This is the time of year that's typical
ly the hardest for me.
Not because the weather's hot.
It's not because I can't spend my days beside a pool catching a few rays either.
After all, I love hot weather and hate to swim.
What makes it so hard is the change from going full-speed to almost a dead stop in the blink of an eye.

It's pretty ironic that my busiest time of the year is followed so closely by the slowest time.
But due to the nature of the schedule I follow for nine months of the year, I get restless and am ready for any sign of sports firing back up.
This time of year is generally when those signs start to appear.

This week, I was able to watch some of the Champions Training for Success football camp.
In a couple of weeks, the Aaron Green Basketball Camp will host basketball players from the area for four days.
Having seen each camp up close the past couple of years, I can vouch that both camps are well worth the investment.

The CTS football camp is one that I think is really underutilized by people in this county and area.
Just by looking at some of the names that are brought in to help teach football to young players, one could easily see what a value the camp is.
Names such as Terry McDaniel, Bruce Wilkerson, and Reggie Cobb could get any UT fan fired up. It's beyond me why more people don't take the opportunity to have their kids coached, and coached rather intensely, by some great former players.

One of the reasons I've heard is the price is too high.
I know the economy here is about as bad as it ever has been. I know that some people have legitimate concerns about paying all their bills.

But if you're looking for a football camp during the summer, this is one great deal.
A camp hosted by Al Wilson this summer will cost nearly three times as much as the CTS camp.
Why not get instruction from Wilson's former teammate, Eric Westmorland, who was a pretty good player in his own right and at the CTS camp?

A camp hosted by Tennessee Titans' running back Chris Johnson cost nearly $200.
For the instruction, size of the camp, and quality of instructors, I don't see how you'll find a better value for the cost.

With the Aaron Green Basketball Camp coming up, there's another opportunity for many young basketball players to learn from a guy that is on the fast track in coaching.
Aaron Green served as a graduate assistant the last two years at UT as a part of Bruce Pearl's staff.
Green was already revered as one of the top high school coaches in the area before taking the job at UT.

After two division titles, a SEC regular season title, and serving as an assistant on arguably the best Vols basketball team ever, I think Green would have a pretty good grasp on what it takes to develop players.

He always brings a great support staff and the camp is very organized. You will rarely see any downtime for the players but most importantly, you see tons of smiles.
Just because these camps don't have big names endorsing them, they're not in Knoxville or Chattanooga, or any other number of reasons doesn't mean these camps can't offer just as much or more than other camps.

I don't know how many young basketball players will turn out for the Aaron Green Basketball Camp, but I hope the gym is full.
Not only is it a great place to learn the ins and outs of basketball, but you can't pack much more of a punch per dollar.

Especially when compared to the camps in Knoxville or Chattanooga.