The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
As most of the university packs their bags for the summer, many of the sports teams at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will put on youth summer camps.
Throughout the summer months, almost all UWSP teams will run a youth camp. Some run a few days, some run a couple weeks. Most camps are available to any ages between kindergarten to incoming freshman.
The camps vary in number of participants, and some of the most successful ones attract a few hundred youth.
Photo by Jack McLaughlin.
“In my few years we have been growing in the size of our camp each year,” volleyball Head Coach Abbey Sutherland said. “Last year we had 250 sign up, and this year we are looking to get around 315.”
That kind of turn out for the camps creates a great recruiting tool for some of UWSP’s athletic programs. Taking advantage of having that talent in your gym over the summer is key.
“I strongly believe in using this as a recruiting tool. We have our elite prospects camp in which we get a bunch of girls to come and we can evaluate them over the few days to see where they might fit in the program,” Sutherland said.
The same thought process is used on the football field, in which the coaches run a variety of different camps including the evolving 7-on-7 camps that emphasize skill position players.
“Our 7-on-7 passing camp attracts over 250 players,” football head coach Tom Journell said. “Each year we find talent that we may not have otherwise seen if not for the camps.”
The football camp is primarily run by the staff, whereas some other sports are helped out by members of the student body, players or not, such as basketball and volleyball.
“We try to get as many of the current players here as possible, it counts as a job for them too, so they are working with these campers hands on and they are getting paid to do it which is nice,” Sutherland said.
Although one of the major goals for these camps is to see potential talent for the university in the future, the staff’s ability to make the camp an enjoyable experience helps the university out in other ways.
“We want to provide a great experience on campus while they are here so they want to come back, regardless if they are a football recruit or not,” Journell said.
The camps are also used to try to maximize the level of talent and competition in the area well before participants reach the collegiate level.
“The camp is designed to provide enthusiasm and cultivate interest in the sport, thus helping area programs,” Journell said. “We are trying to promote the game as best as possible.”
Not only is there a lot of work being done on the court, but most camps try to give the youth a chance to see what college life is about.
“The older prospects, we let them stay in the dorms for the few days, eat in Debot, walk around and see what the campus is all about,” Sutherland said.
Student involvement is crucial to this development and recruitment of prospects for the university.
“This year we are starting something where the prospects go and talk to some of our players and ask them stuff in a Q&A fashion about being a student-athlete so they are well prepared and ready to take on that challenge of college,” Sutherland said.
What it all comes down to is giving a little back to the community that enhances the interest of the game, whatever game it may be. The coaching staff at UWSP embraces the ability to coach guys and girls that might not be their players just yet, but are well on their way.
“Being around youth that love the game makes these camps more than enjoyable,” Journell said.
Charles Klumb
Reporter
cklum166@uwsp.edu
