Get Ready for Camp
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
You picked the right camp. You registered.
Now what?
The work you put in before you arrive will show up the moment you step on that field.
Preparation is part of the process, and the athletes who treat it that way are the ones who make the most of their opportunity.
Be Smart About Your Camp Schedule
Before we even talk about physical preparation, let us talk about one of the most common mistakes prospects make during camp season: doing too much.
Attending camp after camp with no real strategy behind it drains your body, your budget, and your focus. More camps does not equal more exposure. Better performances at the right camps equals more exposure. Quality over quantity is not just a phrase. It is the standard you should hold yourself to when building your camp schedule.
Back to back days are not always avoidable, and sometimes the opportunity justifies it. But stringing together too many of them without rest in between will catch up with you. Your body needs time to recover.
Coaches are evaluating the player they see in front of them, not the player you were the day before. Give yourself the best possible chance by being intentional about how your schedule is built and showing up fresh as often as you can.
Drill Preparation
Some drills at camps may be ones you have not done in your position training. You may not be able to prepare for every single thing. But there are three drills that show up at virtually every camp regardless of position, and there is no excuse for walking in without having worked on them.
The 40 yard dash.
The L drill.
The 5-10-5 shuttle.
These three drills are run almost universally. If you have never practiced your 40 yard dash start, your first rep at a camp in front of coaches is not the time to figure it out.
Work on your stance. Work on your first step. Practice the L drill until the footwork is automatic. Run the 5 10 5 until the transitions feel natural. These are not advanced training concepts. They are fundamentals that every serious prospect should have in their body before camp season begins.
Preparation does not eliminate nerves, but it replaces hesitation with confidence. When you know what you are doing, you can focus on competing instead of thinking.
Film and Communication Before Camp
Preparation does not start at the field. If you are attending a camp at a school that has shown interest in you, make sure your film is updated and accessible before you get there. Coaches may review your film in advance of the camp or reference it while they are watching you compete. You want them going into that evaluation with context, not coming in blind.
If you have a contact at the program, a brief message letting them know you will be attending goes a long way. Keep it short and professional. You are not asking for anything. You are simply making sure they know you are coming and that you are serious about the opportunity.
Your Body Is Your Equipment
You would not show up to a game without your pads. Treat your physical preparation the same way.
Get quality sleep in the days leading up to the camp. Hydrate well. Eat in a way that fuels performance rather than slowing you down. These things sound basic because they are, but the basics matter more than most prospects give them credit for.
Show up to camp feeling like a competitor. That starts days before you arrive, not in the parking lot.
The Bottom Line
Being intentional about your schedule and protecting your body is not being cautious. It is being smart.
Knowing your drills before you walk in is the baseline. Taking care of your body and your film in the days leading up to the event is what separates the athlete who performs from the athlete who just survives the day.
You have invested time and money to be there. Make sure the version of you that shows up has done the work to back it up.
ImRepReady is built for prospects and families who want honest information and a real process. Visit ImRepReady.com for resources, timelines, and tools to help you own your recruitment.
Every rep counts. Own your process.