Id Camps & Combines...When?

Looking for input on when we should start attending....my son is in 8th grade and we are receiving "invitations". It seems a little early to me, what do y'all think?

Enjoy life now! wrote:Looking for input on when we should start attending....my son is in 8th grade and we are receiving "invitations". It seems a little early to me, what do y'all think?

my 15 yr old niece played soccer at u6 and never finished the season. she is getting as many "invitations" as my DA son lol. don't travel far but feedback can't hurt if BB wants to give it a go

I wasn't bragging about the invitation, I'm sure that everyone with a profile in gotsoccer received an invitation. I don't use the forum as a place to brag or boast about where my son plays. He's doing well enough that his play speaks for itself.

The question is: When should a parent start considering the Id camps?

Enjoy life now! wrote:I wasn't bragging about the invitation, I'm sure that everyone with a profile in gotsoccer received an invitation.  I don't use the forum as a place to brag or boast about where my son plays.  He's doing well enough that his play speaks for itself.

The question is: When should a parent start considering the Id camps?

i didn't mention my niece because i thought you were bragging. my apologies. i think NOW is an okay time to do a local combine and get some feedback. i wouldn't travel to st louis or houston for that matter, to do one. if he is not on a PA or DA team you could get some insight (opinions) from those coaches this june.

Enjoy life now! wrote:Looking for input on when we should start attending....my son is in 8th grade and we are receiving "invitations". It seems a little early to me, what do y'all think?

On average we get 10 a week in ye old in box . IMHO you have time on your side . Most just want UR money.

Enjoy life now! wrote:I wasn't bragging about the invitation, I'm sure that everyone with a profile in gotsoccer received an invitation.  I don't use the forum as a place to brag or boast about where my son plays.  He's doing well enough that his play speaks for itself.

The question is: When should a parent start considering the Id camps?

College isn't like NTX soccer. The parents actually don't have to try out for the team, the players do instead!

Soccerinsanity wrote:

Enjoy life now! wrote:I wasn't bragging about the invitation, I'm sure that everyone with a profile in gotsoccer received an invitation.  I don't use the forum as a place to brag or boast about where my son plays.  He's doing well enough that his play speaks for itself.

The question is: When should a parent start considering the Id camps?

College isn't like NTX soccer.  The parents actually don't have to try out for the team, the players do instead!

LMAO! maybe your College

plantit wrote:

Enjoy life now! wrote:Looking for input on when we should start attending....my son is in 8th grade and we are receiving "invitations". It seems a little early to me, what do y'all think?

On average we get 10 a week in ye old in box . IMHO you have  time on your side . Most just want UR money.

That's kinda what I thought!

8th grade? Uh...no. At least not for boys. I wouldn't begin to think about college camps until summer before sophomore year. And that's mainly just for the "experience" of how those camps are run and what to expect.

id camps can be quite beneficial to the player trying to get on a coach's radar. But beware. They are a HUGE money grab!

Laimport wrote:8th grade? Uh...no. At least not for boys. I wouldn't begin to think about college camps until summer before sophomore year. And that's mainly just for the "experience" of how those camps are run and what to expect.

id camps can be quite beneficial to the player trying to get on a coach's radar. But beware. They are a HUGE money grab!

Thanks for the feedback!

Enjoy life now! wrote:

plantit wrote:

Enjoy life now! wrote:Looking for input on when we should start attending....my son is in 8th grade and we are receiving "invitations". It seems a little early to me, what do y'all think?

On average we get 10 a week in ye old in box . IMHO you have  time on your side . Most just want UR money.

That's kinda what I thought!  

When I say 10 I mean it's almost like spam in the inbox. If ur kid is a registered player he's gonna get slamed . Don't read to much into it .

received this email today.....SMU Boys Soccer Camp 2015

Spring is finally here and the weather is changing! Summer is just around the corner. We hope that you will consider joining us this summer at the SMU Boys Soccer Camp. We are one of the premier soccer camps in the United States. All camps are located on the beautiful campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Our College Prep Camps are designed to provide older players (15-18) an opportunity to showcase their talents while seeing what it is like to be a D1 student-athlete.

