Would going to tennis camp offered by the tennis college of your choice help?

[nadalfan007]

I'm an up and coming junior tennis player who is really interested in attending Stanford Univeristy for tennis. Although I know it is extremely tough to get in to, would it be helpful if I attend the Stanford tennis camp and the head coach recognizes me? Would this be an advantage?

[jaZZirat]

Stanford isnt going to recruit a up and comming player. Stanford is a top Tennis school and is going to only consider solid established top performers. If you feel you have more to offer than just your rankings then attending their summer camp may be the only way for their coaching staff to see what you have to offer. You've set a goal dont let what may seem obvious let that discourage you. Dont use the camp as a exposure experience but use it to learn and help develope your game. Improve your game work hard and good things will happen. Good Luck

[Matt_MS]

I don't know what "up and coming" means or how old you even are. But if you see division 1 competition and think you can compete I'd say go to the camp and show the coaches how you play.

[JesseT]

Being good and doing well goes a long way...

but I have to disagree with jazz when he says don't worry about exposure. Networking is alive and well in all parts of life. Get good at it and it'll pay off in spades.

If you have other camp choices, go to the camps that have the most diversity of coaches in attendance. Can't speak for Stanford (or D1/D2 tennis), but I can tell you (from other college sports) camps and summer leagues are where assistant coaches go to learn to be better coaches....AND look for talent they might be missing from the papers/rankings list.

Even better, find out what camps/tournaments other D1 players near you attended. People (and coaches are people) are lazy and will keeping going back to a source of talent if it keeps working.

Good luck! I wish I got half the advice I've seen handed to juniors on this board when I was in high school.

[baseline08thrasher]

Go to UCLA, it has a very tough camp program i hear.
And it's in L.A. so there's already the best tennis competition in the world practically.

[babolatking]

"You have to have a 5.0 or be a 5.0"
lol :)

[babolatking]

or you could have a 4.0, I am on a 5.0 scale

[nadalfan007]

Yeah, my top two choices are Stanford and UCLA. Whichever I can get into, i would be extremely happy. I talked with my dad and i'm most likely going to Stanford tennis camp this summer so John Whitlinger can get to know me, so I'm excited because I know that i have something to prove. Thanks.