How to Choose a Football Camp: A Guide for Players and Parents

Why Attend a Football Camp

Football camps offer concentrated skill development, exposure to college coaches, and competition against players from other programs. Whether you are a middle schooler learning fundamentals or a high school junior seeking college attention, the right camp can accelerate your development.

Types of Football Camps

Understanding the different camp formats helps you choose one that matches your goals.

College Camps

Hosted by college programs at their facilities, these camps give you direct exposure to college coaches. Division I camps are often competitive and serve as informal tryouts for recruiting purposes. Division II, III, and NAIA camps may focus more on instruction while still evaluating talent.

College camps provide the added benefit of experiencing campus life. You can tour facilities, meet current players, and get a sense of whether the program might be a good fit.

Position-Specific Camps

These camps focus on one position group, such as quarterbacks, offensive linemen, or defensive backs. Expert instructors provide detailed technique work that generalist camps cannot match.

Position camps are ideal for players who know their position and want intensive skill development. Many are run by former NFL players or respected position coaches.

Combine-Style Camps

Combines test athletic ability through standardized measurements: 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, shuttle runs, and position drills. Results create a measurable profile that can be shared with college coaches.

These camps are useful for establishing baseline measurables and comparing yourself against other players. Services like NCSA and Rivals host regional and national combines.

Mega Camps

Some universities host large camps featuring coaches from multiple schools. These events let you get evaluated by many programs in a single day. They are efficient but can feel impersonal compared to single-school camps.

Local Skills Camps

Run by high school programs, training facilities, or youth organizations, local camps provide instruction at lower cost without travel expenses. They are excellent for younger players or those not yet ready for elite competition.

What to Look For in a Camp

Coaching Quality

Research who will actually be coaching. Big-name camps sometimes use graduate assistants for most instruction while the head coach makes brief appearances. Smaller camps with hands-on coaching from experienced instructors often provide more value.

Player-to-Coach Ratio

Lower ratios mean more individual attention. Camps with 8-10 players per coach allow for meaningful feedback. Camps with 20+ players per coach become crowd-control exercises.

Skill Level Match

Attending a camp above your ability level can be discouraging and unproductive. Attending one below your level wastes your time. Look for camps that specify grade levels, experience requirements, or skill assessments.

Facilities and Schedule

Check what facilities are available. Indoor options matter if weather is a concern. Review the daily schedule to understand the balance between instruction, competition, and recovery.

Safety Protocols

Camps should have certified athletic trainers on-site and heat illness protocols. Ask about their policies before registering.

Getting the Most Out of Camp

Before You Go

Get in shape. Camps are physically demanding, and fatigue leads to poor performance and injury risk. Work on conditioning in the weeks before camp.

Prepare your highlight video and academic information. Bring copies to share with coaches at college camps.

Know the camp schedule and pack accordingly. Bring extra socks, properly fitted cleats, and all required equipment.

During Camp

Arrive early. First impressions matter, especially at college camps. Coaches notice who is prepared and engaged before drills begin.

Ask questions. Coaches respect players who want to learn. If you do not understand a technique, ask for clarification.

Compete on every rep. Effort and intensity matter as much as results. Coaches evaluate attitude and work ethic alongside physical ability.

Stay positive. Camps are exhausting, and everyone makes mistakes. How you respond to failure reveals your character.

After Camp

Send thank-you emails to coaches within a few days. Reference specific things you learned or enjoyed about the camp. This follow-up keeps you on their radar.

Apply what you learned in your regular training. Take notes during camp if allowed so you remember key coaching points.

Cost Considerations

Camp fees vary widely:

• Local skills camps: $50-150
• College day camps: $75-200
• College overnight camps: $200-500
• Elite national camps: $300-800+

Additional costs include travel, lodging (for day camps), meals, and equipment. Some camps offer scholarships or reduced rates for players who demonstrate financial need.

Evaluating Value

A more expensive camp is not automatically better. Consider what you get for your money. A $500 overnight camp with excellent instruction and real college exposure may be worth more than a $100 local camp that teaches nothing new.

That said, not every player needs elite camps. Younger players and those still developing benefit from quality local instruction. Save the expensive camps for when you are ready to compete at that level.

Red Flags to Avoid

Guaranteed scholarships: No legitimate camp promises college offers. Camps that suggest otherwise are selling false hope.

Pay-to-play rating services: Some camps charge extra for “evaluations” or “rankings” that carry no weight with college coaches.

Overcrowded sessions: If registration is unlimited or numbers seem too high, individual attention will be minimal.

Hidden costs: Watch for camps that add fees for t-shirts, insurance, or other items after initial registration.

Recommended Camp Timing

Middle school (grades 6-8): Focus on local skills camps and position-specific development. Build fundamentals before chasing exposure.

Freshman and sophomore years: Begin attending college camps at realistic target schools. Continue skill development through quality instruction.

Junior year: This is your prime exposure year. Prioritize camps at schools where you have a genuine chance of playing. Attend combines to establish measurables.

Senior year: Limited value unless you are uncommitted and still seeking opportunities. Focus on your high school season.

Choose camps strategically, prepare thoroughly, and compete with maximum effort. The right camp experience can shape your development and open doors to the next level.