5 Keys to Running a Successful Youth Camp

Thinking about the annual obligatory youth camp stirs up mixed emotions among coaches across the country. On one hand, they are excited to teach their sport to future players. On the other hand, many see this camp as just another time consuming activity taking time away from their varsity teams and their families during the summer months. Unfortunately, not all coaches take advantage of these camps as an opportunity to build their program from the ground up. Instead, these camps often become one or more of the following:

•  Miniature versions of a high school practice fully equipped with screaming coaches and drills that are far from age appropriate.

•  An overly-expensive, glorified babysitting service that spends the majority of its time playing “Duck, Duck, Goose.”

•  Long lines of players waiting to participate and checking out the birds and the clouds in the meantime.

•  A conditioning camp where the young athletes spend more time running that working on skills.

    Rushed preparation and lack of focus produces such camps. While this is understandable considering the pressures that coaches face today, the results are often counterproductive. Campers often learn bad habits and sometimes even leave with a decreased desire to play football in the future.
    This does not have to be the case. Your youth camp can be an asset to your program without being overly time consuming and overwhelming. Here are a few time tested ideas that can save you time and headaches on your way to running a successful camp.

#1: Start with the End

    It is impossible to reach a goal that has not been set. Yet all too often we start doing something without truly defining what we are trying to accomplish in the end. Coaches are notorious for making shortsighted changes or decisions without a clear understanding of what the outcome is for those choices.  That is why it is important to start by identifying the optimal end.
    When applying this concept to running a successful camp, it is obvious that you must start by defining what makes a camp successful. Consider goals like increasing participation in football, raising money for the varsity program, creating excitement around the football program, and teaching character traits consistent with program expectations. Prioritize those goals and then make sure that all future preparation is done to propel you toward the goals you have set.

#2: Preparation Pays Off!

    A successful camp does not have to be a lot of work, but it does require detailed preparation. Here are a few tips about being properly prepared for your camp:

1. Start early. Ideally, you should begin planning this camp about six month in advance. This gives you plenty of time to do what needs to be done without interrupting the normal business of winter and spring sport seasons.

2. Get other people involved. There are many other stakeholders that are going to be willing to help with this camp; they just need to be asked. Get parents, youth coaches, and program supporters involved from the beginning and the preparation process will go much more smoothly.

3. Don’t reinvent the wheel.  Running a camp requires paperwork, but you do not need to create every piece of literature from scratch. Look for resources and templates that others have created that can personalize, update, and print the file as your own (visit www.sportscampinabox.com for valuable resources that can save you lots of time and energy).

#3:  No Laps, No Lines,
No Lectures

    If your goal is for every kid to leave your camp more excited about the sport and the program, then it is crucial that the camp is constructed to meet that goal. That means adjusting the content and expectations to meet the developmental level of the kids in attendance. Far too often this is not the case. Coaches often operate youth camps as mini versions of  high school practices.  They treat the players as if they already have the same passion for the sport and understanding of the game that their varsity athletes have. This approach has been proven to drive athletes away from the sport which will, in turn, hurt your program. Here are three rules that will help ensure that your camp appeals to the correct age group.

No Laps
    It does not take a degree in developmental psychology to construct a developmentally appropriate camp. Think about it. Coaches all too often take a bunch of kids and send them on a run before the camp even starts. In doing so, the overweight kid falls behind and becomes embarrassed. He already hates running and now that feeling is reinforced and he thinks that this sport is all about running. He starts the camp already wanting to go home and play video games. Elementary and middle school athletes do not need near as much warming up as high school and college athletes so “running just to run” has very little value in a good camp. Avoid it altogether and the kids won’t miss it.
    Along those same lines, you will notice that the schedules in this manual omit the “warm up” part of the camp as well. These kids are warm when they show up. In fact, one of them can likely put his leg over his head. There is no need to spend ten to fifteen minutes teaching them to stretch when their muscles are ready to go. Teaching fundamentals is a much better use of time.

