High School Sports Camps

Local communities have a great secret, high school sports camps. They range in capabilities from over night operations to half and full day offerings. The camps are great for the kids and the community as Summer is always a challenge for the families where the parents both work and the children have a lot of idle time for the dog days of summer.

The local sports teams of the high schools also get ready for the fall season. This is usually football, cross country and sometimes (although a bit early) basketball. The coaches get the kids in their pre season conditioning and also get a chance to see who is coming into the new fall season. Only certain sports are typically permitted for the high school sports camps as the individual leagues all have their rules so the kids are not abused for the love the of the game shall we say.

For those children and parents seeking diversity in their childs summer program the all sports camps are terrifc. They typically blend a little of each activity or day with the different sports packages. Thus your child will achieve a rich and rewarding exposure to all sports. We found this was a great way for our kids to see what they liked before the fall season was in full tilt and the coaches were all seeking their next wave of athletes.

We don't want this to sound like its a competitive feeder to the high school sports program but if you and your child are truely thinking of high school sports as an elected area for the upcoming year then this is a great way to achieve the maximum benefit available in your local community.

The only downside to all this is that most high school sports programs do not communicate effectively. Some do and some get their flyers out before school ends in May or June but a lot of them are word of mouth sadly. So, if you are seeking information and have not received any just call your local school to inquire. Another place to call is your local chamber of commerce. They typically have everything going on in your area.

Parents, enjoy your summer and get an early view into the wonderful programs your communities offer. Im sure they all have their moments but most cities now have terrific summer programs and let's not forget the money earned from these programs (in most cases) benefits your local communities sports programs directly. Have a great summer and get your kids active, healthy and happy!

That Time Of Year

Deep you say? Football is a business. It is a business in High School, College and of course at the professional level. To think other wise is foolish. Just look at the media. Take a quick review of any web site that carries the news. Where are there major ads located? Sports. When it comes to sports Footballl in America is king.

Our children who have played since Pop Warner league days envision themselves one day on that page. They think about playing D One College ball and focus on what it will take in Pop Warner to get to that ultimate level. Is this a good thing? Are our colleges taking advantage of the lure?

College football at the division one level is reaping huge financial rewards from our childrens ability. In four years, they will gain millions with the right team and of course a bit of luck. The student athlete is not allowed to share in any of this new found college wealth. But, what happens if they get hurt? What happens if after three years of great performance a player goes down in their senior year?

The pros look for someone else and this poor kid is left wondering what it might have been like. We believe there should be some level of insurance from the college program that should an injury ocur the athelete is taken care of prior to entering their last days of college ball. Put a contingency on it perhaps. If they get drafted after an injury the insurance is no longer available. But at least the player has protection.

We believe that a lot of kids opt out of college ball early for exactly this reason. Why take the chance? Reggie Bush had two national championships, one heisman trophy and a year remaining. The schools program had been elevated to the highest levels. He left one year early for the NFL. Although we hated to see this we agree with his decision!