I played minor league baseball for 4 years, and I have been giving private lessons for the last seven years. I have recently accepted an offer to be a volunteer assistant at Central Michigan University. I have worked with a world series champion, Little League players, and everyone in between. I cover topics from hitting and fielding instruction down to how parents should use the resources that are available to their kids, and what is going on in the MLB as well. I'll save you money, sanity, and your valuable time, while giving you information that is priceless.
College baseball camps used to be for fun and a chance to get out on a college field and practice your skills and hopefully learn a few things. Times have change and I mean a lot. Now College camps are used not only to teach skills but they also allow college coaches the chance to see multiple players live and at one time. What makes these such great tools for coaches is the ability to see numerous players at one time. College camps used to be full of drills and light instruction from players, they are still full of drills but now college coaches are more involved in the camps. Things you can expect to get out of a college camp:
60 time
Arm Strength
Live Bullpen
Home to 1st time
Catchers pop time
All of these are for your benefit but they also help the coaches as well. Those are hard numbers that we as coaches love to have, but by seeing a player at a camp we get to see how the player acts, we get to see his baseball movements, and we get to see how he interacts with other players.
Players you should attend camps when you can, especially if you have a realistic shot at playing for the school because you get to evaluate the situation as well. You will be around the coaches and players for hours and using drills and techniques the team at the school uses all day. Why is this so important? For one you might learn something but you also get to see if the program is a good fit for you. You work along side the actual players, so you get to see if you like the palyers, you also get to meet the coach so you will get to see if you like the head coach as well as the assistants. Finally you get to see what they teach and how they teach it, so you will be able to determine if the school is a good fit for what you are looking for athletically.
Don’t forget the most important aspect of the college, does the school have the program in which you want to pursue a degree. Have fun and keep working hard.
