question for fellow Illinoisians I usually sit on the sidelines here. With so many camps and showcases especially in the winter months, how do you guys figure out which to go to. we have a limited budget and must choose wisely. I like the idea of free clinics like Thornton Fractional high school just had. I see Bo Jacksons new place has a big one going on, it also has a hefty price tag over $200. they like many others tout the schools that will be in attendance. Usually listing the big name Division 1 schools. I guess thats a good lure to some 2010 or younger players. If your kid is a 2009 like mine and the D1's haven't called by now they probably aren't interested. Not to mention most if not all scholarship money is gone for this class. So which ones to you guys recommend? and are they developmental camps or showcases, all of those coaches can't be working the camp can they? So they must be there to evaluate kids for potential scholarships? or that is what the folks that run events like this want you to believe. Why mention the over 40 division 1 schools in attendance? So you pay the 200 in the hope that a big school will offer your kid a scholy? it's like only one half of one percent of hs kids actually get d1 scholarships? A lot of the outfits prey on the dreams of parents and kids. Most big schools have selected and followed the kids they are interested in, a very small number may be discovered at these so called developmental clinics that charge high fees, when the kids could just as easily could attend free clinics. Shame on the schools for partaking in the money grab. They should only attend free events, there attendance at these fee only events reflects poorly on the institutions. In my opinion the best developmental clinic, showcase or camp is a free one. It's like everybody is having fee style events these days. I would like to see the colleges start hosting some free ones and take the coin out of all these outfits. there is really no reason for parents to waste money on these, the Sun Times usually lists free baseball clinics in the sports section. dont by the hype. if your kid isn't a d1 type kid it wont matter how many camps or clinics he attends, you will be out the coin and your kid will still be looking for a place to play while the organization that put it on is sailing off in the bahamas.
Original Post