Choosing the Right Basketball Camp: A Guide for Parents and Player

Choosing the correct camp is important. For one, it needs to be fun for kids. But more importantly, you want them to learn skills that are correct. Youth basketball camps should be something that focuses on individual skills, but also teaches children how to play with teams. 

You also want there to be a safe, healthy environment for kids to learn, while also teaching them many important life lessons. 

Here, we’ll go over the right things to look for when you’re choosing a basketball camp, and different factors that matter. 

Understanding the Needs of a Child 

Not every child has the cams needs. 

When you understand this, it’s easier for them to understand. 

The first thing is to talk to them. 

You’ll be surprised at the answers you get and understanding the skillset. You can also talk to them about what they want to learn. 

Most of the time, children have information that adults simply don’t. If there’s something a child prefers, consider this too. 

Remember that basketball camps are for children, not for the adults, so at the end of the day, they get the final call. 

Look at the Staff 

You may see former college players, or even former coaches, sometimes even former pros leading these camps. 

If you wish for your child to be inspired, and learn from the top dogs, then you’ll want a basketball camp that provides this. 

There are many out there, and for a lot of pro basketball camps, the goal is to teach them the right thing early on, which is what you want. 

Know their Reason to Go 

If you want to have your child in a basketball camp, you may want to state the reason.

Sometimes a child just needs some exposure to others and doesn’t need something super heavy. Or maybe they want to get better at skills, and the only way to do so is via a pro ball camp. 

Maybe their friends are going, and you’ll want to have them go with others. 

Make sure you ask what you want children to get out of camps, as this will be the initial question before you begin the search for the right camp. 

Get Referrals 

Still not sure? well, maybe talk to other parents who had their child in this camp. 

This can be a resource for great information. 

Parents can tell one what camps are good, and what to avoid, based on the experiences of their own kids, which can be good to determine the right camp for your needs. 

What Makes a Good Camp? 

Still not sure whether or not the camp is a good one? Here’s our list of different things to look for with camps, and also what you should try to find in youth basketball camping experiences. 

  • They’re fun and are made for kids. If they’re not fun, kids will hate 
  • Builds a confidence in the child, which helps them with life both in and out of the court 
  • It’s safe, so you have peace of mind 
  • It builds important life skills that’ll impact their lives on the daily 
  • It empowers a child, so it’ll help them leave the camp, and feel like they can take on the entire world 
  • It builds team skills, so they can be a bigger part of the picture, and helps them with other areas that they struggle with too 

Yes, choosing the right camp can be a challenge, but consider these factors when you’re building the right experience for your needs.