Return on Investment (ROI) is all about how much value you get from the money you put in. For athletes and their families, the recruiting process can be expensive—sometimes very expensive. Between trainers, camps, travel, hotels, and food, costs can pile up quickly. A simple weekend camp can run you $300 or more, and without a plan, you can burn through a budget with little to show for it.

At RecruitSync, we’ve been through this process many times, both personally and alongside other athletes. Our goal in this article is to share what we’ve learned so you can make smarter decisions—spending strategically, maximizing your ROI, and giving yourself the best shot at being recruited.

We’ll break spending opportunities into three categories:

1. College Camps

2. Ranking Camps

3. Training

For each, we’ll share where your money is best spent and where it’s likely to be wasted.

1. College Camps

Highest potential ROI—if you’re strategic.

College camps can be the most valuable recruiting investment you make, but only if you attend the right ones. This means being very honest about your current skill level and targeting schools where you realistically have a shot.

If you’re a Division II-level player and you go to camps at Georgia, Alabama, LSU, or Ohio State, you’re likely throwing money away. Not only will you spend on camp fees, travel, hotels, and meals, but you’ll also get little to no attention from the coaching staff. In those situations, your camp fee is essentially a donation to the program. On the other hand, if you focus on schools that match your skill level, the ROI can be incredible. At the right camp, coaches can evaluate your skills live, meet you in person, and give you meaningful feedback. Many smaller schools extend offers because of what they see at camp, and they place huge importance on in-person evaluation.

Bottom line: If you’ve always dreamed of visiting a certain program, by all means go once for the experience. But for every other camp, be strategic—choose the ones where you have a real shot at getting noticed.

2. Ranking Camps

Lowest potential ROI—unless you’re truly elite.

Social media is flooded with player rankings and star ratings, and it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. However, most of the time, ranking camps offer a poor return.

Here’s why: Coaches often use ranking lists as a quick filter, looking at only the top few percent of players. If you’re not in that top tier, your name may never be seen, no matter how much you spent to attend. Unless you’re confident you’ll rank in the top quartile for your position—and you’re being realistic about that—it’s usually smarter to spend your money elsewhere. While stars and rankings might get a coach’s attention, what gets you an offer is on-field performance.

Bottom line: If you’re a top 1% player in the rankings, ranking camps might be worth it. Otherwise, focus on areas that directly improve your game and visibility.

3. Training

Highly variable ROI—depends on your position and needs.

Training can be one of the best investments you make—if it’s targeted. For highly technical positions like quarterbacks, kickers, and punters, working with a knowledgeable trainer can make a huge difference. Improving mechanics, footwork, or timing can translate directly to better in-game performance, which in turn attracts more recruiting attention.

Even for other positions, any investment that boosts your on-field performance is money well spent. This improved performance not only helps in games but also makes you stand out at both college and ranking camps.

Bottom line: Quality training that measurably improves your game is worth the investment. But make sure the work you’re putting in is moving you toward your recruiting goals.

Summary: Where Return On Investment Is Found (and Where It’s Not)

College Camps

• Best use of money: Camps at schools that match your skill level, where coaches can give you real attention.

• Bad/waste of money: Attending camps at schools way above your skill level—don’t be a donor.
  
  

Ranking Camps

• Best use of money: If you’re an honest-to-goodness top 1% player.

• Bad/waste of money: Going when you’re not in the top tier of players for your position.
  
  

Training

• Best use of money: Targeted, quality training—especially for technical positions—that directly boosts game performance.

• Bad/waste of money: Training without clear goals or measurable improvement.

The Hardest Part: Being Honest With Yourself

One of the most important parts of recruiting is self-awareness. Ask yourself:

• What caliber of player am I?

• What level of football can I realistically play at?

• What is my growth potential?
  
  

These are tough conversations, but they’re necessary. Talk with your high school coach or a trainer you trust—they can give you an outside perspective.

At RecruitSync, we believe there’s a perfect home for every athlete, both athletically and academically. But to find it, you need to be realistic, have a plan, and do your research.

We’ve been through this process many times, and we want to help. If you have any questions about recruiting, feel free to reach out to me directly at jared@recruitsync.net.