College ID Camps: Between the Spotlight and the Fine Print
By banquillo Editorial Staff
Every year, thousands of high school soccer players across the United States sign up for College ID Camps, drawn by glossy promotional videos, social media highlights, and the hope of catching a college coach’s eye.
For some, these events deliver exactly what’s promised, direct exposure to coaches, valuable feedback, and even the first steps toward a roster spot. For others, the experience feels more like a crowded audition where the spotlight shines on only a select few.
In recent years, the business side of ID camps has grown rapidly. Many programs now host multiple camps per year, attracting players from across the country, and sometimes from overseas. The result? Sessions packed with talent, but also with varying levels of opportunity depending on a player’s prior connection to the program.
Coaches often point out that ID camps aren’t just about scouting; they’re also a chance for players to see the program up close, understand the coaching style, and experience the campus atmosphere. For some athletes, that inside look is as valuable as any recruiting outcome.
Across the country, thousands of boys and girls attend these events each year, hoping to turn a few days of competition into a lasting impression on the coaches in attendance.
Yet, away from the promotional videos and smiling group photos, the reality can be more nuanced. In a camp with 80 or 100 participants, meaningful one-on-one time with coaches is naturally limited. Players who are already on a coach’s recruiting radar may get more focused attention, while others may leave without a clear sense of where they stand.
Still, for families and players who approach these camps with the right mindset, as one piece of the recruiting puzzle rather than the whole picture, the experience can be worthwhile. The key, many in the soccer community say, is understanding that the “ID” in ID camp is as much about players identifying the right program for themselves as it is about coaches identifying the next big recruit.
In the high-stakes, fast-moving world of college soccer recruiting, College ID Camps remain a fixture, part opportunity, part business, and, for the well-prepared, sometimes the first step to wearing that coveted college jersey.
