Indoor camp - succeeding

Is the school a good match outside of baseball (academically, geographically, financially)? Does your son fit the academic profile for admission (assuming that the coach already has his GPA and test scores)? I'm guessing from your post that you have not previously visited the school so make sure you set up an admissions tour as part of your visit. If your son has never played indoor on turf, that will be different. If you have access to a local facility with turf where you live, you may want to take him there to get his feet wet. My son went to an indoor camp in February at a HA school in the Midwest, but he is a pitcher so the adjustment was not that significant. He ended up committing to this school shortly after the camp so it was worth it, but the trip expense was not insignificant.

The kid would like to play shortstop. He pitches, but velo isn’t D1 speed.

Does he have D1 foot speed and quickness to play middle infield?

@BBMomAZ I believe it could be a fit, yes, based on available data. I think the camp and visit could help us in checking our assumptions (location, school vibe, feedback). He has not visited the school (nor the state or part of the country since he was 10).

It did not occur to me the camp could be on turf. I’m picturing a basketball court. It’s just not a familiar concept. 

@RJM I don’t know, to be honest. Apart from 60 time, how is foot speed and quickness established? My impression is that schools may take multiple shortstops because of athleticism and deploy them where needed — he’s not do or die on SS.

Money and time are obviously a factor here, but a visit may help frame summer plans, give him a reality check, and I just really like hanging out with the guy outside the normal grind. 

My son went to a camp in a similar environment - Northeast in February... camp was held in a field house, basically a big gymnasium.  They were able to hit in a cage, throw, sprint... so they got a basic look at athleticism and some metrics.  It was not totally worthless, but maybe enough to keep him on the radar.  Was it worth the money?  We got a look at the school and meet the coaching staff, son was able to determine it wasn't for him... so I guess that had value.

I am a firm believer that parents should spend wisely, because the costs involved in college has gone though the roof.  

I am with RJM on this one, does your son have the skills to play at short? Has he discussed with the RC what position they see him at?

I believe that a player that's invited to camp after coach contact and attends, shows he is interested in the program. Coaches appreciate that, but doesnt always mean it would turn out to be a good fit.

Most programs from colder weather states do practice indoors, so it might be a good opportunity to see if this is something your son would like to do.

With that being said, go for it.

Living in the North, I can't imagine a camp that is not indoors LOL!  If this is a DI program, they most likely will have a very nice indoor facility - often the indoor facility/field house primarily used by the football team but that also has portable pitching mounds, batting cages, etc.  Your son should expect a typical camp with timed 60s, exit velo, BP, infield and outfield reps, but on turf of course and some logistic restrictions given the limited space.  But that should not be a concern - the main two considerations are:  (1) is this a school that he feels would be a good fit academically, athletically and socially (personality), and (2) have the coaches expressed real interest.  Sounds like both are a yes.  Then you have to think hard on whether you can fit it into the budget.  I went with son on a number of these, most of which did not pan out.  Looking back though I don't regret them as we spent some good time together and he gave it his best effort.  We drove to most of them, though, so I get the hesitation about a flight expense.  Tough call but since they know him and there seems to be legit interest I would be inclined to do it.

80% of life/success is showing up - Woodrow Allen 

PS as a coincidence, my freshman son is helping out with his program's winter camp today as we speak - indoors of course!

Indoor facilities are quite common in the northeast and midwest. Their quality varies. I believe Indiana has a full indoor turf field; Princeton baseball has it's own full turf infield and half an outfield (with a 50 foot ceiling); Dartmouth (when we visisted) shared the gym with other sports.

For infielders and pitchers, it's no different from an outdoor turf field  - once a player gets used to the sightlines. For hitters, solid contact is solid contact - again, the sightlines are different and take some getting used to. For runners, time is time.

Is it worth the $$? Depends upon all the variables listed above, plus your own budget.

These camps are always money making ventures, but for a player who is personally encouraged to attend, he has a leg up.

One other advantage is letting your son see a cold weather campus - in the cold weather, while school is actually in session. (Summer visits or summer camps miss that.)

Apart from taking the regular admissions tour, ask the coach if your son can wander down to the practice area while while players are actually using it; watching the player/coach interactions may yield some valuable info. 

Realize why catching a routine fly ball can be an adventure in the beginning of the season for these teams.

If you go, keep us posted.

