Baseball training camps

Baseball Training Camps

By Jon Doyle, MA, CSCS

New baseball training camps seem to pop up just about everyday. While that might seem great - so many options are available, and you're bound to find a good match - it can also represent a serious problem. That's because so many of these camps and instructional programs are just designed as a basic, quick money grab, instead of a true training camp. Therefore, you need to choose wisely when it comes to the camp you're going to enroll with.

When you're looking for baseball training camps or short program to enroll with, one of the first steps of your decision process should be see to the level of coaches and instructors they have. It's easy for a camp to promote having "experts" or individuals with "decades of baseball experience", only to shuffle out some high school or college level players who are looking for summer jobs. Obviously those aren't the kinds of experts that you're really looking to learn from.

Not all baseball training camps are going to be headlined by a "name", such as a really recognizable figure in the sport, but you can find plenty that are headed up by talented and experienced individuals from the upper echelons of the game. Look for longtime coaches, scouts and professional players to be the instructors at your camp, not just kids who play ball and want to earn some cash.

Taking that one step further, make sure that the baseball training camps that you enroll with really delivers on the coaches they promise to have. The camp might have the name of a major league ballplayer, but is that guy going to be there everyday offering advice and tips, or is his name just there for promotion? It's no good to have top flight coaches promised but those same high school kids being the ones you work with. So make sure that what is promised in terms of instructors is delivered upon.

If it's hard to get a sense of that then ask around with other people who have been in the program, or look for unbiased reviews online. You should be able to quickly figure out which programs and promises are legitimate, and which ones are simply using names for promotion purposes.

Don't be afraid to actually talk to the heads of the baseball training camps either. In fact, you should absolutely seek them out and get a feel of what they're like, what they offer, whether they are legitimate and whether you will be able to work with them well. You might be psyched about a program only to find that the instructor wouldn't give you the time of day. Conversely, a lesser known program may have a coach who welcomes you into the fold immediately and seems to be a great fit with your style.

You also have to consider looking into a training camp that is tailored to your needs. Many camps now are very specialized in terms of the training they offer. Instead of just general baseball camps, you might find pitching programs, middle infielder programs, catching camps and so forth. You'll also find ones dedicated to hitting as opposed to fielding, or dedicated to one training element over another. Obviously you want to choose one that matches your position and the skills you're looking to improve.

The camp should also match your experience level. If you're a player that's looking to really break through to the next level and either land a scholarship or work your way up the ranks at another level, then you don't need basic or beginner information. At the same time, beginners will be overwhelmed with advanced programs teaching them fine-tuning techniques without taking the time to start from scratch. So find a baseball training camp that's equal to your expectations, your experience and your skill level.

Remember, not all baseball training camps are created equally. Be sure to find one that meets your needs and will provide you with the kinds of training and advice that you're seeking. Talk with and meet the instructors or coaches beforehand, get a sense of what the program is like from others who have been for, and look for something that will really deliver on what's promised. There are some fantastic training camps out there, so do your best to weed out the bad ones and make a selection that you'll be happy with.