at-large" teams while usually the team's assistant coach will coach the high school's team.

Game camps are not as instructional. Camp teams are established and games are scheduled. Usually, the teams play competitively for the "Camp Championship".

Game or team camps are an exceptional opportunity for players to get in significant competitive game play in a relatively short period of time. And, as playing against quality competition is really the only way to improve one's play these camps offer an excellent opportunity to improve one's lacrosse play.

I personally, am a big believer in team camps, where they are affordable. Even if your high school can only get half a team to attend, the experience is extremely worthwhile. Your team gets the opportunity to bond and build some critical team chemistry between the players and the coach. And, your players get in a lot of lacrosse games in a relatively short period of time.

Recruiting Camps
There are two main types of lacrosse recruiting camps. One is the camp where college coaches are known to attend to observe prospects. College coaches generally attend recruiting camps outside of their home regions to get a chance to watch talent they would not otherwise have a chance to see in their home region.

The second type of recruiting camp is the lacrosse camp at a particular college or university that is run by that school's coaching staff. One might want to attend a lacrosse camp at the school where one hopes to attend college even if you don't get a college scholarship or grant, just to get to know the coaching staff.

I think it is important to state the obvious about college coaches' lacrosse camps. They run these camps to supplement their income.

Recruiting camps are generally recommended for lacrosse players entering their junior and senior years in high school.

I personally believe that the concept of the lacrosse recruiting camps as oversold- mostly by those who make money from recruiting camps. Yes, if your youth is a legitimate D-1 college prospect it is important to be seen by those college coaches. On the other hand, D-1 college coaches have the means to identify and find out about your youth without playing at a particular camp.

The large D-1 college coaches know high school coaches in your area and will ask them about your youth player. You can send the coaches tapes of your player's games. And, there are many recruiting tournaments during the year where coaches can see players.

But I also know how crazy college sports and recruiting gets.

Some recruiting camps can be very expensive. A few even require an application and non-refundable fee.

Before getting too involved with a particular recruiting camp I urge parents to do their homework. The quality of the Camp Director and Camp Staff should still be the over-riding consideration.

Position Camps
Position Camps are designed to enhance skills important for each lacrosse field position. Like any sport, for better or worse, lacrosse has become increasingly specialized. And, like other sports, skill levels are also increasing.

At position camps, players are generally instructed by college players who play particular positions and campers are given specific training for that position. Generally, these position camps take place within a larger lacrosse camp attended by other lacrosse players in order that the campers can get in some game play, too.

It would be a mistake to believe one has to choose one's position once and for all time prior to attending a position camp. Many coaches and players firmly believe their lacrosse play improves the more they understand about playing the different positions on the team. Both offensive and defensive play improves with understanding about how the other positions are played.

I also want to emphasize that not all position camps are equal. Just because someone is a good coach or player does not mean he/she is a good teacher of that position.

Skill Level:
Most lacrosse camps allow lacrosse players of all skill levels to attend and then group the campers by age and skill levels. Different camps, however, are better for certain skill levels, however. It is important to know the skill level that is the focus at the lacrosse camp you choose. Please spend some time looking into this aspect of any camp.

Facilities:
Facilities can really make a big difference at a lacrosse camp. You want to play on good fields. You want the fields to be in good shape. You want the fields to be relatively accessible to the campers from their dorms, not a long trek. You want an adequate number of lighted fields for evening play. (You are only at lacrosse camp a few days/nights and you should be able to make the most of it.) And, moreover, because of heat index play safety, depending on the weather some afternoon play may not be healthy.

Friends:
Many lacrosse players would rather attend a camp with their friends or school teammates. Please keep in mind that making "group" arrangements is more time-consuming than making individual decisions. Better lacrosse camps are kept limited in size and, thus, registrations are cut off on a first-come, first-served basis. It is important for you to get your friends and their parents focused on selecting lacrosse camp early in the season.

