How To Prepare Your Child for Basketball Camp

Sending your child off to a camp can be intimidating. Aside from all the upfront costs of the camping experience, you have an endless packing list that must be met for your child to be fully prepared for the adventure ahead. 

This whole process can be even more daunting when it’s not just a fun-in-the-sun summer camp but a camp with a more specific purpose, such as basketball camp. At basketball camp, your camper is going to be pushed and tested to their athletic limits, so you not only need to have their physical needs met (i.e., clothes, shoes, water bottle, snacks, etc.), you also need to make sure you’re mentally preparing them for what is ahead. To make this process a little less daunting for you, the parent below is a quick synopsis of how to best prepare your child for when they go to basketball camp. 

The first thing you need to do is make sure your admission fees are paid. The worst thing you can do is drive to camp only to discover that your child has never been enrolled. (Talk about a bad day). You also need to ensure you have a few extra funds for concessions and possible gift shop items. This isn’t mandatory, but it does help to add to the overall experience your child has when attending camp. Typically, $20-$50 can keep your child happy without breaking the bank or sending them into a sugar overload.

Once the finances are covered, you can focus on your packing list. Unlike a typical summer camp, you will need a few more specific items for a basketball camp. You’ll need to ensure they have plenty of gym shorts, shirts, underwear, and socks due to the sweating over the prolonged exertion of physical activity. You also need to ensure they have a good pair of gym shoes. Not only do your child’s feet need to be comfortable, but they also need to meet the specifications required of a gymnasium. Confirm that they are gym floor friendly and will not make scuff marks, as this can often irritate coaches and camp staff.

You also need to make sure that you pack plenty of nonperishable healthy snacks and a refillable water bottle so they can stay hydrated. You will also want to make sure you pack some form of time-telling device. This will ensure that they are on time for whatever activities occur at camp. Avoid electronics or cell phones, as these are typically not allowed during the camp week. 

Finally, you want to make sure that you sit down and chat with your child to ensure that they are mentally prepared to go to basketball camp. It would be helpful to explain to them that, unlike a typical summer camp, they will focus less on having fun and more on improving their skill sets on the court. 

Assure them that even though hard work will be a part of their everyday experience, they will still have an enjoyable time and become a stronger, faster, and better athlete than when they went in. Make sure they know that this experience will help put them ahead of the curve come next season and that they are on the path to becoming the best athlete they can be, and you couldn’t be more proud of the choice they have made to attend basketball camp.