Football recruiting events give coaches a way to evaluate and interact with college football prospects. This guide explains everything you need to know about these events. Get insider tips from NCSA’s football experts and explore the list of college football camps, combines and showcases below to find an event near you.
Feb 21, 2026
–
Feb 22, 2026
Jun 10, 2026
–
Jun 12, 2026
Jun 12, 2026
–
Jun 14, 2026
Jun 26, 2026
–
Jun 28, 2026
Build your NCSA Recruiting Profile to highlight your football stats and measurables and stand out from other recruits. Create a free profile today!
3 types of football events
There are three main football recruiting events: camps, combines and showcases. These all play an important role in the recruiting process, but each has its own advantages to keep in mind.
- Football camps focus on skills development and drills to take your game to the next level. Some have more of a recruiting focus with opportunities to play in front of college coaches.
- Football combines give you verified stats, numbers and measurements to provide coaches with a baseline to use when evaluating your highlight film or game footage.
- Football showcases are often invite-only events which help you gain national exposure and receive rankings and star-ratings on recruiting websites. These are typically reserved for the best high school football players.
football events to attend and when
Every high school football player can find value in attending a camp, combine or showcase but you should be strategic in the ones you choose. The two most important questions to answer are: Why are you going and what is your desired outcome?
Check out our recommendations for when to attend different types of football event:
8th – 9th grade
Focus: Football Skills Development
Events to attend: Football Camps
Your focus right now is to become a better football player. Attend football camps that will help you develop your skills so when it comes time for college coaches to recruit you, you’ll be ready to impress! Gain the skills you need to make your high school football team.
9th – 10th grade
Focus: Football Skills Development and Awareness
Events to attend: Football Camps and Combines
Continue developing your football skills and start building awareness of where you stand. Attend football camps and combines to develop varsity-level skills and see how you stack up against other athletes at your position. If you already have varsity-level experience, try your skills out at a local showcase to get your name out to coaches.
10th – 11th grade
Focus: Exposure
Events to attend: Football Showcases, Camps and Combines
This is the time to expand your recruiting exposure. Attend showcases, camps, and combines where many schools and division levels are present so you can get in front of more coaches. Refresh your combine numbers and make sure they’re sent to college coaches.
12th grade
Focus: Offers
Events to attend: Football Camps, Showcases and Combines
Now it’s about turning interest into offers and finding the right fit. Get a feel for college-level workouts by attending camps hosted by the schools that have expressed interest in you. If you’re not getting serious looks yet, target events with multiple schools and division levels to increase your chances of getting on a list.
Insider tip: The cost of attending multiple football events can add up. Before camp season begins, consider building a budget to help choose the number of camps, showcases and combines you can (or should!) realistically attend. Talk with your NCSA Recruiting Coach to learn more about the football recruiting process.
Maximize Every Football Opportunity
Football camps offer you the opportunity to develop your skillset, gain exposure and explore college campuses. What camps to attend and when are based on your individual recruiting goals. Whether you’re looking for the best events to attend or need recruiting advice, we’ve got you covered. And did you know an NCSA Recruiting profile helps you receive and respond to college camp invites?
Ready to get recruited? Create your free NCSA Recruiting Profile now so coaches can find you and so you can start receiving and responding to camp invites.