Before you know it, it will be time to start scheduling sports camps for kids.

As you’re conducting your search, be sure to keep these things in mind:

• What is the camp’s history and reputation? Great new camps spring up every year, but camps that have built a trustworthy reputation for offering a quality staff environment and top-notch instruction are often worth the extra cost. Camps that are unsafe, poorly run or don’t deliver a quality experience aren’t in business for long.
• What is the camp’s philosophy and focus? Just because the flyer says that this is a football camp doesn’t mean that your child will be doing more than scrimmaging all day. If that’s what you want, then go for it. But if you want your child to learn something new, improve his skills and help his game, find out what you are paying for.

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• Does the camp have a well-trained staff? There is nothing wrong with high school kids helping out the younger ones, but be sure they are well-trained and know what they are talking about. Ask how they are trained and how they are chosen. The same goes for the adult staff. Don’t assume just because someone is working at a sports camp that he knows his stuff.
• Does the camp communicate well with parents? Do they have a plan for letting parents know about upcoming events and for notifying them if a child becomes sick or injured? What is their rule on camper cell phone usage?
• What is the camper-to-counselor ratio? To make sure your child gets the individual attention and supervision he needs for his age, compare the camp’s counselor-to-camper ratio to the American Camp Association standards. For day camps, ratios range from 8:1 for 6- to 8-year-olds; 10:1 for 9- to 14-year-olds; and 12:1 for campers ages 15 and up. For sleepaway camps, the general recommended ratio is 6:1 for 7- and 8-year-olds; 8:1 for 9- to 14-year-olds and 10:1 for campers ages 15 and up.
• What are the camp’s rules for behavior? Be sure your child understands the boundaries. No cell phones allowed? No going for a walk alone? If it’s an overnight camp, what are the curfews and male/female restrictions?
• Does the camp care about creating community? Even sports camps that heavily focus on developing skills are social environments for kids. Good camps try to create an inclusive experience for every kid.

In 21 years of sports parenting, I sent my kids to a variety of sports camps. The bottom line was that I usually got what I paid for.

If you can afford more quality instruction and that’s what you and your child are looking for, then go for it. But if your child just wants to play, have fun and get some summer exercise, then less expensive summer camps are probably your best choice.

Janis B. Meredith, sports mom and coach's wife, writes a sports parenting blog called JBM Thinks. She authored the Sports Parenting Survival Guide Series and has a podcasting series for sports parents. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.