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CHIcaGO

July 9, 2025

Graduation Years:  2026.2027.2028.2029.2030

Pitching/CATCHING Clinic | 8:00am - 9:40am

All schools attending Connect will have Coaches either on the field working with you or observing and taking notes while you are working with the Coaches on the field.

Cost: $115

You will have the eyes of the Coaches on and off the field on you during your P/C session, and the Coaches can watch the graduate years they are most interested in or the athletes they are the most interested in as they move from field to field during this time where ONLY P/C are in action! These kinds of sessions are a great way for you to learn more about coaches and for them to learn more about you, while you can perform and showcase your skills.

The pitchers and catchers will be split up to get work with coaches separately during this clinic. Then the catchers and pitchers will come back together and the pitchers will be throwing full speed to the catchers and the College Coaches will be giving feedback and evaluating both the P’s and C’s! 

During our sessions we will also be gathering data. Here's the thing, we aren't just doing this for us, we are doing this for YOU!! Pitching data will be taken on every pitcher that attends camps. Velocity, Spin rate, break, and spin direction. We will gather data in this session and you will get an additional time assigned to you throughout the day so we can be sure good data is collected on your pitches.

You will throw your fastball, change up or best offspeed, and 2 best spins. Every athlete who registers for CONNECT will set up a TAGUP account and all certified metrics gathered will be uploaded into your account. You have access to this and you can choose to share it with whom you wish.  Every event we do is with you in mind, to help you reach your goals.

For catchers, pop times and other metrics will be collected during the data session.

REGISTRATION

Phase I:  Here is how the registration process works starting March 1st, 2025.
  • On Saturday, March 1st at 9am EST, you can register for camp and then you choose up to 4 sessions.  Each clinic is $70/clinic
  • To guarantee your top 3, you must register between March 1st-March 3rd.
  • You are allowed to register for 4 sessions at time of registration. This is to help you get into your top sessions. If you are a P/C and attend this session, then you are allowed to sign up for 3 more sessions.We want you to get into the camps/schools you want to get into and allow time for you to get your metrics in. Athletes are not used to the fast paced nature of these events because the groups are so small, and we want you to showcase your best self!


PRICING

1. The “Entry Fee” is $375 for position players and $375 for pitchers.  We have a convenient and free payment plan.  Deposit is only $99.  This will guarantee a roster spot in this camp.   PLUS:
  • Gives you access to register for individual college sessions.
  • Allows you entry and free access to all the panels with our college coach partners.
  • Full payment is due on May 1st.  If your full payment isn’t made by May 1st, we will delete your sessions and then you will not be guaranteed to get back in the sessions you originally registered for.
2. Additional individual clinic pricing is $70 per clinic.
  • By registering, you agree to sign-up to a minimum of 1 session at $70 each. (You choose the session).
3. The pitching/catching session is $115 and will be held at 8am-9:40am.
  • All schools will come together to work with / evaluate all pitchers and catchers.
  • Pitchers will sign up for a specific data collection time that will take place after the pitching/catching session.

4.  We at the CONNECT Camp have set goals to provide you and our college coaching partners as much information about YOU as possible.

This event will have certified metrics taken and each athlete will have their information added to their TagUp profile. The player metrics for CONNECT Chicago will be added to the leaderboard too. When you go to pgfevents.com you will see a leaderboard in each category. IT will show the best in each area of the events. Every event that happens makes it more competitive for the top spots of the leaderboard. We know that this will help you in the development and you can use this information to share with any coaches you email after camp. All coaches working this camp will get the information too. We hope you are excited about this part of our camp that helps you in your recruiting journey.


Prepare for the event detail

Arrival Time/Sign-In

  • Arrive at least 45 minutes before your first clinic to stretch and find a partner to throw with.
  • We are opening the sign-in station at 7am for those athletes who registered for an 8am clinic.
  • All campers must check-in at the Diamond Direction table, and you will receive your final schedule with field numbers.  This will make sure you always know where to be!

End Time

  • The last clinic will end at 8pm.

