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Football Camps and Clinics: What should I Go Too?

Football Camps and Clinics: What should I Go Too?

One of the questions we get most at our position as gate keepers of recruiting information regards what camps and clinics a football player trying to get exposure should go to.  Let’s be more specific.  Because too many people are  looking to separate the athletes from their money and camps are popping up everywhere. So OregonPreps.com / WashingtonPreps.com has a NEW POLICY regarding where we will be and what we will attend.

First of all ask yourself what you are looking for.  If you wish to improve your skills then get to a specialty coach who can train you.  There are a lot of them out there.  Those type of progressive work outs should be attended based upon who is holding them.  For instance if your a Linemen do not go to a quarterbacks camp.  Make sure you are working with someone like Tim Bowman who has coached linemen collegiately for years.  Tim is hosting the Line of Scrimmage Camp again this year July 25th through the 28th. Information is Here.

But if it is exposure you seek and you are trying to compete with the best then that is a different matter entirely. As editors for the Nation’s #1 recruiting network, Rivals.com, we are asked to attend many camps and clinics.  The fact is we have been to them all.  And because of a decade of experience attending these camps as well as the fact that we have had kids of our won be recruited through the process we understand their importance.

As the past few years have rolled along it has become more difficult to see the benefits in many of them.  In fact that is becoming more so the case every day.

The reason is that the NCAA no longer allows college coaches to attend these events (there are a few excpetions like the Jason Gesser Camp).  Especially if there is a “Combine” element to the event.  That means testing of 40 time, shuttle, bench, etc. .  So the first question to ask is “Why would I go to this event?”.

Here are some tips to help you sort this all out that will break this all down for you:

  • Will there be college coaches there working with me or evaluating me?
  • Will there be filming and will I that film be distributed free of charge to college programs?
  • Will the events results be posted and distributed and if I do not compete well will I be able to scratch my results at my option?
  • Who is running the camp and are they knowledgeable?  Have they stood the test of time and what have their previous camps been like?
  • Who is being invited and who will I compete against?
  • And the most important question has to do with the #1 Factor regarding these sort of events.  Are the major Recruiting Networks coming and covering this event and will they be provided access to my information so they can follow up with and contact me?

    The reason this last question is important is that the #1 way to get exposure is to have someone like the staff of OregonPreps.com or WashingtonPreps.com (Rivals.com) see you and write favorably about you.  Same goes for writers from SCOUT.com or ESPN Rise.  One story by one of the major network writers can put your information into the raging river of recruiting information by the credible analysts that College Coaches and recruiters have come to know and trust.

    The key is in knowing if the group or promoter running the camp will provide a camp roster and information to the Media who show up.  Believe it or not many of these events mis-represent things and say “Our camp will Feature writers/analysts from Rivals.com, Scout.com, MaxPreps.com and others” and then once there campers find no one watching from the Media.
    The reason is that people need to fill camps and that they are used to all of us Media Types showing up.  But that has changed.  To show up at an event and not be compensated and watch 200-400 athletes compete and then not have their name or contact info is fruitless for us.  And many of our contemporaries are feeling the same way.  So our policies are changing now.
    Take the SCHUMAN’s National Underclassmen Combine being held this weekend.  We will not be there as our requests for information about campers attending were declined.
    So this weekend you will not see our staff rolling film or spending our time covering the camp and events.  Please be aware that is any of you are relying on the facts presented on the Internet listed here http://www.nationalunderclassmen.com/ViewArticle.dbml?PRINTABLE_PAGE=YES&ATCLID=204980109&DB_OEM_ID=23100 they are now  inaccurate and false. That information indicates that Rivals.com is the Sponsor of the NUC and that you will get a Rivals.com profile that is completely untrue. That relationship apparently ended months ago.  If you are upset about that or thought we were going to be there you need to seek a refund or other remedies as you see fit.
    It is foolish for any camp or clinic organizer in our view not to provide the names and contact info of those attending as an athlete and a parent attending a camp are looking for one thing. Exposure.  Sharing contact info with the best Prep editors in the region is part of that. 

    Campers at the Northwest Elite Football Camp in 2010 got after it and gained valuable coaching and exposure

    In stark contrast is the Northwest Elite Football Camp June 10th in Seattle.  Coach Jason Gesser who runs and directs this fast paced camps will not only have Collegiate Coaches there from multiple D-1 and D-2 Schools but he immediately offered to provide us ahead of the camp with a spreadsheet with all relevant data on each of you coming.  We will be there is force with cameras rolling.  Bottom line!  And Coach Gesser gets the fact that our coverage and other networks coverage means you will reap the most benefit.  The Northwest Elite Football camp will be a terrific event and we highly recommend you go. Get the information on the link above and get to camp.
    Other camps we will be at include the Line of Scrimmage, Air Assault Football, the Nike NFTC Camps, and the 5 Star Performance Camps in Oregon and Washington.  If you want exposure from Oregonpreps.com or WashingtonPreps.com and Rivals.com get to these events or call us to check on other camps and events you are planning to attend.
    And we want to advocate 110% for you to make attending a college summer camp a priority if you have reason to believe they are interested in you. That could include a letter inviting you, a phone call, or a personal invite.  The new thinking is to attend these contact camps for 1-2 days and then move on to another camp.  There is absolutly no better way to gain the respect and an offer from a collegiate program then to go to them directly.  This includes D1 through D-3 Schools alike.  Get to these camps!
    The world has changed in recruiting.  Make sure that wherever you go is an event that is going to be to your benefit.  We hope to see you out there on the road!

    Come out in July and get full exposure, a combine, and access to all Media at the 5 star performance camps listed below.  Call Dirk Knudsen our editor at 503-799-8383 to ask questions or discuss these events and more anytime!  Free of Charge of Course!


    A Combine, Camp, Media Shoot, Recruiting Information, and Filming will all be part of the Football Event at Aloha High Schoolas the the 5 Star Camp in July. Click Here for info and to get registered for this camp!

    Auburn Mountain View will be a blaze with action and fun on July 31st, Sunday as the 5 Star Performance Camp makes its stop there for students going into 8th through 12th grade. Click for info!

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 17 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.

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  1. Saul Gomez

    January 2, 2015 at 4:22 am

    Military family just moved to Whidbey Island looking for football pre conditioning, combines, etc aside from training at home in preparation for 13 y/o sons freshman football. Pop warner and flag football RB since age 5/6. Please advise. Thx.

    • Dirk Knudsen

      January 2, 2015 at 9:01 am

      Saul- This is a tough one as a kid going into his Freshmen year really does not need to do any combines or specialty work per se. I will be posting many opportunities as the Spring moves ahead. First stop should be a meeting with your High School Coach- many of them have programs to bring the 8th graders in. As far as training I would research what you are doing. I coached youth football for 15 years and have 3 players in my home. I would no longer advocate weight training at that age as it stimulates hormonal growth before it is natural and will rob height from your son. Speed and Agility work is the best. He should be competing in 2 or 3 sports as the benefits of cross training and using different large muscle groups is well documented. Run Track if he is going to be a skill guy. Keep an eye out here at NWPR and you will find articles posted often about the events we recommend. Thanks for visiting our site!

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