We have the following colleges CONFIRMED to attend the 2015 College Prep Camp:

SMU – All Coaches on Staff
University of Texas Dallas
East Texas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
Saint Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX)
West Texas A&M University
Centenary College
Heidelberg University

Please act quickly because 2015 summer camps are filling up fast.

2015 SMU Boys Soccer Camp
Half Day Camp
June 15-19
Ages 5-13
Full Day Camp
June 15-19
Ages 8-13
Residential Camp 1
July 8-11
Ages 10-14
College Prep Camp 1
July 8-11
Ages 15-18
Residential Camp 2
July 12-15
Ages 10-14
College Prep Camp 2
July 12-15
Ages 15-18

Registration and more information www.smumustangs.com/soccercamp

Questions? Please email or call: SMUboyssoccercamp@smu.edu or 214-952-4441

Kevin Hudson
SMU Soccer – Head Coach

soccerdadrandy wrote:received this email today.....SMU Boys Soccer Camp 2015

Spring is finally here and the weather is changing!  Summer is just around the corner.  We hope that you will consider joining us this summer at the SMU Boys Soccer Camp.  We are one of the premier soccer camps in the United States.  All camps are located on the beautiful campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  Our College Prep Camps are designed to provide older players (15-18) an opportunity to showcase their talents while seeing what it is like to be a D1 student-athlete.

We have the following colleges CONFIRMED to attend the 2015 College Prep Camp:

SMU – All Coaches on Staff
University of Texas Dallas
East Texas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
Saint Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX)
West Texas A&M University
Centenary College
Heidelberg University

Please act quickly because 2015 summer camps are filling up fast.  

2015 SMU Boys Soccer Camp
Half Day Camp
June 15-19
Ages 5-13
Full Day Camp
June 15-19
Ages 8-13
Residential Camp 1
July 8-11
Ages 10-14
College Prep Camp 1
July 8-11
Ages 15-18
Residential Camp 2
July 12-15
Ages 10-14
College Prep Camp 2
July 12-15
Ages 15-18

Registration and more information www.smumustangs.com/soccercamp

Questions?  Please email or call: SMUboyssoccercamp@smu.edu or 214-952-4441

Kevin Hudson
SMU Soccer – Head Coach

I got the same thing . Wow 8 whole collages. UNBELIVABLE. So If I pay and you have 100 players show up , and I assume this late in the game. these schools have a possible 2 spots, if that. That means my kid has a 16 to 100 chance

plantit wrote:

soccerdadrandy wrote:received this email today.....SMU Boys Soccer Camp 2015

Spring is finally here and the weather is changing!  Summer is just around the corner.  We hope that you will consider joining us this summer at the SMU Boys Soccer Camp.  We are one of the premier soccer camps in the United States.  All camps are located on the beautiful campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  Our College Prep Camps are designed to provide older players (15-18) an opportunity to showcase their talents while seeing what it is like to be a D1 student-athlete.

We have the following colleges CONFIRMED to attend the 2015 College Prep Camp:

SMU – All Coaches on Staff
University of Texas Dallas
East Texas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
Saint Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX)
West Texas A&M University
Centenary College
Heidelberg University

Please act quickly because 2015 summer camps are filling up fast.  

2015 SMU Boys Soccer Camp
Half Day Camp
June 15-19
Ages 5-13
Full Day Camp
June 15-19
Ages 8-13
Residential Camp 1
July 8-11
Ages 10-14
College Prep Camp 1
July 8-11
Ages 15-18
Residential Camp 2
July 12-15
Ages 10-14
College Prep Camp 2
July 12-15
Ages 15-18

