What to Consider When Choosing a Summer Sports Camp for Your Teen 

Wrestling camp was my son’s first choice for sports camp last summer. Other than going to day camps for tennis and baseball in elementary school, my children had never gone to a camp that’s devoted exclusively to one sport.

His high school coach had recommended a particular camp for wrestling teams. It was held at The College of New Jersey, cost $385, and lasted four days. My son wanted to go with the rest of his school’s team, and the timing, price, and location all worked out for our family. He went; he wrestled; he didn’t get hurt. Success.

Turns out there’s a whole world of sports camps for kids. Wresting, soccer, basketball, golf, gymnastics, field hockey, lacrosse, swimming—you name the sport and there’s a camp with that focus. But finding the right one takes a combination of networking, research, and knowing your own child. Is your teen part of a high school team, and does that team go to a particular camp together? Does your teen want to improve in a sport he loves? Or does your teen play several sports and want to divide her time among them?

My three teens had gone to general-interest camps with sports as part of their daily activities, but a sports camp is a different type of experience. When you’re researching one for your child, think of all the factors that come into play, such as price, location, and schedule. Given the abundance of sports camps from New Jersey to California, your teen will be able to find a place where he can improve his swing, shot, or serve while making friends and having fun.

Getting in shape
Last summer, Wendy Ferruggiaro of Maplewood, New Jersey, mother of Sarah and Alana, sent her daughters to a weeklong residential soccer camp. The choice of camp was a nonissue, since the girls’ high school soccer coach recommended that junior varsity and varsity players attend a particular camp before the team started practice in August. The team rate was $575 per person, vs. a $650 individual rate, and the location was a prep school in central New Jersey.

“The goal of sending the girls to the camp was for them to get back in shape, refine their skills, and to make an overall improvement to their game,” Mrs. Ferruggiaro says. She was pleased that trainers stayed in the dorms with the kids, the campus gates were closed at night, and a sports medicine trainer was on staff.

Although Sarah says she didn’t like all the drills, “We played a lot and got a lot of exercise.” There were scrimmages at night, as well as evening activities. Her sister Alana adds, “You really have to be into it because you play in the morning, break for lunch, play in the afternoon, and again in the evening. But it was fun even though you were doing drills and scrimmages.”

Just recreation
Deb Abrams, of Millburn, New Jersey, last year went looking for a golf camp for her son, Corey. He plays other sports during the school year, so he was looking for something purely recreational. “Golf is not his main focus, but he loves it,” says his mom.

She found a one-week camp at Haverford College, in Pennsylvania, through word of mouth. The price, location, and dates worked for her family, so Corey went.

“The campers were serious about the sport,” says Mrs. Abrams, and the instructors, too, were passionate and knowledgeable about golf. Corey’s goal was to improve his knowledge and ability, but also just have fun, since he does not play on a team. “He absolutely achieved his goals,” she says.

At this particular camp, the Abrams family was pleased at the variety of golf courses available to play, the weekend trips to theme parks and New York City, the “double staff” of instructors as well as counselors, and the infrastructure that’s in place with the camp owners in case of any questions or concerns. Variety, supervision, safety, and a responsible management team are all important factors to consider when choosing a sports camp.

High-level competition
The competition at some sports camps can get pretty fierce, and for some kids, that’s a challenge they want. One Short Hills mom sent her teenage daughter to a five-day overnight tennis academy held at Lehigh University, in Pennsylvania. It was taught by college tennis coaches and was, says the mom, an “intense tennis experience” with an element of recruiting. Coaches rotated each week and the focus was on match play, or how to win a match based on strategy.

“The best thing is to play in matches, not just learn how to improve strokes,” she says. Her daughter, who plays tennis year-round, wanted to play with different people and learn from different instructors. She did just that and was on the court all day, with evening activities too. As is true for all sports, it was important to attend a camp with a good student-to-teacher ratio.

Many factors go into the search for the right sports camp for your teen. With recommendations and research, you can find the right camp at the right price and the right location, and your child can get in shape, have fun, make friends, and undoubtedly improve in his chosen sport.

Moms Know Best

When researching sports camps for your teen, remember these tips from moms who’ve been there:

• “Who are the trainers? Who’s running the camp? Do they have a program that’s appropriate for (your child’s) level of skill?”
• “How passionate is your kid about the sport? Ask around to find like-minded kids and get referrals.”
• “The kids are learning something in a particular sport. They should be provided with a safe environment. They should have an experience that is enjoyable and makes them happy.”

Naomi Milsten Gruer is a freelance writer who lives in Millburn, New Jersey with her three teenagers, younger daughter, and husband.

February 2010