Pro Free Agent Camps

[whoopee23]

Are camps that are advertised, such as Pro Free Agent Camps worth attending. I see a few on the web, such as IHC, and PowerPlay Sports Canada. Do camps like this really attract scouts or are they just money making scams? Are there any good ones that you guys know about?

[jayme2008]

There a some that are very good and some that are not.Alot of pro teams hold camps in the summer months all across north america that is the best way to go.This camps are put on by the teams them selfs and don't cost much.

[whoopee23]

Where would you research information like that? Are they posted on the team websites?

[scammedfreeagent]

Once bitten, twice shy. I would say be very leary of free agent camps. I believe most are cash grabs. I believe there is one company running out of PA that is from what I understand reputable as they are more "placement and evaluation" type camps. Either way, I would suggest you take a long look at who you are dealing with prior to investing your time or money. It is a definately a buyer beware situation.

[Karl]

Hey whoopee are your looking to tryout for a team than you and i are in the same boat. I have talked to a guy who said there is supposed to be a free agent camp for the first week of September in Bufallo NY for the South East Hockey League. He told me that about a month ago and i just e-mailed him about a week ago so once i find something out i will post it.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

...Unless you don't mind spending the time and money. Free agent camps have generally proven to be a great way to lighten a camper's wallet with NO chance of that camper making a pro team. AAA and AA level teams have no business at all holding these free agent camps. There is no problem finding talent at that level. For example (on the AAA basketball side of minor league sports); some CBA teams hold multiple free agent camps, but when the season starts these teams are stocked with former and future NBA quality players--not a free agent camper in sight!

...with that said, there are a few legitimate types out there. Look for real A level leagues and how they obtain their talent. Notice the emphasis on 'few' and 'real'. If the league is not for real, then the warning signs will present themselves long before you open your wallet to pay a free agent camp fee.

[Sewer-rat]

Free agent camps are great if you have'nt played in a year or two and you need to get use to the faster paced game. Your best bet in my experience is to get on the horn, and call teams, and sooner or later you'll get an invite. Then the job is up to you to bust your a$$ and earn a spot on the team. Belive me it is very very possible. But... Scammedfreeagent was right I belive IHC is the company that is ran out of PA., and that guy can really help you, (he knows what it takes to get to that next level) if you actually have the tools, and the smarts to play the higher level hockey. Good luck, and remember to use comon sense when you try to go to a freeagent camp. If it is like $300.00 more than likely the only people in the stands are the janitor, and the guys who just finished playing a game of shinny. If it is held in timbucktoo it's probably not a real camp. If a team that is in timbucktoo is going to have a legit camp, they will locate it in a central region so that they can attract good players who maybe can't afford to fly to Africa to tryout for a team. Hopefully you can catch on somewhere . Best Of Luck!

[whoopee23]

You are right. I am looking for a team to try out for, I havent played at that level in a few seasons and am looking to get back in. I wasnt that great in the first place though! Thanks for the insight fellahs. Is there any place I should look for camps at?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I am not sure if I was being clear in my previous post after I read it. There IS a distinction between a team/league's "try-outs" and a "free agents' camp" in my eyes. Prospects are usually required to have previous Division 1, minor league, major league, or equivalent experience to even be considered for participation in these try-outs.

[Sewer-rat]

Get your resume together, cause if you don't have one then they will think you are a joke, and Ken is right if you don't have ATLEAST some Jr. A experience than more than likley you will not get accepted to the camp, and or get looked at. Some players after they get done playing jr. get big eyes, and want to try and play pro right away, and skip the college route, and play one game and that is it and they loose all college eligibility. I have seen it alot, and it's sad, cause there are alot of decent players out there that could have gotten that much better playing college hockey, then moved up. My advice to those is to go to a school, even if it is a small school play hockey, then try to play pro you are only extending your hockey carreer, and you will get better. Then if you can't catch on to a pro team, guess what????? You have that piece of paper that helps you make a decent living. That is it in a nutshell. Hockey IS life, but in the real world there is life after hockey. Never give up, and BEST OF LUCK!!

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

This camp isn't for hockey (it is for independent league baseball), but it IS everything a free agent camp should be:

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3028069&l_id=&t_id=

The Northern League (about AA equivalent) held their more serious, resume only try-out earlier this month in Arizona. U.S. Steel Yard is only around the corner and down the street from where I live. This means even I can try-out (and pull a hamstring, groin, etc.) without losing any dough. :D