Are my expectations not in line?

Camps are used for either skill development or recruiting.   This camp reads like a skill development camp.  Typically, if it is a recruiting camp the recruits are there to showcase established D1 skills that are close to what the school is looking for.  I can't think of a D1 program recruiting camp that would be looking at 2025s throwing 80mph tops unless it is a knuckleball pitcher.   

However, I've seen young recruits attending skills camps where the coaches  see something (extraordinary) they like and ask the recruit to stay in touch.  I witnessed this at a UVA camp 15 years ago, and a few years later that kid (position player) was on their roster.   This is very much the exception and not the rule.   Next time your son signs up for a camp, you may want to ask the coaches what kind of camp it is so expectations are met.

Just my experience.  Best of luck!

I think you might be overthinking it. There’s only a few showcases or camps that have vetted players and I’ve never heard of a camp with vetted teams. There are exclusive tournaments with vetted teams, but I’ve not heard of a camp. Sounds like a nice experience for the kids, and they get to do a camp with their teammates  – money grab or not.

Any camp where your kid stands out is a good thing…

If this is a team camp at a D1 and the level of play is as low as you say, then it’s a money grab.

Legit team camps are highly vetted events.

For those who may not be aware - team camps are not the typical recruiting camps where anyone can sign up and attend. They are invite-only events that players attend as a member of their travel club. It’s usually 4-5 invited teams playing each other over 2-3 days.

Kind of like a mini club tournament, sponsored and run by a university.

Team camps started as a way for the top college programs - Vanderbilt was the first - to get a look at many top HS players in one place, without having to travel. Invitees are typically Canes, Trosky, Dulin Dodgers, USA Prime, 5 Star, Alpha and other nationally ranked 16-18U teams.

Unfortunately I am not surprised that the format has been watered down and made into a money maker by lower D1 programs.

Possible also that D2, D3, and juco coaches are also in attendance?

I didn't know this was a thing, but I just looked and a local D1 now has one of these.  There was a registration page, so it wasn't invite-only; they didn't have any restrictions on who could sign up, although perhaps they do vet the teams.  They advertise it as "instructional", so I hope the players are getting instruction.

@anotherparent posted:

Possible also that D2, D3, and juco coaches are also in attendance?

I didn't know this was a thing, but I just looked and a local D1 now has one of these.  There was a registration page, so it wasn't invite-only; they didn't have any restrictions on who could sign up, although perhaps they do vet the teams.  They advertise it as "instructional", so I hope the players are getting instruction.

The school is showing open sign-ups for club teams? Or for individual players?

Sign up your team.  I didn't try it to see what would happen.  But it's publicly available on their website.

@anotherparent posted:

Sign up your team.  I didn't try it to see what would happen.  But it's publicly available on their website.

interesting, thanks.

@anotherparent posted:

Sign up your team.  I didn't try it to see what would happen.  But it's publicly available on their website.

@Dadof3  Here you have your answer.

@Dadof3 posted:

I understand that a lot of this is a moneymaker for them, but I would have thought the teams that come to these would be legit.

You would have thought wrong unfortunately. I'm going to take it a step further and tell you not a single one of the coaches is paying attention - they are all talking about other players, teams, conferences, the date they just went on, what to order for lunch, etc. And the one coach doing the umpiring on the field is jealous of all of them.

One day I was driving by Villanova’s field after doing an errand at the mall. I stopped to watch what turned out to be a fall showcase. I watched the entire BP. There were 36 position players taking BP from about forty feet and 12 pitchers throwing in the bullpen.

When BP was over I walked up to a (then) current Nova player I knew. The players were helping run the showcase. I commented I only saw 4 potential D1 hitters in the entire BP. The player laughed. He explained the 4 were found at PG nationals and invited for the weekend. Everyone else there was helping to finance their spring trip.

Villanova ran these “showcases” for three weekends in the fall.

@PABaseball posted:

You would have thought wrong unfortunately. I'm going to take it a step further and tell you not a single one of the coaches is paying attention - they are all talking about other players, teams, conferences, the date they just went on, what to order for lunch, etc. And the one coach doing the umpiring on the field is jealous of all of them.

With the one camp, yes.  This one not so.  Coaches were taking notes and one kid was pulled aside and asked his grad year and a couple other questions.

@RJM posted:

One day I was driving by Villanova’s field after doing an errand at the mall. I stopped to watch what turned out to be a fall showcase. I watched the entire BP. There were 36 position players taking BP from about forty feet and 12 pitchers throwing in the bullpen.

When BP was over I walked up to a (then) current Nova player I knew. The players were helping run the showcase. I commented I only saw 4 potential D1 hitters in the entire BP. The player laughed. He explained the 4 were found at PG nationals and invited for the weekend. Everyone else there was helping to finance their spring trip.

Villanova ran these “showcases” for three weekends in the fall.

I believe that too be true back then.  I think camps are being utilized more.  If that’s not true, then I guess pg and pbr the way to go to get noticed.

I guess I’m just shocked at the lack of competition.  Again, it’s either that or my expectations are just way too high.  Pretty disappointing.  Son stood out though, so that’s good.

While I'm sure the coaches would prefer a prospect camp, I don't think they are going to turn down money either. I remember my son attending a D1 camp where there was a kid there who's dad signed him up thinking it was a "we'll teach you how to play baseball" type event. It was extremely awkward to start, but the school's HC (St. John's) made sure to step in and put the kid at ease. Obviously the kid wasn't a fit but I think he ended up having a good time...Anyway, you will have a wide range of players at these.

You may have not seen the level of competition you were expecting because this is a big time for 17u (2025) tournaments. Most of the high level players are playing in the tournaments. Lots of high 80s - Low 90s arms seen so far this summer in tournament play.

Dad of 3:

What are your goals for your sons? To educate in the "game of baseball" or find a College for a scholarship?

Do you have a Pro team or a College Team in your area?

Talk with the Coaches and request a one hour "private" work out to obtain a 3rd party evaluation on your son's tool box.

Bob

Bob

This is prime time for summer tourneys for the top 16u-17u teams.....and D1 teams know that.  If they are hosting a showcase now they know that they aren't getting the top players and are just collecting $$$. 

Just a money grab

The experience of playing Baseball is good, though

@Buckeye 2015 posted:

This is prime time for summer tourneys for the top 16u-17u teams.....and D1 teams know that.  If they are hosting a showcase now they know that they aren't getting the top players and are just collecting $$$.

Sorta.

Because the team camps are essentially mini tournaments between (what were initially) nationally-ranked teams, they are often scheduled in June and July, although not on the same weekends as the major PG and PBR events.