WHY ID CLINCS?

Why should prospective recruits make sure to add specific targeted ID Clinics in their playing calendar?

***Guaranteed playing time in front of college coaches***
As a player, at any event where college coaches are attending you want to say you had the opportunity to showcase your abilities in a meaningful way. JUST PLAY Elite Clinics format guarantee you will play meaningful small-sided and full-sided game minutes in front of every college coach that attends our clinics. Our events are 3 hours long where players maximize exposure at high level without being overplayed risking injury or a dip in form on the field.

Why is this different/better than a showcase tournament?

• A college showcase may have 100 or more coaches attending but only a small percentage will actually attend one of your matches. Not every college coach will see you at a showcase. Most college coaches have a list of targeted players they are there to see and have a limited window to get to those games as so many overlap.
• Few coaches spend more than 20-25 minutes at a particular game. This leaves so many variables up to chance. Did I play in those 20-25 minutes? Did I play well? Was my opponent competitive? Did I play in my best position (most showcases you play multiple positions)? Was my team playing well? Was this our first or second match of the showcase or were our legs cooked for a game later in the tournament?

***College Coaches will coach you first hand***
After working for 10 years on our business, we at JUST PLAY have built a great network of fantastic coaches where we can hand pick and invite the best coaches in our region to work our events. As a player you have a chance to play in one of their college sessions, and be coached in a match during our event by those coaches. You will get a sense for their playing philosophy, coaching style, what they are looking for in your position, and who they are as a coach. It is a rare opportunity to get firsthand feedback while also determining whether that coach fits what you are looking for at the next level.

Why is this different/better than a showcase tournament?

• Division I and Division III coaches are not allowed to invite players to participate in training sessions with their teams. So unless you play on one of those college coaches’ club teams, you likely will not have another opportunity to participate in one of their training sessions.
• We believe this is one of the key factors in determining “right fit” when selecting a school – “will I enjoy playing on a daily basis for this coach?” This is not something you can determine at a showcase.

***JUST PLAY Clinics create an environment for real competition***
JUST PLAY Clinics are an IDENTIFICATION and SELECTION process. Coaches are looking for the top players to separate themselves over the course of the event. Players are given the opportunity to do this during the three phases of the day – college coaching session, small-sided games, full-field matches. You are there to show why your physical tools, mentality, coachability, and technical abilities are better than the other guys at our event, simple as that. Over three hours the cream usually rises to the top.

​Why is this different/better than a showcase tournament?

• Most youth showcases these days are friendlies where the results don’t matter. Focus and competitive edge can often dip in these games. Remember results matter and are very important in the college game.
• In showcases, coaches often rotate players because they want to give every player the opportunity during the event. You may not get the chance to play your best position in front of the coach you were hoping would watch you play.