No Lines
    Think about what happens when you stand in line. You check out. You day-dream. You think about anything but the task at hand. If you struggle with that, how much more will an eight year old struggle while he waits his turn to run the ball. There are between six and eight hours to teach these kids the fundamentals and get these kids to love your game. Don’t waste any of those precious minutes having them stand in lines.

Here are a few ways to diminish and eliminate lines from your camp:

1. Start with small and manageable groups. This will help your coaches keep all the kids moving through the station or drill.

2. Employ enough coaches. Small groups are impossible without the manpower to supervise and teach them.

3. Provide enough equipment. Few things are worse for learning than nine campers watching one person throw the ball at the target while the others wait their turn. By giving a station the necessary number of footballs, every camper can practice their throwing and no one is waiting for their turn.

No Lectures
    The campers came to camp to have fun and learn, not to hear you talk. It sounds harsh but it is the truth. Know what you are going to say and stay on track. Challenge your coaches to have the kids at their stations moving within 30 seconds of getting to their station. This pushes them to be quick and concise in their teaching and leads to more active learning. Clearly define the introduction, guided instruction, and active repetition for each station or drill so your coaches maximize the teaching time that they are given.

#4: Be Clear, Be Concise, and Be Correct

    Merely avoiding lectures will not ensure that the campers learn what they are supposed to learn; it only helps to secure their attention. Once you have their attention, it is crucial that take advantage of it. A simple rule of thumb for maximizing your teaching time is to “be clear, be concise, and be correct.”
    Being clear is both about the type of words you use and the way you speak. Make sure that you use words that your campers understand. Keep it simple.
    Being concise is about word choice. The best way to use the right words is to know what you are going to say ahead of time. Spend time preparing yourself and your coaches and use notes when needed.
    Bring correct is also a matter of preparation. Nothing wastes more time than changing plans or re-teaching skills because of misinformation. Make sure that your coaches all know their topic well and are prepared to give instruction in that area.

#5: Happy Coaches = Great Camp

    It seems simple, but the mental state and energy level of the coaching staff are two of the most important variables in determining the success of a camp. For that reason, it is important to consider the following factors that can help the coaches maintain a high level of drive and enthusiasm:

1. Choose the right coaches. Err on the side of having hard working coaches that like kids over star players that who what to stand around and look pretty. Having just one or two coaches who lack the necessary energy and enthusiasm will pull down the entire group.

2. Prep your coaches. Don’t expect them to be ready to perform at the level that you expect. Set clear expectations for them and ensure that they understand their roles.

3. Push your coaches. The camp coordinators main job during the camp is to keep the coaches motivated and working hard.

4. Feed your coaches. They are expending a lot of energy and it can’t be replenished without some food. Provide snacks and drinks for them during the camp and then meals when you are finished. NOTE:  Be careful to not feed them a big meal until the camp is over. I remember taking coaches to a Chinese Buffet for lunch and then expecting them to coach a group of 5th and 6th graders an hour later. That session was very poor as the coaches were sitting and even lying down while “coaching.” So the lesson here is: consider timing and nutrition when planning the meals for your coaches.

5. Reward your coaches. The coaches are just like campers: they like stuff. Make a point to send them home with something every day. T-shirts are a staple, but other ideas include water bottles, bags, footballs, and old helmets. You will be surprised at how hard players will work for a three-dollar t-shirt. Be sure to keep in mind the NCAA restrictions on gifts.
 

   So what type of camp are you going to have this summer? Are you going to continue to go through the motions or are you going to take steps towards maximizing the program at your fingertips?  If you start with the keys listed above, you are guaranteed to be much more satisfied with the results of your camp without much additional work.


About the Author: Sam Nichols coached for ten years on the high school level, most recently at South Haven High School (MI) where he led them to their first district championship. He recently was selected as the wide receivers coach at his alma mater, Hope College in Holland (MI) . Nichols is also the owner of Full Throttle Coaching Solutions LLC, a company that produces products to streamline the lives of coaches. Visit his website at www.fullthrottlecoachingsolutions.com.