How Sports Fantasy Camps Work

When it co­mes to sports fantasy camps, you've got options. Some fantasy camps are run by the entire sports franchise or team, and some are run by specific sports personalities. In the latter cases, the personality is usually retired from sports. Managing a fantasy camp is a great way for a retired athlete to "stay in the game" while simultaneously running a financially viable business venture. Most fantasy camps -- depending on what's offered -- range in price from around $1,000 to $5,500. There are also extremely high-end camps that run close to $20,000.

Here's what's out there:

So what kind of person attends a sports fantasy camp? Are there any requirements -- like age or even gender?

­What kind of person saves up their pennies to attend a sports fantasy camp? A person who is looking for a new experience or is hoping to recapture the athletic success he or she enjoyed in younger days. And some simply want to see what it's like to be a professional athlete. Sports fantasy camps give people the chance to immerse themselves in something they enjoy. After all, how often do you get the opportunity to put down the potato chips, get up off the couch and step right into the game?

The sports fantasy camps we're talking about here are for adults only. Age minimums range from late twenties to mid-thirties for the majority of camps. There's no maximum age, although camps do require participants to complete a medical release. A sports fantasy camp application will ask for your health insurance information, as well as a document of medical clearance from your physician. You'll also sign a waiver saying you won't sue the fantasy camp should you take a spill on the basketball court or get beaned by a foul ball. Typical legal stuff.

And what about your sports skills? Do you have to be an athlete to participate in a sports fantasy camp? Of course not. That's why they're called "fantasy" camps. Sports fantasy camp games are light-hearted and casual, so if your star quarterback glory days are long over, don't worry. The one thing you'll have in common with everyone is that you're all fans of the game.

Sports fantasy camps are more about the schmoozing than the playing. Participants get to hang out with their sports heroes -- players, coaches, trainers -- as well as network among themselves. In fact, friendships forged during fantasy camp may last a long time. Fantasy camp reunions aren't uncommon -- the Yankees hold a one-day formal reunion each year before the Old Timers Game at Yankee Stadium. Reunion ticket fees are usually extra, but most include a pre-game reception where you can catch up with old friends and perhaps some of the staff from your camp experience [source: Yankees].

In case you were wondering, sports fantasy camps aren't for men only. Women are welcome, too. Of course, you'll want to check the details on the particular camp in which you're interested. The Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Camp, for example, is men-only [source: Steelers]. Conversely, there are some women-only camps as well, such as a women's soccer fantasy camp featuring Olympic champ Brandi Chastain [source: SportsNet].

Do you really spend quality time with famous athletes at fantasy camp? What kind of swag do you get to bring home? Read on to see what an average day at fantasy camp might be like.

Let's ­walk through a day at a typical baseball fantasy camp. Here's what it might be like:

After you arrive and check in at your hotel, you sit through an orientation where the staff let you know what to expect during your stay. Next up is dinner or a cocktail reception, where you meet your fellow campers and perhaps a few major league players. You and the other fantasy campers are separated into teams -- you'll be competing against each other during camp.

In the morning, a shuttle delivers you to the stadium. When you arrive at the clubhouse, you find a personalized jersey and equipment waiting for you in your locker. It fits perfectly. You join your team on the field for warm-up and batting/pitching clinics. You recognize some of the trainers and coaches as retired players from days gone by. You pose for team photos on the field.

Game time! You and your team take to the field and play ball. You can't believe you're pitching fastballs on the same mound as your heroes have for years. After the game -- congratulations, your team wins! -- you return to the hotel to change out of your uniform. Another cocktail reception in the lobby gives you the chance to hobnob with several more major-league players, with photo opportunities aplenty.

The next few days continue in the same vein. On the last day, your fantasy camp team even gets a chance to compete in a friendly game against former pro players. That night, the staff honors you and your fellow campers at a banquet, with trophies and awards.

And then, the next day, your life as a major league ball player is over. You head back to the airport, shoulder sore from pitching, with your team jersey and trophy packed safely away in your suitcase. Later that summer, you'll meet up with your team again at the stadium for a reunion.