How to Select a Volleyball Camp

Three volleyball players performing a block

Three volleyball players performing a block

Kenzie has been attending volleyball camps since she was in seventh grade. She played through high school and then into college. She know is an assistant college volleyball coach and she runs many volleyball camps.

Additionally, Kenzie has create a comprehensive volleyball site volleyball site to benefit all players who love volleyball.

There are literally hundreds of volley camps held every summer, from one end off the country to the other, but not all volleyball camps were created equally. Whether you’re looking for a volleyball camp for a player with serious ambitions in the volleyball department, or just somewhere to go and have a little fun, exercise and make new friends, how do you go about choosing the best volleyball camp for the job? Volleyball camps vary widely in length, ability level, cost and type.  There are several factors you have to consider, when trying to find the best volleyball camp for your child, but first of all let’s look at a couple of things which should not influence your choice of volleyball camp . . . at the end of the day some things don’t mean zilch!

The best volleyball camp she ever attended to is by Olympic Gold Medalist Pat Powers. She still attends his camp every year. She says, “I learn something new every time.”

Don’t Be Tempted in Your Choice of Volleyball Camp by . . .

  • A slick, glossy brochure really does mean nothing. Anybody can have a slick, glossy brochure printed, but not anybody can run a great volleyball camp.
  • A successful team run by the camp college director – you might be surprised at this one, but there’s only a small amount of correlation between a winning volleyball coach and your child having a positive volleyball camp experience. It doesn’t go without saying that successful volleyball coaches can direct a good volleyball camp, just like it doesn’t necessarily follow that a successful volleyball player will become a good volleyball coach.

Remember, the prime reason kids like volleyball camp is ‘cos it’s FUN!

Selecting a Volleyball Camp

  • Location of the Volleyball camp is always a good way to start, there really is no need to drive five or six hours across state to find a great volleyball camp, ‘cos there’ll probably be one much closer to home which will be just as good. Start off looking locally, then venture further afield if you can’t find the right volleyball camp.
  • Younger children are definitely better off going to Volleyball camp with friends. I know it’s always great to make new friends, but it can be a pretty daunting experience for youngsters on their very first volleyball camp if they don’t know a soul when they first arrive.
  • Day camp is probably the best idea for a young child on their first volleyball camp too. If they can go to camp during the day but still be close enough to go home in the evenings then that’s a great introduction to volleyball camp life.
  • Older children and kids who have attended Volleyball camp before will often prefer to spend a few days away on an overnight camp . . . this gives Mom and Dad a little quiet time too which is always nice.
  • Cost of the Volleyball camp is also something which needs to be taken into consideration – unfortunately for most of these days it has to be a major consideration. Remember this though, the most expensive volleyball camp will not necessarily be the best volley ball camp, not for you, not for anybody. Day camps are obviously the cheapest alternative, for overnight camps you not only have to pay for room and board but also for 24 hour supervision. It can work out quite a pricey few days.
  • Age appropriate volleyball camps. Okay, so maybe your 14 year old is tall for their age and has played a lot of volleyball . . . they might be able to play with the 16’s but realistically, will the camp work hard on the game of the youngest player? Similarly, there aren’t too many 12 year olds who could play comfortably with the 14’s. Keep your child happy with players of their own age or the whole experience will be a complete waste of time and money.
  • Remember that a day camp is probably the best option for 12 and 13 year old, but by the age of 13 or 14 they’re probably mature enough to spend a few nights 100 or even 200 miles away from home.
  • Volleyball camp reputation – this is a good way to select a volleyball camp for your child. The best form of advertising is word of mouth, and a camp with a good reputation will always be ridiculously popular, so listen to the recommendations of others who have attended the volleyball camp. Don’t be afraid to ask a few questions;

 

  1. How was the food, was it good and was there enough of it?
  2. Were the players kept busy for most of the day with fresh challenges, or did they have 5 or 6 hours with nothing to do each day?
  3. What about the supervision . . . were the players well supervised and made to feel safe?
  4. What about the accommodation, air conditioning is important in the heat of summer.
  5. Were the players well treated, or did they get shouted at a lot? Some volleyball camp directors have lots more patience with kids than others . . . just like the rest of us I suppose. Remember, praise (when praise is needed) goes a long way to helping anybody to achieve anything.
  6. Was the camp good value or did the other parents get the feeling that they’d been ripped off?

 

  • Skill appropriate volleyball camp is just as important as age appropriate. Does the camp have the right division for your child, don’t be tempted to push your child into a division which is too far advanced for them, okay, you might think that it’s the best way to improve their game but it’s also got to be fun remember, and nobody enjoys being thrown in way out of their depth or skill level.
  • Coach-camper ratio is pretty much over-rated when it comes to selecting a volleyball camp. Okay, one coach cannot give enough attention to 30 kids, but if the coach-camper ratio is, say, five, it doesn’t necessarily follow that the coach will actually teach those 5 kids anything to improve their game. One fantastic coach to 10 or 12 players may be more productive than one mediocre coach to 5 or even 4 players.
AIS Volleyball

AIS Volleyball (Photo credit: @dino)

 

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