Great feedback so far.  I'll just expand on the "level of interest" aspect.  One red flag is that you state he doesn't have the velo for a D1 P.  Generally, a D1 SS must have a very strong arm also.  I know you mentioned that maybe he could be steered to another position, which is correct, but how hard will a D1 want to recruit him if the arm strength isn't there going in?  You didn't mention the actual throwing velow, so we don't know just how much of a gap there may be.

On the other hand, you say they have expressed interest and have been responsive with communication.  That can certainly be a good sign.  Are they responding to your son's exchanges or are they initiating?  There is another thread going about coaches not responding or calling back when they say they will.  Generally, HA's are more likely to be responsive because the have a much more limited pool to work with so they are both more able and they have to.  My suggestion would be that it is time for your son to ask specifically where they see him fit in the program, where he is on their board.  It's fine to use the event as a trigger.  "I am very interested in XYZ U. and we are considering coming to the camp but it is a cross-country financial commitment for us so I wanted to ask..."  And, definitely, as others have suggested, ask about making the trip worthwhile with a school tour, etc.  

It's also probably time to ask yourselves some more top-level questions about fit and affordability of the school.  i.e. - If they don't have much baseball money to provide (many HA D1's don't), what will tuition be based on any academic or other money he may qualify for?  etc., etc.  

Be aware that most of these camps are open to all and not just players they are recruiting.  So, you won't really get that measure of comparison with who he may be up against (in case that is part of what you meant by "giving him a reality check").  

Good point about the camp. A junior or senior should attend prospect camps. In those camps you get to work with the actual coaches. 

I am wondering though, why any D1 program would have a camp when opening day is 21 days away. Coaches should be focusing on current players. I would agree that a call be in order for particulars as suggested by CABBAGEDAD.

Not really big on indoor camps, unless early in the recruiting process. Son went to a PG indoor showcase (Freshman year). He's a position player and the facility wasn't big enough to run a 60 yd, so they ran 40s. Really no infield type drills for him, but cage work.

As for SCHOOL location indoor camps, there can be some merit, depending on if your son is a camper, prospect or recruit. It's important to identify that. OP's camp sounds like the twice a year one (Martin Luther King and President's weekend) run at Harvard..the "Harvard Bubble." When son attended the coaching staff knew of him as a prospect, the distance was not to far away and he got to meet with the assistants there as well, tour campus in frozen weather, etc. The Harvard Camp usually pulls in coaches from other schools as well- MIT, Ursinus, I know. Plenty of room to run infield drills, but "pop flies" could only be so high do to limitations. Nice facilities for P/C. Going to this camp made us realize how many players were chasing Ivy schools.  Son also went to a William and Mary Camp too (as a freshman) which was held at Tuffs to expand their recruiting base, and had ties with Tufts. As a "camper" at the time, son had learned some nuances about infielding that was new to him.

Are some indoor camps well worth it? Sure. I often say that the best $75 I ever spent on son's recruiting was a 2 hr of so infield drills camp held on a Sunday (Jan or Feb) by the recruiting coordinator/infield coach from school where son would commit. He got to meet/work with current players, only about 25-30 attended and son really stood out. Coach met with us afterward thanking son for attending. This raised son's stock (already on radar) and the mutual interest each had for each other.

Maybe the asst. coaches need some cash?

Son attended a northeast camp today that was supposed to be indoors.  Weather broke last night, it was above freezing at 9am, so they took it to the turf field!  It was cold, the kids were expecting to be inside, but that's northeast baseball.  I'm sure the coaches were excited to be outside and watch the kids and how they dealt with the chill and the wind.  So, bring some cold weather gear just in case, and good luck!  Good stuff!

Son's school held a prospect camp today. Not sure why they put it this weekend, but they did.

We have about 8 inches of snow on he ground, so the first time our kids play outside is more than likely to be opening day.

Son attended a camp a few weekends back here in the northeast. Ended up being 50 degrees and they had it outdoors ;-).

My son attended two indoor camps the weekend before last and they were both terrific.  It was a bad weather weekend, but both facilities were top notch and from my pov gave the staff a way to assess players.  Mainly normal metric type stuff, timed 60s, hitting metrics off of HitTrax, Rospodo for pitchers, etc.  Both were well run and a good use of time, plus it gave son a chance to see the school in session and tour the campuses.  We are from North East, so he knows what it will be like to play in poor weather.  

Ironically we went to a camp in NC this weekend and the camp was held outdoors.  Murphy's law, the weather was pretty darn cold and the kids played in the mid 40's.