Do parents attend college camps?

Should not be a problem, go watch, learn and listen. Will help you size up the competition. Stay quiet and keep a low profile. 

They do both, I have done both. At a local camp I will drop them off and come back close to the end and watch them wrap it up. If we drive very far then I will go sit as far away as I can and still be able to see what is going on and just enjoy the quiet time. The last camp they attended there were 8 different stations, inside and outside on the field. There were parents that hovered around each station that their kid was at, nothing wrong with that but I feel that if my sons can't remember what they are being taught there is really no need for them to be there anyway. 

The majority of the parents stay and watch.  Enjoy it, you will have fun watching your kid out there. 

I stay. My husband leaves. Some of my best days have been spent sitting in the stands with a good book, looking up to watch my son doing what he loves.

dad2twins posted:

They do both, I have done both. At a local camp I will drop them off and come back close to the end and watch them wrap it up. If we drive very far then I will go sit as far away as I can and still be able to see what is going on and just enjoy the quiet time. The last camp they attended there were 8 different stations, inside and outside on the field. There were parents that hovered around each station that their kid was at, nothing wrong with that but I feel that if my sons can't remember what they are being taught there is really no need for them to be there anyway. 

Looking back I would suggest waiting until he finishes freshman year then do camps when a soph.  I agree with dad2twins though, at that age anything taught will be forgotten.   Sometimes the camps use their "lower" level college players to help run it.  They may know a little on how to teach or spot a problem, but overall I didn't expect talent changing advice.  I've stayed a few times to possibly pick up pointers.  Nothing spectacular learned.  Mostly there to compare how son was to bigger, stronger, more experienced players.  If school is on his list then a must to go.  HC/RC won't notice him as a freshman unless he is 6'/180 or shines above every else.  They are mainly looking at soph/jr to put on radar. No harm to go though for some father/son bonding time.

I always stayed and sat in the stands or wandered around campus.  At the local camps I almost always ran into a father/mother I knew, and we would pass the time. Many of the camps were worked by Assistant coaches and RC's recruiting my son. When my son was further on in his recruiting journey, some of the RC's would stop by and we would talk for a few. I always let them initiate the conversation. Usually I had met them on an UV. Usually it was how are you doing? How was the son? small talk about recruiting, of my son. Sometimes they just stopped to say hello. If an RC hopes to get your son to matriculate at his school, they find it in their best interest to be friendly with the parents. But I saw few that went overboard. 

And who does not enjoy watching some baseball on a fine day. Just do not be intrusive. 

Doubleswitch, I would say it depends.  If local, some parents come and go.  Regardless, there will always be some parents there so if you decide to stay, you won't be out of place.  If out of town, many parents stay the entire time.  When we take my son to an out of town camp, my husband and I often come to watch the games in which he's playing, but go have some fun exploring the college campus or town to get a feel for the school and community during drills/skills evaluations or other games.  I'm sure you're aware of this, but don't exhibit reaction to what's happening on the field -- coaches are watching parents too.

BOF posted:

Should not be a problem, go watch, learn and listen. Will help you size up the competition. Stay quiet and keep a low profile. 

This.

We went to some, and didn't go to others.  I agree to keep a low profile, and let your son do his thing.  

Make sure to bring a cow bell and ride the plate ump like a cheap hooker during the simulated game.  Coaches seem to get a kick out of it!    

Just kidding, but that would be a sight to see.  Some guy getting the wave going while coordinating chants from the stands.  =-0  

The last camp the stands were packed with parents.  Everyone spoke with a soft voice like they were at a golf tournament.  Which makes since because you are either criticizing or complimenting players and programs 90% of the time and you never know who is sitting by you.  

BOF posted:

Should not be a problem, go watch, learn and listen. Will help you size up the competition. Stay quiet and keep a low profile. 

Bingo!  Always good to have an idea where your son stands and what he may be struggling with....  You will learn a lot by just hanging around and being quiet....

Thanks everybody for the replies. I'll plan on attending and keeping a low profile. 

I register both my son and I for the camp. You see, I think that something these darn coaches lack is perspective. It's tough to see how good these kids are when you keep comparing them to other good kids. But, throwing a 50 year old man into the equation adds a wildcard factor into the mix. Did that Dad just run a 8.8 sixty?! That 50 year old guy just laid out for a ball into the left field fence...and took out the fence! I believe by showing that the average adult cannot do what these guys we are still asking to clean up their rooms do (and they make it look easy), it puts everything in perspective - but doubles the costs we pay for the camps. BTW - I have a PG grade of "9" 

I've always hung out in the stands for the camps my 2018 attended. For several, there was a coach led chat about recruiting, college ball, Q&A and the like.  I have also been pleasantly surprised to get the "Meet your son and I in my office. I'd like to talk." from the HC.

If I'm paying, I'm watching.  Considering that the only job my kid currently has is "professional dog walker" for his Grandma and another elderly couple down the street, I think I'll continue to be counted on for money for a bit longer....

3and2Fastball posted:

If I'm paying, I'm watching.  Considering that the only job my kid currently has is "professional dog walker" for his Grandma and another elderly couple down the street, I think I'll continue to be counted on for money for a bit longer....

I'm going to suggest some different considerations. While it is the parents money which is usually paid, it is about the experience of the player, not the parent, in my opinion.  With our son, although he did not attend Camps and showcases at anywhere near the numbers which can be involved now, the ones he attended were quite important for his exposure.

In our situation, the issue of the parent being at the Camp was a choice which involved our son and what he felt would be best for him to compete, without added pressure to perform.  If asked, I would tend to suspect most of our son's will admit to feeling a sense of added pressure when they know they will be under the scrutiny of college coaches and recruiting.

  I would tend to suspect most of our son's will also admit to a sense of some added expectations when they know their parents are watching and hopes or expectations for recruiting exist. 

Clearly, I have what seems like a contrary position, but I don't think the answer comes from a group of parents on the HSBBW. I think it should involve our son and what he thinks would be best for his performance on a college campus in front of college coaches, especially if the Camp or showcase is one where some expectations for recruiting exist.

My thoughts  would be very different for a college camp which is instructional.

InfieldDad, I feel this way too. Sometimes our son doesn't care, but there have been times he has and we've stayed away (that's true with regular game play too). It's a good discussion. I do feel that parents should see some of these camps though, so we understand how this works. We're still needed by our sons to help guide them and these camps/showcases are a major part of this recruiting process.