Registration and more information www.smumustangs.com/soccercamp

Questions?  Please email or call: SMUboyssoccercamp@smu.edu or 214-952-4441

Kevin Hudson
SMU Soccer – Head Coach

I got the same thing . Wow 8 whole collages.  UNBELIVABLE.   So If I pay and you have 100 players show up , and I assume this late in the game. these  schools have a possible 2 spots, if that.  That means my kid has a 16 to 100  chance

using your numbers of 16 available spots. assume only 50 or less are high school seniors, now you have a 16 out of 50 chance. either scenario is higher than the 8-9 percent of high school players that actually go on to play college soccer. http://www.cnbc.com/id/101980451

soccerdadrandy wrote:

plantit wrote:

soccerdadrandy wrote:received this email today.....SMU Boys Soccer Camp 2015

Spring is finally here and the weather is changing!  Summer is just around the corner.  We hope that you will consider joining us this summer at the SMU Boys Soccer Camp.  We are one of the premier soccer camps in the United States.  All camps are located on the beautiful campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  Our College Prep Camps are designed to provide older players (15-18) an opportunity to showcase their talents while seeing what it is like to be a D1 student-athlete.

We have the following colleges CONFIRMED to attend the 2015 College Prep Camp:

SMU – All Coaches on Staff
University of Texas Dallas
East Texas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
Saint Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX)
West Texas A&M University
Centenary College
Heidelberg University

Please act quickly because 2015 summer camps are filling up fast.  

2015 SMU Boys Soccer Camp
Half Day Camp
June 15-19
Ages 5-13
Full Day Camp
June 15-19
Ages 8-13
Residential Camp 1
July 8-11
Ages 10-14
College Prep Camp 1
July 8-11
Ages 15-18
Residential Camp 2
July 12-15
Ages 10-14
College Prep Camp 2
July 12-15
Ages 15-18

Registration and more information www.smumustangs.com/soccercamp

Questions?  Please email or call: SMUboyssoccercamp@smu.edu or 214-952-4441

Kevin Hudson
SMU Soccer – Head Coach

I got the same thing . Wow 8 whole collages.  UNBELIVABLE.   So If I pay and you have 100 players show up , and I assume this late in the game. these  schools have a possible 2 spots, if that.  That means my kid has a 16 to 100  chance

using your numbers of 16 available spots. assume only 50 or less are high school seniors, now you have a 16 out of 50 chance. either scenario is higher than the 8-9 percent of high school players that actually go on to play college soccer. http://www.cnbc.com/id/101980451

16 I was being generous.

http://events.gotsport.com/events/collegecoaches.aspx?EventID=40484

If you want to spend your money on a general soccer camp go right ahead. Which school is your son interested in? Target only the schools of interest. If it is SMU then email the coach directly and make sure he is watching your BB throughout the camp. If the assistant coaches (in charge of recruiting) does not answer back expressing a genuine interest in your BB then it will be a waste of your money. The coaches try to sell the idea that "we always select a player from our camp" and give an example of years past.

Depor wrote:If you want to spend your money on a general soccer camp go right ahead. Which school is your son interested in? Target only the schools of interest. If it is SMU then email the coach directly and make sure he is watching your BB throughout the camp. If the assistant coaches (in charge of recruiting) does not answer back expressing a genuine interest in your BB then it will be a waste of your money. The coaches try to sell the idea that "we always select a player from our camp" and give an example of years past.

great pointers

The id camp/combine process is very hit and miss. In fact, the whole "college recruiting" process is not always about finding the best players.

A lot of variables come into play. Few of which involve actual player quality. Most 16/17 year olds have no idea what they want to study or even have a definitive list of potential schools.

Everybody wants to play "d1" and yet they don't see the big picture. A lot of kids that get "d1 offers" are simply being offered a roster spot. And they end up paying nearly full price for the "prestige" of being on a d1 roster.

If you have the money to go to all these camps, fine.

If you are an exceptional student, and can actually play, you can actually get a better package at a smaller school. Especially a d3 school. And in many cases, the academics are better as well.

Many naia and d2 schools bring in a lot of foreign players. And that's where the scholarship money tends to go.

Soccer is not a revenue sport. That's why the talent is often spread out amongst the different divisions. Because money, geography and academics are the primary considerations for most players and their families.

