5 Tips To Dominate At College Camps this Summer

Last year was a tough year for a lot of athletes on the recruiting circuit due to COVID-19 restrictions on college camps. Fortunately, football camps are back and if you are a football player with intentions of playing college football you need to start planning your camp schedule. These camps help you gain the exposure needed to get an offer. Signing up for these camps does nothing if you are not mentally and physically prepared to dominate. Below are a few tips to make sure you are ready to dominate the camp circuit this summer.

• Make sure you are training.  

Please do not show up to these camps after not putting in the proper preparation needed to dominate. Show up in great physical condition. For most coaches, you need to first pass the eye test. If you are breathing heavily after every drill and not in good physical shape then that is an automatic red flag. Also make sure you are training for the drills the camp offers. 

• Be first the person in line

Coaches are looking for leaders. I am not saying you should show up to every camp bossing everyone around. However, you should display qualities of leadership in your time there. The easiest way to do this is by being the first person in line for each drill and doing the drill correctly. This shows that you are coachable, can grasp concepts quickly, and have confidence in your ability as a football player. 

• Limit mistakes and never make the same mistake twice.

We are human, we are not perfect so naturally we will make mistakes. It is important to limit these mistakes while at camps because coaches take note of everything, including your mistakes. So make sure you are paying attention to the drill. Make sure you never do two things;

1. Make a mistake after multiple people have gone before you
2. Never make the same mistake twice. 

These are huge red flags to coaches. Make sure you know what you are doing and if you do not understand ask questions before the drill starts! 

• Play Fast and Play Smart.

Do not be hesitant. Coaches want to see players play fast and be instinctive. Do not be scared to make a mistake. In some cases it is better to make a mistake at 100% effort as opposed to doing it right slowly and hesitantly. In this same vein it is important to also play smart and not make big mistakes. For example, at most camps hitting a Quarterback is a huge mistake that can get you in serious trouble. Make sure you are playing fast but also being smart and not reckless.

• Make Plays!

Most camps range between 2-4 hours with 100+ players. That time frame does not create a lot of opportunities to create a lasting impression in coaches eyes. So you may be asking yourself “how do I stand out at camps?” The answer is simple, make plays. Yes wearing bright clothes is effective to be noticed for a moment but making plays will get you remembered forever. Do not look at this as added pressure. Just trust your technique and your training and make the plays as they come. 
It is important to start planning for college camps. I recommend starting as early as 8th/9th grade. Perfect Performance is hosting a Combine & Skills showcase on June 27th. This camp will have multiple colleges (D1, D2, D3, NIAA) in attendance recruiting players. Our Camp last fall led to over a dozen commitments from our participants. Additionally, we will have a prospect camp on June 27th for 8th-10th graders where we will have college coaches lead drills and competitive circuits. If you are interested please view the links below or contact me via email football@perfect-performancenova.com with any questions. 

Perfect Performance Combine and Skills Showcase 
Perfect Performance Football Prospect Camp

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