Legalities:
Perhaps because I am an attorney who has built and managed a successful business I am surprised at the various matters involved and the sheer number of complaints YouthLacrosseUSA.com has received about lacrosse camps.

A lacrosse camp is still a camp. It's just a business. Anyone can open a lacrosse camp. Lacrosse camps are not licensed. Names are licensed. Just because a name is used on a camp business that does not mean the person's whose name is being used is involved in the camp.

Don't choose a lacrosse camp just because of player's name, a coach's name or a university's name is attached to the camp name or location. If you are sending your youths to spend several days and nights at a lacrosse camp take the time and make the effort to know who you are dealing with.

Know the name of the Camp Director at the camp and the location you send your children to. Get an understanding of how the youths will be supervised and who will be supervising them. What qualifications do camp staff have to teach lacrosse? Does the Camp Director and the camp staff have any previous successful experience? Get references.

What insurance does the camp carry? Get a copy of their certificate of insurance-who's name is the insured? How financially stable is the camp/business? Ask. Is your camp deposit going into someone's pocket or into a separate escrow account that will get paid upon provision of the services? What about dorm room key deposits? What account do key deposits go into and how soon upon return of the dorm key will you receive your deposit back? When you pick up your youth or maybe six months later? Who is providing security at the camp? How are emergency medical services to be handled at the camp? If the camp is being held at a college or university how involved will the university be in overseeing the camp and it's staff?

Make sure your Camp Director has a Heat Index Policy

I have visited dozens of lacrosse camps. And I am surprised there are no standards concerning a heat index policy. I have seen different camps allow children to play and not allow children to play on similar hot, humid summer days, even though the Heat Index indicated that the youths should not be playing.

Lacrosse camps at caught in a tough place when faced with adverse weather. They are outdoors. And they are held during the summer. The camps have collected a lot of money from their campers to come play lacrosse. And the camp lasts for only a few days. If the kids don't get to play enough lacrosse then the kids will feel that the camp is not a good camp, and the camp may suffer adverse financial consequences.

I would expect parents to require a heat Index policy in writing from any camp they send their children to. You might also ask if the Camp Director owns and knows how to use a Heat Index Thermometer. They cost about $100 and can save lives and avoid countless illnesses.

Heat Index Thermometers are readily available and cost about $100.

Heat Index

Our bodies dissipate heat by varying the rate and depth of blood circulation, by losing water through the skin and sweat glands, and as a last resort, by panting, when blood is heated above 98.6°F. Sweating cools the body through evaporation. However, high relative humidity retards evaporation, robbing the body of its ability to cool itself.

When heat gain exceeds the level the body can remove, body temperature begins to rise, and heat related illnesses and disorders may develop.

The heat index combines the effects of heat and humidity. When heat and humidity combine to reduce the amount of evaporation of sweat from the body, outdoor exercise becomes dangerous even for those in good shape. Key rules for coping with heat are to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and to slow down and cool off when feeling fatigued, a headache, a high pulse rate or shallow breathing. Overheating can cause serious, even life-threatening conditions such as heat stroke. The apparent temperature, which combines the temperature and relative humidity, is a guide to the danger. Below is the heat stress index based on the apparent temperature.

The Heat Index (HI) is the temperature the body feels when heat and humidity are combined. The chart below shows the HI that corresponds to the actual air temperature and relative humidity. (This chart is based upon shady, light wind conditions. Exposure to direct sunlight can increase the HI by up to 15°F.)

Lastly, if you are sending several youths to a lacrosse camp, or there are several youths from your school planning on attending a lacrosse camp definitely ask team and group discounts. Youths like to attend camp with several friends from their youth lacrosse program or team. You have bargaining power here. And the more youths who attend a camp from the same youth lacrosse program or team, the more bargaining power you have. Also, be aware that some camps give "spifs" or a form of commission to coaches when a team attends a lacrosse camp. Take a few minutes to find out how many youths from your youth lacrosse program or high school plan on attending a particular lacrosse camp or lacrosse camps operated by the same company. It could save you a lot of money.