My oldest son Joe plays quarterback. To me, this is the most political of all sports positions (an article for another day). With that, I’ve attended several camps over the years including a combine, team 7-on-7s, college one-day camps, showcase camps, and fundamental camps. I have an opinion on all of them, so bear with me.
High School Combines
Combines are necessary evils. Why? Because all coaches are intrigued with “measurables.” Measurables are height, weight, speed, power and agility. If an athlete has great measurables, combines are great. If they don’t, they aren’t. For athletes who lie inbetween these two extremes—like my son—combines don’t benefit them much.
My biggest problem with high school combines is they make a tremendous amount of money on parents who aren’t truly in tune to a real recruiting process. I overheard several parents talking about attending up to five combines and one of their sons hadn’t even played a snap of varsity ball yet. Attending athletes are training specifically for combine tests, and combines are manufacturing results that don’t transfer to the game. Players are leaving themselves open to injury by not preparing for their sport. This isn’t a words win. You want a words win. Produce solid game tape! I should note that there is one caveat to this. If your son is a blue chip recruit, a specific combine may be needed to provide a shot at the main all-American games that are now played. However, these are generally invite-only combines.
Team 7-on-7s
I actually like these because there is competition. If a university sponsors the tournament, it’s also a good chance for the coaches to see your son perform. During these skeleton scrimmages, they keep score. These are solid camps because the high school coaches run their team’s offense and defense. There aren’t any linemen involved except for a stand-in center. My only objection to these camps, which isn’t a big one, is some teams switch their offensive and defensive packages strictly to win the tournament. I feel the teams should have the practical application of their season playbook. Like I said, it isn’t a big issue. The goal is to win, isn’t it?
On Campus/Off-site, College Sponsored One-day Camps
As far as recruiting goes, these camps are number one in my book. The university or college staffs run these camps, and your son is coached by the school’s position coach. If your son is on their recruiting list, this gives the school a first hand look at his skills. Some colleges/universities use camp as a time to present an early offer to your son if he is their type of player. If he is an underclassman and they like what they see, they’ll begin the recruiting process at an earlier stage. During these camps, the position coaches do a solid job coaching individual drills because even though they can’t promote it, these are recruiting camps, and they want to see your son’s specific footwork and agility.
Showcase Camps
In my opinion, these camps are great for the athletes who have the recruiting service notoriety. These athletes are early offer guys. You’ll know if your son is at a showcase camp if there are individuals there who represent the major scouting services, if there are several big time recruits present, or if the camp is available by invitation only. If your son isn’t a top recruit, the positive side is that you’ll both get to see how he fares against the “best.” If you keep your eyes open, you will realize that there are some athletes who are truly legit and some others who are programmed and combine hyped.
Fundamental Position Camps
These are my kind of camps—no hype, just good old-fashioned teaching. These camps take the time to not only put your son through drills but to teach the drills as well. Most camps will run individual drills, but they’re done for filler. At fundamental camps, teaching is a premium. There aren’t many of these left. If you can find one, cherish it and continue to return on a yearly basis.
I’ve found one of these camps for quarterbacks, which is why I chose camps as the subject of this week’s blog. The Jeff Trickey Quarterback Camp is my pick for any quarterback who truly wants to develop his skills. Coach Trickey is hands-on at every site. His staff is made up of former campers and players. The camp is a two-day camp with four-hour sessions on each day. In addition to what your son will learn as a quarterback, Coach Trickey’s mini-speeches throughout the camp will inspire you as a parent and instill values in your son. Sometimes these values will only get through to players if they’re coming from a coach. This was my son’s fourth Trickey camp. He’s attended two in Arizona and two in Cincinnati. He has benefited and grown every year as a result of these camps. This year’s camp came with an added bonus — and I believe my son will take Coach Trickey up on his offer to work his camps next year! That’s a words win!
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Joe Kenn has spent the last 19 years as a “strength coach” on the collegiate level working at Boise State, Utah, Arizona State, and Louisville. Kenn owns and operates Big House Power Competitive Athletic Training LLC (http://www.bighousepower.com), an educational member website for parents, coaches, and athletes. He has published the highly successful The Coach’s Strength Training Playbook and is a highly sought after speaker on the national level. 
great article!
Great insight. When i coached high school football, I was approached by an individual (one of my players fathers) about putting a combine on for the conference. I am not a big supporter of combines for several reasons, I could probably write a complete article about that. Well anyway, he wanted to promote the combine and have me run it. I found out his goal was not about the kids, but rather about making money and trying to showcase his son, so I turned him down.
7 on 7′s are great. They do have their downfalls like you said. I was at a 7 on 7 tourney one time that the opposing coach would stand behind the offensive huddle, listen to the call, and change his defense based on what he heard. Instead of working and finding things to improve on, he was all about winning.
