Hi There!
In this week’s newsletter, we touch on the subject of misconceptions surrounding Jr. Hockey Rookie Camps, and if they are truly legitimate or a false sense of hope. We’re here to provide clarity for you hockey players and parents.
What is a Rookie Camp?
To start, a Rookie Camp serves as a pre-tryout for players with little to no junior experience. The goal is to fight for a spot in the main/training camp, and eventually sign with a team. However, things have changed compared to its original concept in the past.
Issues with Rookie Camps
Many of these rookie camps have become quite unnecessary and often are just fundraisers for teams who are seeking to raise as much money as they can for a year. They usually have high attendance, ranging from 150-400 players, which dilutes any opportunities of making it to the next stage. Sometimes only a select few players are picked for the next stage, and other times none! Additionally, some teams mislead players into thinking they have a legitimate chance of making the team simply to raise money.
Advice for Players & Parents
When navigating the rookie camps, we urge you to be cautious and critical of them. Prior to going, ask about the camp’s legitimacy and player selection process. In addition, do some research and contact coaches to gauge their interest in you. A guiding principle to remember is if the coach is answering you quickly and is genuinely expressing his interest, then the camp might be worth it. Finally, once you do attend the camp, make sure you play to your strengths, compete hard every shift, and be so good that they can’t ignore you!
Overall, some Rookie Camps can definitely be legitimate and worth the time, but before blindly registering to 10 different camps, please be informed and critical when choosing which camps to attend to avoid wasting precious time and money.
Watch our full YouTube video breakdown here: WATCH NOW
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