Which college ID camps are a SCAM?

So I know of a couple cases where some schools send a blind email to every player on some mailing list somewhere inviting them to their ID camp. For example, one was sent to a player on my DD's team that said, "I watched you play at the International Cup. You played GREAT! Come (spend money at) our camp!!!" Problem was, that player had a blown ACL and wasn't even at the game. In other cases, I know that everybody who played in a certain tourney was blindly invited.

The last thing I want to do is spend $400 on a camp that only wants my $400. Are there any schools that veteran parents know to avoid for this reason?

Camps are big money makers, just like tournaments.

I would only go to camps where you may be interested in the school hosting or have been communicating alot with a coach who will also be there. Most coaches will encourage your dd to come since no skin off their backs and she could be the missing piece they need.

Based on conversations with other nervous parents and observation, IMO, coaches from D2/D3 programs are more likley to make offers based on an ID camp. My DD was made an offer at a D1 camp, but the coach invited her to the camp after watching her play at a tournament.

I was at a different ID camp where a keeper flew in from GA, the coach even picked her up at the AP, and then he didn't give her the time of day/offer at the camp?

The best advice I have been given is to make a good video and post it to U-Tube. The coach my DD has committed with watched her play 3 games at a tournament, talked to her club coach during these games and made the offer after the tournament. I think the u-tube video link attached to her emails to him was key to getting his attention and getting him to this tournament.

This video has had approximately 450 hits and DD received many offers after she started adding a link to her video to her coaching contacts. Since my DD is a keep, 1/2was training sessions to show her technique and 1/2 was game video. I made the video myself and put it together with readily available video editing software. Found my little inexpensive sony cam okay but HAD to use a tripod or video too shakey. Coaches don't want shakey/out of focus clips but several said home made verses professional either didn't matter or they liked the home made better since it showed a high level of family committment.

MaggieMaggie wrote:I would only go to camps where you may be interested in the school hosting or have been communicating alot with a coach who will also be there.  Most coaches will encourage your dd to come since no skin off their backs and she could be the missing piece they need.  

Based on conversations with other nervous parents and observation, IMO, coaches from D2/D3 programs are more likley to make offers based on an ID camp.  My DD was made an offer at a D1 camp, but the coach invited her to the camp after watching her play at a tournament.

I was at a different ID camp where a keeper flew in from GA, the coach even picked her up at the AP, and then he didn't give her the time of day/offer at the camp?  

The best advice I have been given is to make a good video and post it to U-Tube.  The coach my DD has committed with watched her play 3 games at a tournament, talked to her club coach during these games and made the offer after the tournament.   I think the u-tube video link attached to her emails to him was key to getting his attention and getting him to this tournament.

This video has had approximately 450 hits and DD received many offers after she started adding a link to her video to her coaching contacts.  Since my DD is a keep, 1/2was training sessions to show her technique and 1/2 was game video.  I made the video myself and put it together with readily available video editing software.  Found my little inexpensive sony cam okay but HAD to use a tripod or video too shakey.  Coaches don't want shakey/out of focus clips but several said home made verses professional either didn't matter or they liked the home made better since it showed a high level of family committment.

Great info!!! Thank you!
  

aTmAg wrote:So I know of a couple cases where some schools send a blind email to every player on some mailing list somewhere inviting them to their ID camp.  For example, one was sent to a player on my DD's team that said, "I watched you play at the International Cup.  You played GREAT!  Come (spend money at) our camp!!!"  Problem was, that player had a blown ACL and wasn't even at the game.  In other cases, I know that everybody who played in a certain tourney was blindly invited.

The last thing I want to do is spend $400 on a camp that only wants my $400.  Are there any schools that veteran parents know to avoid for this reason?

anything the Aggots or Horns do is probably... well, you know.

The important part of smack talk is to actually provide the smack.

This video has had approximately 450 hits and DD received many offers after she started adding a link to her video to her coaching contacts. Since my DD is a keep, 1/2was training sessions to show her technique and 1/2 was game video. I made the video myself and put it together with readily available video editing software. Found my little inexpensive sony cam okay but HAD to use a tripod or video too shakey. Coaches don't want shakey/out of focus clips but several said home made verses professional either didn't matter or they liked the home made better since it showed a high level of family committment.

All good info, tripod a must!! I appreciate the training session vid info, as game vids can be sparse at times. My daughter is a keep as well.

Thanks so much!