I’m not big on the college camps and really hate the showcase camps. The college camp I had experience with, I was a spectator. I was already playing for the college and had my brother attend the camp. My brother was not a college level player, but I was hoping the position coaches would help him. What I found was that a player that did not fit the size and skill set they wanted to recruit worked with a Graduate Assistant coach or the strength coach. The position coach worked with the ones they wanted to recruit.
The experience with a showcase camp was with my kicker when I was coaching high school. I flew him to the University of Miami for this weekend showcase. They were having the athletes compete, ranked, and suggested college level. The camp was poorly planned. Certain players were showcased (the ones he worked with personally on a year round basis) and the others were just put through the motions. I will admit I met two coaches that were working the showcase that were awesome. The first was Louie Aguiar (former Chiefs punter). I shagged balls for the punting station he was working and he took time to teach me some fundamentals and describe what each participant was doing right and wrong. He had to bite his tongue a couple of times because he wanted to help the participant with their form, but since it was a showcase camp, he could not. The other was a high school coach from the Miami area that taught me some finer points on long snapping. He gave me handouts he uses and talked non stop for two hours about long snapping.
I agree, position specific camps are probably the best. I have always come away with more knowledge from these types of camps than any other type.
Great article.
I was coached by Jeff Trickey at his camp in Cudahy WI back in 1985! What a great coach. Glad to see he’s still imparting wisdom and life LNG values to camp participants
Joe,
Great article. My family went through the process about 5 years ago and even though my son was “outside the box” as you say (5’10″), he did get the chance to go to all of the camps you had listed. — He did very well and used his scholarship to obtain his Master’s Degree (starting for a time at Murray St).
I agree the best camps are those that teach. Saddly, that doesn’t happen enough. Camps where we thought there would be a good deal of teaching only ended up being a showcase.
I would like to offer one word of caution to athletic parents – and you addressed it – WORK IN THE OFFSEASON!!! If you and your team win ballgames, everyone benefits… scholarships will come. Thanks for an interesting article.
Respectfully,
-steve yantko
George,
You are correct in your assessment of the college camps and I should have mentioned that. If your son is not a “recruit” they project in there program they may be coached by a ga and maybe a strength coach. On the other hand, I have seen the “bigger” schools allow “smaller” schools to send coaches to work these camps to evaluate those athletes who may not fit the host schools “measurables” or football skills.
My son has been on both sides at College Camps. As a junior we went to a “bigger” school camp so he could see what the big time is and he was in the Quarterback “B” group. Which was OK. This year he went to a “smaller” school camp who wanted him there and the school’s position coach spent quality time with him.
My son is very aware of where his skill set both athletically and football wise are as well as the fact that things he can’t control, how tall he is, makes him a specific type of recruit. I am proud of the way he handles this. My biggest question to the coaches I know on all college levels has been, when did being a good football player become second to combine measurables. I believe the shift is coming back to being a good football player because these height, weight, speed guys aren’t making it on the field in college. Now if your son is a height, weight, speed guy who can play football, you got yourself someone special.
As always, WORDS WIN
Joe Kenn
Hi to all,
Thanks so much for your continued belief in our program. Best of luck for a very rewarding season for all!!
Make it a great day!
Coach T
Just got threw with coach trickeys camp never being at a camp before didnt know what I was in for..i was so happy with the entire weekend. All coaches were so good with explaining the details and reasons for them. Coach has such a love with this u can feel soon as u meet him..i felt like I was with family all weekend.and most of all my son wants to go back, and as we talked I hear the change in him. And see it in patrices too..see u all next camp…thank you!!!!
In my sons young life as a middle school football player, we have attended several camps but none, whether they be position specific or otherwise, have been as impressive as camp with Coach Trickey. The emphasis on skill set and repetition combined with concentration on body mechanics and proper form are second to none. BUT-what really impressed me was Coach Trickeys dedication to mentoring these young men and his message of integrity and leadership. In the sports arena it is often hard to find Coaches who are both experienced in coaching and who also have the passion to invest in our sons’ character. Coach Trickey helps parents with messages about leadership, integrity, devotion to team (whether it be football team or community) and is clear about the path to success as a person. He brings with him a staff that is devoted to developing relationships with camp attendees. He is inspiring and engaging with his athletes. As a military family we put much emphasis on sacrifice, integrity and leadership and the responsibility that comes with living a life worthy of those who we are fighting for. Coach Trickey helped us reinforce those qualities in an environment that was focused on our sons passion. We couldn’t have asked for better camp experiences and would highly recommend it to all parents who desire to raise responsible, healthy, passionate leaders who set the bar high for themselves and live their lives with integrity. Your son will benefit from this camp without question!!!
Mr. Trickey is the people we want and need our young athletes around. My son has attended several camps over the past two summers and this one ranks at the top. This camp is OUTSTANDING. The Trickey staff is not only professional but very approachable. These guys are good. Best money I have spent on any camp of any kind. We will be attending the Jeff Trickey QB camp next year.