LAXnews - Lax Camping

Alex_Smith -

As the sport of lacrosse has increased, the lacrosse camp has grown exponentially each summer. In fact, there are so many camps out there right now that parents and players can quickly become overwhelmed with the overabundance of choices. While I encourage most lacrosse players to become involved with as many sports as possible,

summer camp is a great way to get out of the house for a couple days and really focus on lacrosse specific skills that can help take your game to the next level.

One of my biggest jumps as a player came between my junior and senior years of high school when I attended two camps over the summer. One was a basic lacrosse camp at a local university while another was a goaltender specific camp on the east coast. Going back east was huge for me as a player because I was able to see another style of play and learn from some of the best goalie minds in the game.

Some families have the luxury of being able to pick out several and send their lacrosse players packing for two or maybe even three camps a summer. Others need to be more conscious of price and location. Picking a camp can be hit or miss, but here are some tips for choosing one that is right for you.

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The first thing to consider is the type of camp you want to attend. Below are some of the common camps and what players can expect from each of them.

Recruiting Camps If you are going into your junior or senior year of high school, many coaches use camp as a recruiting tool. Usually, these camps feature more games than they do instruction from the coaches, so if you are looking for some hands-on learning from top level coaches, you may want to consider something else. Some camps have players splitting up into teams and playing games for four days, three times a day. While these can be fun in their own right, recruiting camps are almost more for the coaches than they are for the players. However, making a camp all-star roster can be a huge jump for a player looking to make a name for themselves.

Team Camps A newer invention on the camp circuit is the team camp. At team camps, high school or youth coaches round up as many of their players as possible and bring them to a camp to basically play games. Sometimes camps will split up these players into teams and sometimes the teams will simply play with guys from their own team or region. While the team camp is a little more personable than a straight recruiting camp, for the most part, the camp day is mostly filled with games and more games. You will get a little more instruction at these camps, but not so much doing drills and breaking down individual skills.

College Camps Most college teams have found that camps are a great way to connect with the community and raise some revenue for their programs. To that end, a lot of college lacrosse programs have their own camps that are run predominantly by their own players. These camps are great for individual instruction and getting to know a certain team’s style and traditions. They are also a nice way to visit a school and experience dorm life before it’s time to go to college. Camps run by college teams are generally a lot of fun because you get to hang out with a group of guys that are already friends with each other. College programs will often run their own style of practices, giving players a fresh perspective on the game and an idea of what to expect in college.

“All-Star” Camps The MLL and NLL do not pay enough for players to make a full-time living off of just playing lacrosse, so many players band together to make some supplemental income during the summer camp season. Some of the game’s all time great stars will travel from city to city putting on camps and getting to know the players. Most of the time, these camps are run in much the same way as a college program will run their camp and are a good way to hob-knob with some of lacrosse’s great players and learn from the best.

Individual Skills Camps With the increasing specialization of the game, there are camps for just about all positions. Goalie and shooting camps are the most common and will offer very specific breakdowns for each player. Don’t look to get recruited at one of these camps, but if you are looking to improve a certain facet of your game, this is the route to go.

“More than Lax” Camps These aren’t as common, but there are a few lacrosse camps that feature activities you would normally see at your typical summer camp like hiking, biking and rafting.

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Skill level is an extremely important thing to take into account. If you just started playing lacrosse, going to a recruiting camp could be frustrating and a waste of time. Similarly, if you are an advanced player attending a clinic or camp that is geared towards instruction of new players, it may be hard to get much out of the camp.

Ask the camp director about which skill level they cater to. Some may encourage players of all ability levels and will match players up with others to make the camp fun and rewarding.

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The next thing to consider is whether or not you want to go to a day camp or an overnight camp. Most camps on college campuses are of the overnight variety, though there are plenty of day camps as well. Day camps typically have one or two sessions a day and lunch may or may not be included. Overnight camps usually include all meals and lodging and players may have up to three sessions in a given day.

Be sure to look at the facilities for an overnight camp. If you are staying in a dorm built in 1973, there is a good chance you will need to bring a fan because dorm rooms get awfully hot in the summer and most don’t have air conditioning.

For younger players, going to an overnight camp may be a little intimidating, so address homesickness before sending your fourth grader to a college dorm room for four days.

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As a general rule, camps that have been around for 10-15 years are still going for a reason. Reputation is a huge part of the camp culture, so ask around and find out if other parents and families have had a positive experience at the camp you are considering. Then, try to properly interpret that information because one bad experience should not deter you from a camp with otherwise glowing reviews.

Also, don’t necessarily fall for the trap that only camps headed up by All-Star players are worthwhile. Many of the game’s best players aren’t always the game’s best teachers. Plus, a solid coaching staff and a good plan can make up for a lack of All-Stars and give players the best instruction for the money.

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Other miscellaneous camp considerations:

* For an out of state camp, how will your camper get to/from the camp from the airport?
* Weather/time of year.
* Camper to counselor ratio – generally there should be 1 counselor for every 5 or 6 campers on the field and at least 1 counselor for every 10-12 campers staying overnight in the dorms.
* What to bring. Whether or not you will need to bring your bedding and towels, etc. varies from camp to camp.

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Lacrosse camp can be one of the most fun and rewarding experiences in a developing lacrosse player’s life. Making new friends and expanding your knowledge of the game will help you develop not only as a lacrosse player, but as a person as well. By being diligent and following some of the tips above, you can pick a camp that is right for you.

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Alex Smith played goalie at Ponderosa High School in Parker, Colorado and at Colorado State University. He is currently an assistant coach at Colorado State and plays for the MLL's Denver Outlaws.

This is the third article he has published on LAXnews.