I am assuming there are a fair number of coaches on this board. So here is a question for you: How do you divide up the players at a camp? I am going to guess the answer by many is by skill level. But as soon as you designate a court by skill level, all of the players (not to mention the parents) want to play on that court. I have heard at some of the high price college camps, parents can get pissed at not having their DD on the court with the best players even though their DD does not belong. What do you do? How do you keep the players happy? Most camps seem to be not what type of skills they acquire, but who they play with and who they play against. Suggestions?
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
Speaking as a parent, my DD has done two pretty high profile college camps. Both based their court assignments on skill after the initial evaluation on the first day. The difference was at Camp A once you were assigned to a court you stayed there for the duration of the camp. At Camp B the players were moved up to the next best court if they were improving and also down if they were not at the level of the other players on that court. DD had a good experience at both camps but she and her friends preferred the camp where if they improved there was opportunity to move up the ladder.
Last Edit: Aug 6, 2012 21:01:09 GMT -5 by clubparent
Make them happy - that will get them to come back!! If it means putting the worst kid in the gym on the top court with her BFF - then make her smile!! Hopefully the best middle in camp doesn't knock her out when she goes off one foot out the back and her BFF cant slow it down...
Post by Pirate VB Fan on Aug 7, 2012 12:00:58 GMT -5
I disagree very strongly with sevb. If you put someone on the top court that clearly does not belong there you might make her happy, but you will piss everyone else off, including the coaches. The weak player is like an anchor and will quickly drag everything down and the level of play and instruction will suffer.
Make them happy - that will get them to come back!! If it means putting the worst kid in the gym on the top court with her BFF - then make her smile!! Hopefully the best middle in camp doesn't knock her out when she goes off one foot out the back and her BFF cant slow it down...
I see “facetiousness” in sevb's comment... anyone else??
While it was in some ways meant to be humorous, facetiousness reminds me of the SAT - dark days, most humor has some truth in it....
Call 5 college coaches who run large individual style camps and ask them their opinion! While I agree that the kid who cant pass a parked car shouldn't be on the top court - that athlete will cause a scene NO MATTER where they are... and were talking about camp - most kids are there to wear ribbons and get a free Tshirt! Thats if mom and dad didn't MAKE them come!! SO - that kid can be unhappy and cause a scene surrounded by no one she likes - and in turn that wont like her for being a brat... OR you can put her with her BFF and let them giggle in the corners while they facebook each other on their new smart phones.
Point being - it is my experience that most coaches will placate the unhappy camper by allowing her to be with her friend... this causes the least amount of turbulence during their 3 day stay at State U.
Gang: Back when my grand daughter attended camps, she was good enough to be selected to the top groups at the camps. It was very frustrating to her when colleges did not do this and she ended up playing with everyone because the range of skill was so varied. I would hope that colleges continue to allow the best to play with the best and separate them out. The girls no matter the skill level will have a good time if they are playing with girls within their competitive level. On a side note, it bothered my daughter a lot to watch her play with "all levels" because she got scared it was going to end in an injury. My two cents.
Gang: Back when my grand daughter attended camps, she was good enough to be selected to the top groups at the camps. It was very frustrating to her when colleges did not do this and she ended up playing with everyone because the range of skill was so varied. I would hope that colleges continue to allow the best to play with the best and separate them out. The girls no matter the skill level will have a good time if they are playing with girls within their competitive level. On a side note, it bothered my daughter a lot to watch her play with "all levels" because she got scared it was going to end in an injury. My two cents.
SEVB: I had to sign in to say....what do they call it I laughed my ass off. I am changing my log in to Spider Monkey....hilarious..my god now I have to go watch that movie. Good on Ya
I have to admit on the few occasions that Ive driven past Talladega Speedway on I-20 Ive put the window down and yelled "SHAKE AND BAKE" ... its not bad when Im driving... its when Im the passenger that its caused some swerving and cursing...
What often happens is that kids sign up for a camp based on whether it fits in their schedule or the one that their friends are going to, rather than the one that is based on their skill set. I have seen coaches have two pretty equal top courts so it placates more athletes. In the end they want you to have a good experience at their school and tell their friends to come back next year. A coach once told our DD not to come to their camp that their camps had gotten so big she may not learn much, but they would make sure if she did come, she would have a great experience!!!