Why go to a d1 when you are likely going to be sitting the bench as well as paying nearly full price for the prestige of saying you are "d1"? You can't develop as a player if you don't actually play.

player identification?? not in the USA lol

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/03/25/08/57/150325-mnt-ibarra-journey-to-the-national-team

“He has a lot of cards in his pockets,” Klinsmann told reporters in the lead-up to that match. “He's an endless runner, he can tie up [defenders], he's technically very gifted, he has a great vision, he sees through people to play the killer balls, he's not afraid in front of the goal to finish things himself. There's a huge amount of talent there, and while he's in the middle of that process, he's developing a personality.”

soccerdadrandy wrote:player identification?? not in the USA lol

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/03/25/08/57/150325-mnt-ibarra-journey-to-the-national-team

“He has a lot of cards in his pockets,” Klinsmann told reporters in the lead-up to that match. “He's an endless runner, he can tie up [defenders], he's technically very gifted, he has a great vision, he sees through people to play the killer balls, he's not afraid in front of the goal to finish things himself. There's a huge amount of talent there, and while he's in the middle of that process, he's developing a personality.”

another Cali product yea

Laimport wrote:
A lot of variables come into play. Few of which involve actual player quality. Most 16/17 year olds have no idea what they want to study or even have a definitive list of potential schools.

Everybody wants to play "d1" and yet they don't see the big picture. A lot of kids that get "d1 offers" are simply being offered a roster spot. And they end up paying nearly full price for the "prestige" of being on a d1 roster.

If you have the money to go to all these camps, fine.

If you are an exceptional student, and can actually play, you can actually get a better package at a smaller school. Especially a d3 school. And in many cases, the academics are better as well.

Many naia and d2 schools bring in a lot of foreign players. And that's where the scholarship money tends to go.

Soccer is not a revenue sport. That's why the talent is often spread out amongst the different divisions. Because money, geography and academics are the primary considerations for most players and their families.

Why go to a d1 when you are likely going to be sitting the bench as well as paying nearly full price for the prestige of saying you are "d1"? You can't develop as a player if you don't actually play.

Let me preface this by saying.  Academic snob.   And not overly concerned about cost of college.  

Yeah, agree, a lot of variables.  In general the parents need to be the ones guiding the 16/17 year old.  Right?    It all just depends on what you think your endgame is.   That kind of defines your "big picture".  

D1 is a BIG spectrum.  There are 205 teams.  A LOT of them are ungood academically.   I looked at the list, and (being generous) I think maybe a quarter are academically respectable.  And that includes dens of buttholery like PSU and UDub.    I can't imagine there is much prestige to playing D1 if you are at Incarnate Word or Utah Valley State.   Or 100+ other schools.   Yes, could be at a bad academic school (like Akron, Coastal Car, MSU, Clemson, etc) and playing on a very good soccer team.  Maybe there is some prestige to that, I guess.  But D1 soccer is too big to not have a bunch of crap.   No doubt.  

But...if you want to go to an actual good school.   The bulk of them that have soccer, have D1 soccer.  60% of the top40 national universities.  So..if your priority is to go to a good college, and..you'd like to play soccer as well....even if it means not playing that much.....you might want to look at the D1 schools first.  

As pretty much none of the decent academic ones are ANYWHERE close to here.  You might have to take the mountain to Mohammed as it were.   Thus the camps?  

If you want to go to college just so you can keep playing soccer, or cause you think its the next big step in your development as a soccer professional, then your 16/17 yr old would get different guidance than mine.  

Cheers

Number13 wrote:

Laimport wrote:
A lot of variables come into play. Few of which involve actual player quality. Most 16/17 year olds have no idea what they want to study or even have a definitive list of potential schools.

Everybody wants to play "d1" and yet they don't see the big picture. A lot of kids that get "d1 offers" are simply being offered a roster spot. And they end up paying nearly full price for the "prestige" of being on a d1 roster.

If you have the money to go to all these camps, fine.

