Most youth sports only have enough money for one coach. At camp, the athletes will be exposed to several coaches with a variety of coaching styles. When athletes are away from their normal environment, they are forced to make new friends. Camps can be a great way to develop and strengthen social skills and interaction skills 7. While training at the best facilities in the country, athletes will be introduced to cross training, wt training, stretching, and other programs that can enhance performance that may not be available to them now.
Athletes also have the ability to be leaders and help out the younger campers.
I think that these 10 benefits far out weigh a week of missed practices. Although the training may not be as intense, the exposure and learning experience that athletes will gain is invaluable. Coaches, parents, and athletes need to see that this experience can benefit everyone involved. Lisa Pastrana is an assistant swimming coach at Virginia Tech. For the past four years she has also been a coach and counselor for a National Summer Camp.