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June 27, 2003
Over a thousand kids between the ages of 8 and 18 filtered into the grounds of the University of Virginia this past week for summer athletic camps. The kids come from all over, bearing big suitcases, equipment bags, and dreams of one day playing at the collegiate level.
But these camps are not your typical summer camps. Most camps are run by UVA head coaches and involve intense training, Whether its football, basketball, or rowing camp, the kids spend eight to ten hours a day conditioning, listening to speakers, or working on technique. Yet kids continue to return each year to the intense heat and hard training regiment.
Assistant coach for Women’s Basketball and camp coordinator Audra Smith said, “Some kids come and are focused on getting better, but each kid has the ability to make the camp experience whatever they want it to be. Most of the younger kids come for fun and are less intense. But high schoolers are looking more at improving their game and immersing themselves in their sport. They also want a taste of collegiate athletics.”
Campers get to experience first hand how a student athlete lives his/hers first year at UVA. They stay in first year dorms, eat in resident dining halls, and interact with current UVA athletes since many of the camp counselors are UVA athletes.
“The varsity athletes give the campers an idea of what it’s like to compete at the collegiate level for Virginia. They act as role models for the kids and help them set their sights on higher goals for the future,” says rising Fourth Year women’s softball player and camp counselor Hannah Owings.
The camps not only improve players’ skills, but also promote UVA athletics. Smith stated that camps “are a great way to get our name out to the community and introduce future athletes to our program and team.”
The length, cost, and qualifications for each camp varies, but the majority of camps occur in July. For more information about the summer athletic camps click on the “camps” link on the left column of our homepage.