Insider tip: Did you know that college coaches can send you camp invites directly through NCSA? Create your free recruiting profile to take advantage of this feature!
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The different types of college recruiting events
The types of college recruiting events you can attend vary by sport, but here are the main 3 categories:
- Camps: At the middle school and early high school level, camps are focused on fundamentals and skill development. As you advance, exposure-style camps hosted by colleges or third-party organizers get you in front of the very people you need to impress, college coaches. Sometimes, these camps can be invite-only.
- Showcases: Oftentimes, invite-only events that allow you to showcase your skills in front of multiple college coaches, recruiters or sports media analysts at once. These events usually include both sport-specific drills and actual competitions.
- Tournaments: Put on by third party organizers, tournaments give college coaches a chance to watch top recruits compete against each other over the course of a game or match. Some coaches can also be found recruiting at club tournaments.
Insider tip: Underclassmen should focus efforts on camps that target skill development and work towards getting quality minutes at the varsity level. There’s no real need to attend an exposure style-event at this grade level. Coaches are focusing most of their recruiting efforts on upperclassmen at these events.
What are combines? Why do they matter?
Combines are a series of sport-specific conditioning drills and tests that assess an athlete’s speed, strength and overall skill (e.g., the 40-yard dash for football). At combines, you’ll receive verified stats and measurements that coaches trust. Combines do not typically require an invitation and are mostly attended by third-party organizers to help you get exposure to college coaches.
How to choose which camps, combines, showcases or tournaments to go to
Your time is limited and the cost of attending multiple events in one season can really add up. You’ll want to be strategic with the ones you choose to attend. To decide which event is right for you, consider the following factors:
- Your age or year in school
- Your skill level
- Your playing experience
- Your recruiting goals
NCSA College Recruiting expert Jaimie Duffek explains why it’s important to know your why when choosing a camp.
Be honest with yourself about your own playing abilities and attend events that target the schools in your desired division level. For example, if you’re D3 level player it doesn’t make sense to attend camps at a D1 school with D1-level recruits and college coaches.
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How do you get noticed at college camps?
The first step to getting noticed at a college camp is to reach out to the coach beforehand and let them know that you’ll be at the camp. This will help get your name on a list of recruits to watch. Then comes the fun part – performing well and standing out!
Performing well at a camp or combine isn’t an automatic guarantee that you will be recruited. There have been times of unknown student-athletes wowing coaches at a camp and getting an offer shortly after, but know that coaches are evaluating the whole package. A camp superstar with poor academics and a bad attitude is not likely to make it to the college level.
To put yourself in the best position to succeed and get noticed at a camp, follow these steps:
- Before camp: Send a quick email to the coach a few days before camp to remind them that you’re going. Make sure you’re in top physical and mental health leading up to camp to perform at your best.
- During camp: Give it everything you’ve got while you’re playing! Coaches are evaluating much more than your athletic abilities. That means your attitude when you’re off the ball, your demeanor when grabbing water or picking up equipment, and the way you talk to other potential recruits. Learn how you can demonstrate your coachability to college coaches.
- After camp: Send a thank you email or text to the coach letting them know you enjoyed your time at camp. Mention a specific interaction you had with the coaching staff or current players to personalize it. Then head over to social media and post about your experience. Tag the coach and sports program’s handle and be sure to include any photos, videos or positive takeaways from the camp.
For more help, watch NCSA’s Football Recruiting Coach, and former D3 football player and coach, Jordan Wells explain how to get noticed at camp, how to prepare for recruiting events and how to build relationships with college coaches:
How to respond to a college camp invite
Maintaining an open line of communication with college coaches is a key element in the college recruiting process. If you plan to attend a college camp, letting the coach know you’ll be there is a good way to get on their list of recruits to look out for during the camp. If you don’t plan to attend, thank them for the invite and let them know where they can watch you compete in the future.
Insider tip: Never ignore an invitation to camp! If you aren’t interested in attending, respectfully decline and thank the coach who invited you. Your behavior in these small moments leaves good impressions on coaches who might someday work at a program you’re interested in!
Tell college coaches which events you plan to attend
For most sports, you should be ready to attend exposure-style camps, showcases and combines the summer before your junior year. There’s nothing worse than hoping to be evaluated at a camp only to find out that none of the coaches on your target list are there to see you play. To make sure they have a chance to evaluate you in-person, let them know which events you plan to attend. As you contact coaches, ask which events they plan to attend and if their program plans to host a summer camp.
Insider tip: For D1 and D2 recruits, make sure the event you’re looking to attend is not during a quiet or dead period. Learn more about the NCAA’s recruiting calendars.
Following up: The critical last step
Your work doesn’t end after you return home from a camp or combine! Following up with a coach after you attend their university camp or receive new combine numbers is key to staying on their radar and building your relationship.
Inside Tip: Did you know you can communicate with college coaches from the NCSA app? With the help of your Recruiting Coach, you can create and manage custom email templates and sort your incoming college coach emails by camp invites, requests and more. Download the NCSA app in the App Store or on Google Play to get notifications when coaches message you.
Ask the coach directly if they had a chance to evaluate you and if they have any feedback to give you. It’s OK to ask where you stand in their recruiting class after they’ve had a chance to evaluate you in person.
Keep contact rules and calendars in mind when reaching out to coaches.
Insider tip: If you took new video of your performance at a camp or combine, now is a good time to update the highlight video in your recruiting profile and let coaches know!
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to get invited to a camp or combine?
Most camps and combines are open to all high school athletes and don’t require an invitation. An invite doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a top recruit, so choose events based on your skill level and schools of interest. Elite showcases may be invite-only and typically require a recommendation from a coach.
How do you know if there will be college coaches at an event?
Before you register, look on the camp website to find out whether there will be college coaches in attendance. You can also reach out to the camp director or coordinator directly to confirm the list. If no coaches are in attendance, it doesn’t mean the camp can’t benefit you in some way. It just means it won’t get you college coach exposure.
Do college coaches attend camps outside their own school?
Absolutely! NCAA D1, D2 and D3 college programs will host camps on their campus, but offer coaches from other division level schools to come help run camp and evaluate recruits. Check out this video for more on how college coaches choose which camps to attend and recruit from: Do College Coaches Attend Camps Outside Their Own School?
Why recruiting events are must
Sports camps, combines, tournaments and showcases offer you the opportunity to develop your skillset, gain exposure to college coaches and sometimes explore a school’s campus. Visit the events page for your sport for more advice on which specific events to attend or build your free NCSA Recruiting profile today to start receiving and responding to college camp invites.
