How to Choose the Right Summer Basketball Camp
Camp season is upon us. How do I know what camps I should attend?
Well, that depends on what your goals are. Do you just want something to do? Or do you want to play or do you want to improve? That is only something that you can answer.
If you are a player, there is really only one reason to go to camp, and that is to get better.
There are plenty of ways you can get that accomplished. Here are my thoughts.
How Much Time is Spent Teaching?
First, investigate the camp schedule. How much time is spent on teaching, how much on drilling, how many games do you play per day, what other activities are there? Where is the camp?
I believe that the purpose for basketball camp is to get exposed to new ideas, skills and training methods. There should be a significant amount of time spent on teaching and drilling. I know drilling is hard and in some cases, monotonous. But that is how you get better...
A basketball camp should promote an environment where learning is the primary function. Are there extra instruction opportunities, are there specific topics covered or are they just general topics? A good camp will have a learning opportunity in every activity period. If you are not directly involved with a camp activity, there should be other opportunities for you to learn.
How Many Games?
Check to see how many games are played. In my opinion, games are the least important aspect of any camp. They should be used for practical application of the things that you learn in the rest of the camp.
One thing I am sure of, players can always find games. Go to the park, go to your school, go to a community center if you want to play games. If you are spending money to go to camp, go to learn. The number of games you play directly affects the time you have to learn. As a rule, the more games, the less teaching happens.
What kinds of games are there? Are the all 5 on 5 “League Games,” or are there controlled scrimmages, 3 on 3 games, etc.? The larger the variety of competitions, the more opportunity there is to learn.
Other Activities?
The same is said of other activities. While a variety of activities might be good for selling the camp, it really is not good for learning. I am not saying that swimming is a bad activity for a basketball camp. But, if they close down the basketball so everybody can swim, that may not be the best situation.
Be sure that other activities are only options, not mandatory activities. You should be able to work on as much basketball as you like. After all, why are you there? If you want to swim, go to swim camp.
Go Outside Your Area and Challenge Yourself
Also evaluate where the camp is. Part of success in life, as well as basketball is learning how to handle the unknown. Just going to the local camp with all your friends and others that you know certainly does not give you the variety of competition or the uncertainty of the unknown that you need to really improve as a player. If you have the means to be able to do so, I always recommend that players go outside their area for basketball camp.
Finding a Basketball Camp
Where do you find a good basketball camp? You can start by looking at the camps that Breakthrough Basketball has available. You can also search on Google, ask your coach, and ask your team mates.
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...
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