Baseball camps give you the opportunity to showcase your skills and talents in front of college coaches. You may ask, how do I find baseball camps near me? NCSA has compiled a list of college baseball camps across the country. You can use NCSA’s list below to find a baseball camp near you. You can also get answers to top questions about baseball camps or search all baseball recruiting events here.
Jun 15, 2023
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Jun 15, 2023
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How to find the right camp to attend depends largely on your grade level. See our recommendations below:
Underclassmen
Attending a college baseball camp as a freshman or sophomore is primarily to learn more about a program, meet the coaching staff and evaluate the campus. When deciding on camps, the most important factors are:
Upperclassmen
For upperclassmen, the best way to decide on college camps is to figure out how interested coaches are in you as a prospect. The most important factors when deciding on camps as an upperclassman are:
Which college programs will attend the camp? Recruits can determine this by attaining a list of participants prior to the event. If there are only one or two programs on the list, then it may be better to attend one of their individual college camps.
Insider tip: A majority of NAIA coaches recruit college baseball players from camps. By going to the right camps, you can get your name out there so that you can potentially get noticed.
There is no set number of camps you should attend. If your main goal is to receive more exposure from a certain college program, attend a camp held at that college. Connect with the coaching staff prior to attending to let them know you are interested in the program and plan to attend their camp.
If you’re a young recruit looking to develop your skillset, select one camp to attend. Select a camp you feel offers you the best opportunity to focus on technique with athletes of similar talent level.
When to go to a camp depends on your recruiting goals. Attend baseball summer camps if you’re looking to impress college coaches. Attend camps during the off season if you are seeking skill development. Below is a breakdown of camps by season.
College coaches typically look to fall baseball camps as an opportunity to drive revenue, rather than recruit. For underclassmen, fall camps offer strong fundamental and technique training. If you’re an upperclassman, you’re better off attending a camp near the end of the high school season or the summer when you’re fully conditioned.
College baseball camps during the off-season are typically instruction focused, rather than evaluations and exposure. Many of these are scheduled during winter break or Christmas break at different universities and colleges. If you’re looking for ways to get in shape for the upcoming spring season, attending a winter camp is a great way to sharpen up your skills. For unsigned seniors, winter baseball camps are a last chance to play in front of college coaches to secure an unfilled roster spot for the upcoming year.
Summer baseball camps are where college coaches focus most on evaluating talent. If you are an upperclassman attending a summer camp, attend a college camp where the coach has previously shown some interest to make the most of your experience and money.
Though each camp is slightly different, most baseball camps follow a similar format: Check in and introductions, group warm-up, rotational skills and drills groups, and gameplay.
Camps held on a college campus are usually run by that program’s coaching staff and player. During the camp, you will receive a skills evaluation and suggestions for improvements. Some camps invite college coaches from multiple programs to provide skill development and exposure to more than one coach.
Under NCAA baseball rules, camps for baseball must be open to everyone. Generally, athletes who are interested in the program hosting the camp will attend.
While NCAA baseball camps are open to everyone, some colleges still send invitations to high school students. In most cases, receiving an invite does not mean that you are being recruited.
We outline some of the differences between these types of camps below and why you may attend one versus the other.
Day camps
Day camps typically run for three to five hours a day and can last a few days to a full week. These types of camps are best if you live near the camp that you want to attend. Day camps tend to be less expensive than overnight camps.
Overnight camps
These camps offer a full-day experience and can last from one to three weeks. Overnight camps are ideal if you want to combine the experience of staying on campus and attending a camp.
Baseball prospect camps
Baseball prospect camps last one day and give athletes the opportunity to work closely with and compete in front of college coaches. The main benefits of a baseball prospect camp include:
Baseball prospect camps are worth it to players who are active in their recruiting process. This means that you have varsity level experience, a solid highlight video and have been in contact with college coaches. The main goal for attending a baseball prospect camp is to get recruiting exposure.
Position-specific camps
These camps are for athletes looking to focus on position-specific skills for any of the nine baseball positions. The most common position-specific camps are hitting, catching and pitching. Offered at the college level and locally, these camps include fundamental training, gameplay and competition drills.
Third-party camps
Many outside organizations host camps. They provide athletes with exposure to a broad group of college coaches and scouts. Typically, hundreds of athletes attend these camps, which makes it unrealistic for coaches to evaluate every athlete. Third-party camps can be more expensive than other camps, but if athletes do their homework, they can be beneficial. Like baseball tournaments, athletes should make sure they are on coaches’ radars before the event.
IMG Academy’s baseball camps: Train like the top baseball players in the country. IMG Academy is the largest and most innovative leader in athletic and performance development. Learn from the same coaches who have led athletes to the MLB and top D1 programs.
Camps can range in cost from $100 for half-day camps to a few hundred dollars for week-long, overnight camps. If attending a camp doesn’t fit into your budget, try these alternatives to develop skills and gain exposure to college coaches.
Baseball camps offer you the opportunity to develop your skillset, gain exposure and explore campus. What camps to attend and when are based on your individual recruiting goals. Use our event finder to find baseball camps near you or create a free recruiting profile today! An NCSA Recruiting profile helps you receive and respond to college camp invites.
Learn more about the different types of baseball events:
What is a baseball clinic?
Baseball combines
College baseball showcases
Recruiting in your hands.
Tools and advice to find the right fit.
