It seems that there are thousands of organizations out there to help make a high school athlete better and give them plenty of exposure during the summer…….The problem is, there is a hefty price tag that comes with it.  Make no mistake, the services that sponsor combines hold these events as money-makers!  Your summer “club” organizations charge fees to be part of the program, but that is mostly to cover the expense of the facilities, uniforms, the traveling associated with the team, etc.

As far as combines go, if you don’t mind spending the money, they are fun for the athletes, gives the athlete a chance to “measure up” against their competition and for those that pay attention, they can be helpful in picking up pointers.  They ARE NOT sources that will get an athlete noticed or discovered!  Although the general marketing of combines is to “get exposure”, etc., that simply is not going to happen!

College camps are great to attend and yes, they also make money, but if you’re an athlete serious about trying to attend that school on scholarship, you can communicate with the coach in advance, let them know you will be there and the dates and try to arrange for someone to evaluate you while at the camp.  If you don’t have something set up ahead of time, you most likely will not get the “exposure” you’re looking for, as those camps are crowded, hectic and the coaches, trainers and volunteers are all over the place!

AAU or Club sports are great sources to gain extra training, game time experience and exposure to coaches.  If you can find a team or association to connect with, you will be very pleased……you see a lot of high school volleyball, softball, basketball and swimming clubs extremely active during the summer!   At least you know the money you’re spending is partly going back to “you”……..If you want to find out what organizations or associations are available in your area during the summer, I suggest you speak to the high school coaches or athletic directors to see what they suggest.  Also, talk to parents of some of the older athletes to see where they have been experiencing success.

Just remember, summertime is also a time to recharge the batteries, so be careful of “burnout”……eat right and get plenty of rest during the down time so you can be productive during the workouts and games!  Also, make sure your parents are involved to the point that they understand your schedules and can be there when you need them.  They should also be trying to film some highlights if possible…….All in all, for the serious athletes looking at summer sports as a way to increase their skill set, it can be a great experience!  But, as they say, you get out of it what you put into it!

* For more high school athletics and college recruiting / scholarship assistance, visit:  http://www.viewmysport.com/