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Get in the Game
The Play-by-Play on Sport Camps
By Katherine Ritz
for PARENTS EXPRESS
Fall and spring soccer, cheerleading, Mighty Mites football and baseball — from Little League to American Legion — keep kids active three-quarters of the year. But what are parents to do to keep their sons and daughters physically active in the hazy days of July and August, especially if both parents work during the day?
Some moms and dads send their children to sports camps. But all camps come with a price tag, and parents who haven't experienced them before may be wondering, "Is it worth it?" Well, that depends on what the parent and the child want to get out of the camp. For some parents, it's an affordable alternative to child care. For others, it's a step in helping their kids overcome childhood obesity. Some consider sports camps simply because their children said, "Please, can I go?"
Regardless of the reason, parents should do some research when they're planning to send their child to a sports camp. And it's important not to base the decision on cost alone.
Not All Camps Are Created Equal
Sports camps vary in the way they operate and in their philosophies. Some focus on the all-around athlete while others hone kids' skills in a specific sport. Some are full-day and others are half-day. Typically, each sports camp touts some features that set it apart from the competition.
ESF Summer Camps operates week-long sports camps for boys and girls ages 7-14 years in areas around Philadelphia. They're what Director of Admissions Greg Ackerman calls "multi-sport camps" in which campers engage in nine or 10 different sports each session — everything from flag football to lacrosse. "It's designed to give campers a variety of sports, to let them have fun, to build confidence and to teach them skills — to build what we call a 'total athlete,'" he explains.
Kids are divided into teams based on age or grade level, and each team is assigned a coach. Ackerman says knowing that they will play with a particular group of campers and work with a specific coach every day gives children a sense of stability.
Campers typically engage in two sports daily, from instruction to supervised games. But there's more to it than competition. "Although competition exists, we stress sportsmanship, teamwork, effort, hustle and dedication," Ackerman says. And at week's end, the coaches present awards to campers who demonstrate those qualities. "We find that there is so much competition in rec leagues and school leagues that we don't need to bring that to camp. Sure, there's some competition, but it's not the only thing."
Ackerman says campers also have the opportunity to become team captains for a week. The coaches choose the team captains, and it's based on more than athletic ability. Team captains wear a special jersey and are asked to "buddy up" with new campers to help them assimilate.
Other organizations, like the YMCAs, offer half-day sports clinics that run in week-long sessions. Some programs offered, like certain tennis camps, welcome children as young as 3 years old. They also offer sports, soccer and basketball camps for youth ages 6-11 and separate programs for teens ages 12-15 in basketball and volleyball.
Basketball, tumbling, cheerleading and soccer are among the sports clinics offered by the Family Y of Burlington County, and ages vary for each program. Unlike generalized sports camps, the Y programs are sport-specific. Cheerleading is broken down into two age groups: 5-7 and 8-12, explains Assistant Preschool Director Jill Yerger-Peed. The girls learn basic cheers and a cheer/dance type routine. Soccer, for kids ages 8-12 years, teaches basic drills and skills. "We stress in all our programs character development traits of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility," she adds.
Sports camps are even available in sports like rowing and running at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, Pa., and field hockey at the George School, in Newtown, Pa. Operated by U.S. Sports Camps, these camps last four consecutive days and are open to youth as old as 18. Resident and extended day (9 a.m to 9 p.m.) programs are available.
With sports teams like the Phillies and the Eagles playing in Philadelphia, it's only natural that sports camps exist featuring instruction by athletes from these two teams.
ESF runs the Phillies Baseball Academy, open to youth ages 7-14 in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. "It's the official camp of the team, and is primarily an instructional baseball camp for the child who is interested in playing baseball and interested in the Phillies," Ackerman says. Every child gets an official Phillies uniform and a full-day trip to Citizens Bank Park. Kids enrolled in the "Home Run" track of the program get to meet Phillies players and coaches. Those in the "Double Play" track get position-specific coaching and videotaped batting review and instruction.
Sports International Football Camps offers a football camp headlined by the Philadelphia Eagles' Dhani Jones, in West Chester, Pa. Campers receive daily instruction, lectures and demonstrations by Dhani Jones and members of the Philadelphia Eagles, plus up to seven hours of on-the-field practice each of five days. The camp is open to kids ages 8-18, and not just boys either — girls are welcome, too.
It's a controlled-contact camp, notes marketing associate Brian Fleiland, meaning that skills, techniques and the fundamentals of blocking are taught, but without the full contact of professional football. "It's a great camp if they want to learn more about football, become a better player and learn from experienced coaches. But, it's not as intense as parents might think," he adds. "We teach a lot of football, but there is some down time, too, like recreational swimming if the facilities are available."
Outside of the playing field, campers participate in question and answer sessions with the Eagles players, covering everything from what it's like playing professional football to the importance of staying in school and getting an education. In addition, Dhani Jones and other players often sign autographs.
One thing that seems to be consistent across-the-board is that children attending any of these sports camps are not expected or required to have any experience in the sports being taught. Just having an interest is enough.
Is My Child Ready to Go to Sports Camp?
One of the first considerations for parents should be the child's interest in sports. Since ESF camps operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or longer with extended hours programs, Ackerman says parents need to ask themselves if their child will want to actively play sports for the entire day every day of the week. "Sports camp is definitely for a camper who loves sports and is happy to play sports all day long," says Ackerman.
If an entire day of sports is too long for a child, a partial-day program might be a better option. And because partial-day programs can create obstacles for parents who work full time, facilities like the YMCAs offer aftercare with some sports clinics for an additional fee.
"A parent should consider whether their child will listen to instruction, their desire to learn, and their maturity," advises Yerger-Peed.
Read the Fine Print
Before registering, parents should always read the fine print. A portion of the registration fee may be non-refundable if enrollment is cancelled. While some organizations allow parents to change options after initial enrollment, some charge a small fee. And most YMCA programs require that the children have a Y membership to participate.
Who is staffing the camps should be another consideration. Programs can be staffed by anyone from college students to professional athletes to sports training professionals, and qualifications should be available for the asking. Some camps, like the Dhani Jones football camp, also employ dorm directors and volunteer counselors.
Equipment, food and beverages may or may not be supplied as part of the program, which could add to the expense of camp.
Parents should also ask how quickly the camps fill up. Yerger-Peed says programs at the Burlington County Y often have openings right up to starting time, while ESF camps have limited enrollment and do fill up, so Ackerman advises parents to register early. The best bet — start early and shop around to find the best match for the child.
Katherine Ritz is a freelance writer from Birdsboro, Pa.
Last Updated: 1/18/2008 4:33:17 PM EST
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