2017 Jimbo Fisher Youth Football Camp

For the third consecutive year, my 10 year old attended the Jimbo Fisher Youth Football camp in Tallahassee, Florida. I’m sharing our experience to document it, as well as help others as they prepare in their journeys. Feel free to email me if you’ve any other questions: jasonofflorida@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: I’m not a Florida State fan. Our family, like so many in Florida, is a transplant – however, my son will always know this as his home. He has become a fan, and has told me he even hopes to go to FSU someday. This is definitely a fan experience.

Basic Information

Dates: June 11 -13, 2017

Location: FSU Indoor/Outdoor practice facilities, as well as Doak Campbell Stadium (all adjacent and on FSU campus)

Ages: entering 3rd-8th graders (8-13)

Cost: Overnight camp is $350, Day Camper is $275.

We chose the overnight camp
Cost for overnight camper has risen from $315 in previous years

Registration Process

The camp director sends emails once you sign up giving you all the information you need. However, here are some hacks to help you through the registration process that I’ve learned over the last couple of years.

arrival time – they tell you camp registration is 11a-2p, which implies you can show up anytime between 11a-2p. What they should tell you is to show up at 10am and get in line for registration. Registration process will keep you there (on your feet) until 3pm.
pre-registration – if you sign-up online and bring in all the forms, you can quickly advance passed some of the people who are signing up that day.
Registration
- Station 1: they verify your pre-registration
- Station 2: they collect the required consent forms
- Stations 3 & 4: this is for campers who haven’t pre-registered. you can skip these stations.
- Station 5: Get your campers t-shirt and put it on them
- Station 6: Get a parking pass
- Station 7: Badge pickup and Team Assignment – each camper is assigned to a 7-on-7 “Nole Ball” team aptly named after NFL football teams. They’re also given a lanyard with their name.
- Station 8: Height & Weight is measured and written on name badge
- Station 9: Vertical Jump – your camper gets to see how high they can jump (I’ve never seen them measure them run the 40 yard dash or broad jump).
- Station 10: Picture with Coach Fischer. Jimbo is busy, he’ll show up when he’s first able – so you will be waiting in this line for a while.
- After the picture, you need to take your camper and all his gear over to the dorm where he will be staying. There are maps showing which dorm your camper will be staying in – I usually get back in my car and drive over.
- Dorm – there are signs directing you where to check-in; your camper will be given another lanyard with a key to their dorm. They must keep their lanyards around their necks at all times.
  - unpack your campers gear, stock their fridge, make their bed. Make sure they know where the bathroom is, and they remember their room number.
  - let them lock/unlock their door several times if they’re a young camper like mine is.
- Dorm Meeting 2:30 or 3:00pm: a coach will briefly go over the rules of the dorm, then say goodbye – your camper will depart the dorm and return to the practice facilities to begin camp.

Additional Expenses

parking pass – you can purchase these so you can park on campus (ticket free). they’re an additional $8.
pizza – you can purchase tickets for overnight campers to order pizza to their rooms, the cost is $20 for 2 pizzas.
spending money – I never leave spending money for my camper. If you wanted to, they could *use* it on the vending machines in the dorm
they have mini fridges in the dorm. Buy your camper a few drinks and snacks they would like and put them in the fridge.

Watching Camp

If you plan on hanging out and watching your camper for a portion or all of the camp, here are some tips:

bring a foldable lawn chair and save your feet
be prepared to walk a lot between the indoor and outdoor practice facilities, as well as the stadium.
find your camper when they first arrive in the facility and stick with them – all these kids look alike y’all, and there are hundreds and hundreds of them spread all across the facility.

Who will coach your kids?

every kid is divided into groups based upon their position. They will stay with their age-specific position coach the entire camp. I think most of these coaches are Grad Assistants or other assistant coaches.
every kid is on a ‘Nole Ball (7 on 7) team. The same coaches will see them everyday. I think many of these coaches are FSU Players or GAs.
There are high school coaches helping out Jimbo’s staff – these are really great coaches to have around
The Head Coach and his higher level assistants float around the camp. Jimbo can be seen driving his golf cart – he’s very approachable (and I’d say even likes to speak with fans, and he obviously likes talking to the athletes. Each of these big dogs will talk and give advice to many kids (and they know who they are and they’ll listen).