IMG Summer Camp for 10 year old?

There are a bunch of threads regarding IMG camps and the full time program.  I've contributed to some of those as both my boys did camps and later on were in the full time program.

 

IMG has had some great instructors (e.g., Edgar Caceres, Kevin Sharp) and some not so great.

 

The cost is off the charts for the benefit received, in my opinion.  But many folks are looking for Summer camps and have a much higher willingness to pay than I would tolerate now. 

 

If you really want baseball instruction, then you can find it far cheaper and more effective elsewhere.  If you're looking to park a kid for 2 weeks, I'd say the same...far cheaper and more effective elsewhere.

Let me add 1 more thing...

 

If you really want to send a 10 year old to Florida for baseball for 2 weeks in the Summer...Doyle Academy in Lakeland is the place to go.

BB. Thanks for feedback.

We live in Hong Kong and  for 12 U the baseball here is pretty good all things considered - we lost to S Korea and Taiwan in the past 2 years Championship of the APAC round for LLWS.  However we do not have much access to quality instruction.  We are limited to a few Dads who played D1 and another Dad who pitched in AA.    So its important to my son that he that is receiving quality coaching and getting reps and not standing around.   I looked at Doyle but they need to be 12. 
We sent our son to the NIKE camp in Massachusetts last year and there were only 3 other kids in his age bracket.   Plus my son said the instructors goofed off a lot.  I looked at Ripken but then heard negative reports back on them. 
 
Also cost is not a issue as my sons godfather is Head of Golf  Recruitment for IMG  in Asia and my son can attend for  practically free( he knows the IMG corporate side and the golf program but can not vouch for what type of baseball camp it is.)  I just want to ensure its a good solid camp that is well run, that the kids are looked after , that they wont have my son pitch so much they injure him etc...., that he will get plenty of reps batting, fielding etc... 

My wife goes back to the US in Massachusetts with our children for the summer but I have not been able to find any other good camps in our area for his age.



 

I'm curious as to why you think that two D1 players and a minor league pitcher is not a sufficient level of instruction for a nine year old.  Do you suppose there is a reason there are limited options of serious camps for this age?  Why does he need plenty of  reps crammed into a condensed camp timeframe when he is this age?  If the instructors at the Nike camp goofed off a lot with 8-9 year olds, is it possible that  they probably had it about right?  Is it possible that the best camp to look for at that age has more focus on capture-the-flag, twister, tag and biggest cannon balls? 

 

I surely don't know enough about your son and your situation.  That's partly why I replied largely in question format.  But I suspect it may be worth while for you to search and read the many posts on this site about what age is too young to be too serious about camps, instruction, travel ball, etc. 

if cost is no object of course IMG is going to be top notch. Hell the whole brand is nothing but the best...it is certainly over the top but I don't know how anyone could argue that it would be bad! the cost of a dollar is not the same to everyone so if whatever the final price you need to pay is worth it to you - have at it.

 

To me it is a crazy but some of the things I felt were money well spent others on this site would tell you are a waste! My kids actually went to Stars and Stripes in Orlando twice...but the time of year was perfect, they didn't miss school, I wanted to do a family trip and they love baseball...so I still consider it money well spent!

 

We went to Omaha to play in an average at best baseball tournament...but went to all 3 games of the NCAA WS finals...was the baseball worthwhile? no but the trip was awesome!

 

 

 

 

Boomer,

IMG has spectacular facilities.  There have been some great coaches and some not so great.  Since $ are no object and you need a place for 2 weeks, IMG is as good as any other place.

I would not send my 10YO to MIT to learn addition and subtraction either.  Doubt the instructors could present it on the right level.

Cabbage Dad -

I  am not a Dad that thinks his son will play pro ball someday. Heck even college ball is a long shot for any kid.  It was my son that was disappointed with the Nike camp not me. I never set foot on the camp. My son is a very serious player and the level of talent we play against, especially against the Korean and Japanese teams out here ( who practice 8 hours a week ) is tough. Not that I am advocating any more practice time than we do now - as we already play August til March and then tournaments  in April and May. However, competitive kids even young kids want to be the best. We just came back from a  Shanghai Tournament and there was a 6'0 twelve year old from Hubei throwing a legit 85. My son immediately wanted to know what it was going to take to get velocity like that - and he wasn't amused when I told him to grow 16 inches.   My son has incredible drive and its not something I push. Every Coach he has in every sport he plays say he's  one the most competitive kids that they have seen - not the best mind you but he wants to be.

In terms of the Coaches out here - the two D1 Coaches are Coaches on other teams - so we only get them for Tournament  ball - which is occasionally and we see the Dad who pitched in the minors once every six weeks  as he Coaches mostly on the mainland.

All that being said I just wanted to ensure I am sending him to a camp with good coaches, that he's not standing around a lot doing nothing and also that they don't overdo it either.  So balance .  And also its a camp that my son feels like he's getting something out of it.

From the others who have commented ( Branson baseball, and Old School )  it seems as if IMG ticks the boxes we are after.