If you are an exceptional student, and can actually play, you can actually get a better package at a smaller school. Especially a d3 school. And in many cases, the academics are better as well.

Many naia and d2 schools bring in a lot of foreign players. And that's where the scholarship money tends to go.

Soccer is not a revenue sport. That's why the talent is often spread out amongst the different divisions. Because money, geography and academics are the primary considerations for most players and their families.

Why go to a d1 when you are likely going to be sitting the bench as well as paying nearly full price for the prestige of saying you are "d1"? You can't develop as a player if you don't actually play.

Let me preface this by saying.  Academic snob.   And not overly concerned about cost of college.  

Yeah, agree, a lot of variables.  In general the parents need to be the ones guiding the 16/17 year old.  Right?    It all just depends on what you think your endgame is.   That kind of defines your "big picture".  

D1 is a BIG spectrum.  There are 205 teams.  A LOT of them are ungood academically.   I looked at the list, and (being generous) I think maybe a quarter are academically respectable.  And that includes dens of buttholery like PSU and UDub.    I can't imagine there is much prestige to playing D1 if you are at Incarnate Word or Utah Valley State.   Or 100+ other schools.   Yes, could be at a bad academic school (like Akron, Coastal Car, MSU, Clemson, etc) and playing on a very good soccer team.  Maybe there is some prestige to that, I guess.  But D1 soccer is too big to not have a bunch of crap.   No doubt.  

But...if you want to go to an actual good school.   The bulk of them that have soccer, have D1 soccer.  60% of the top40 national universities.  So..if your priority is to go to a good college, and..you'd like to play soccer as well....even if it means not playing that much.....you might want to look at the D1 schools first.  

As pretty much none of the decent academic ones are ANYWHERE close to here.  You might have to take the mountain to Mohammed as it were.   Thus the camps?  

If you want to go to college just so you can keep playing soccer, or cause you think its the next big step in your development as a soccer professional, then your 16/17 yr old would get different guidance than mine.  

Cheers

Gotta give you credit. You're consistent.

Haven't done a lot of formal research, but I wouldn't say Clemson is crap.

I agree it depends on what the endgame is. Problem is, very few kids are really THAT focused. (Yeah its our job to guide them but parental influence only goes so far. And if they are they will likely end up in therapy when things don't work out.

I agree there's a lot of crap in college soccer. In all divisions. But there's also a lot of talent across all divisions.

There are twice as many d3 programs as there are d1. And I think the typical d3 is going to have better academics than the typical d1.

pick your college based on where you want to go to school, where you want to live and your career choice. The soccer can be a tool to help you get to where you want. But for the most part college is where soccer goes to die so forget development, D1 etc and start thinking about what you want to do when you hang the boots up

Consistent is something.   Thanks for keeping it diverse, I never know what you will say next.        

Yep, 17 yrs old is too old to influence them much.   Kids mimic what you tell them all along.  If you are talking pro soccer and scholarships and the soccer lifestyle to them their whole life, than you are gonna get a 17 yr old kid who is gonna do something different from the one that has been told academics, academics, academics their whole life while downplaying soccer.  

Clemson is on the high end of academic crap.  Not total crap like Louisville or NCSt, but for the ACC its pretty much crap.  Ok, maybe lumping it with Akron is too harsh.   If you are going to Akron you are going all-in on soccer star or Lebron groupie.    

I would guess the distribution of "good" vs "bad" on academics in D1 vs D3 is probably similar, mostly bad.   There are certainly a lot of stinkers in D1.   There are D1 programs at schools that accept 90%+ of the applicants.  Beauty school is a better college choice than that.   I don't know, I didn't dig into all the D3 schools.    Your "good" academic choices are just different types of colleges.   You get Tufts, Chicago, Brandeis, Emory, etc in D3 vs Duke, Stanford, Ivy, ND, Wake, UCLA/Cal, etc in D1.   From a social fit, I would guess D1 would be better for my people.  

Point all along being, I would pick the academic fits first (excluding VAST majority of choices), then think about soccer.   Almost nobody is good enough at soccer for it mean much after 18.