Play’n Sports reposted this
If your team is not hosting youth camps you are missing out on an opportunity that will help transform your program. Youth camps are beneficial to both the kids and the teams in many ways. However, there is one key benefit to youth camps most people overlook. The development of a community. I know for a fact these kids look up to the high school, college, or pro athletes and coaches at camps because they aspire to be there one day. I speak from my own personal experience. When I was in elementary school I would go to the Hickory High School baseball camps. The coolest thing in the world was when I got to go play on the high school field and get a high five from one of those older guys. That small interaction at camp was creating a bond between not only myself and the player but myself and the team. I wanted to go watch the high school games because I felt like I was a part of it in some way. I knew those guys! On top of that, it was a dream of mine to be playing for Hickory High one day. The picture below is me wearing the T-Shirt we got at the end of camp. It became my favorite shirt and I don't think I ever took it off, because I wanted to be like them! When coaches host youth camps they are helping to build their community. Kids want to come watch you play. They want to cheer for your team. They want to have your gear. They are excited to come back to camp next year. If the kids are happy, then the parents are happy and they become part of your community too. They want to support you, donate to your program, tell others about you because you were able to make a meaningful experience for their child. When teams provide kids with the opportunity to build personal relationships with the players, coaches and teams through youth camps the support for your program will increase exponentially. Who doesn’t want to have more people in their stands cheering them on every game? Through youth sports camps teams can not only get more kids Play’n Sports but they can help build and develop a community that supports and truly cares about them.