Packing List

  • Water bottle, water and EXTRA Water.
  • We will supply water, but we suggest bringing your own water and bring an extra water bottle if you have sessions back-to-back.
  • Bring lots of food/snacks because you will be at the fields for MANY hours!  Prepare for the day!  Take this seriously, fueling your body is SO important to best have energy throughout the day!
  • All your standard softball gear, prepare for rain, and of course HOT weather.  Suggestion…  Bring extra shoes and sock PLUS bring your TURF shoes
  • THIS CAMP WILL BE HELD ON TURF FIELDS. NO METAL CLEATS ALLOWED. PREPARE ACCORDINGLY FOR THIS EVENT.
  • Questions for the College Coaches.
  • Bring a notebook or ways to take notes of things you learned and conversations you had.
  • WE SUGGEST ALL CAMPERS IN HIGH SCHOOL HAVE REGISTERED WITH THE NCAA AND HAVE THAT NCAA ID# ON THE PROFILES THEY MAY BRING. 

WeatheR

Due to inclement weather, this event will not be canceled or postponed. 
 

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Updates

Parents and Fans

  • Parents or fans are NOT allowed to film the college clinics.
  • Parents or fans are not allowed to be on any field.
  • Parents are allowed to listen-in on the College Prep Q&A but are NOT allowed to participate. (We have found that parents take over the conversation and the athletes speak less or don’t ask what they want when we allow the Parents to ask questions.

College Prep Q&A

  • We will host 2, 30 minute-minute College Prep Q&A’s with a handful of college coaches.
  • Athletes:  Please come prepared with questions to ask the college coaches.
  • This is designed to be an interactive and educational experience between the coach and the athlete.  We are allowing parents to listen (think you are a fly on the wall) because we know how important parents are during the recruiting process.
  • At no extra cost to you, you will be allowed to register for 1 of the college talks throughout the day when you are registering.
  • Insurance
  • We strongly suggest all athletes purchase cancellation insurance. This will protect you against sickness or injury.  Diamond Direction does not offer refunds or credits if you get sick or injured. The only way to receive a refund is if you purchase camp insurance.

Location & Schedule Info

DAYS SCHEDULE

  • Check-in will be 45 minutes prior to your first clinic.
  • At check-in you will collect your camp numbe and schedule.
  • First session begin at 8.00AM
  • Coach and Field location will be posted at the event. It is the athletes responsibility to be at the correct location and on time.
  • A detailed email will be sent 3-4 days in advance of the event outlining everything you will need to know and do.

 

2025 CONNECT CHICAGO | SCHOOLS COMMITTED TO ATTENDING 

Florida State University
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Tallahassee, FL
Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I
Oklahoma State University
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Stillwater, OK
Big 12 Conference
Division I
University of Tennessee
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Knoxville, TN
Southeastern Conference
Division I
Louisiana State University
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Baton Rouge, LA
Southeastern Conference
Division I
University of Texas
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Austin, TX
Southeastern Conference
Division I
Auburn University
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Auburn, AL
Southeastern Conference
Division I
Duke University
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Durham, NC
Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I
University of North Carolina
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Chapel Hill, NC
Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I
Northwestern University
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Evanston, IL
Big Ten Conference
Division I
University of Michigan
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Ann Arbor, MI
Big Ten Conference
Division I
University of Kentucky
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Lexington, KY
Southeastern Conference
Division I
Clemson University
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Clemson, SC
Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I
Indiana University
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Bloomington, IN
Big Ten Conference
Division I
NC State University
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Raleigh, NC
Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I
University of Louisville
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Louisville, KY
Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I
University of Notre Dame
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Notre Dame, IN
Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I
University of Illinois
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Champaign, IL
Big Ten Conference
Division I
Texas Tech University
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Lubbock, TX
Big 12 Conference
Division I
Michigan State University
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East Lansing, MI
Big Ten Conference
Division I
Purdue University
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West Lafayette, IN
Big Ten Conference
Division I
Ohio State University
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Columbus, OH
Big Ten Conference
Division I

LOCATION

McCook Athletic & Exposition Center | 4750 S. Vernon Avenue, McCook, IL 60525

Cancellation Policy

In order to be compliant with NCAA rules, please understand that any payment you make towards camp is non-refundable. If for some reason a camper cannot attend, please inform Diamond Direction at diamonddirectionevents@gmail.com 21 days prior to the camp or clinic date and we will gladly forward your camp balance to be used towards a different Connect Camp. Please note that this does not reserve or hold your spot, you must still meet registration deadlines. If the camp director is not notified 21 days prior to the camp or clinic date, no forward will occur. If an individual cannot attend due to a medical reason, please provide a doctor’s note to diamonddirectionevents@gmail.com and the balance will be forwarded, if the cancellation is made prior to camp. Finally, no refunds or balance forwards will be issued upon expulsion or voluntary withdrawal from camp. Diamond Direction Camps will only provide a camp credit if camp has to be canceled due to weather or natural disaster.

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE CAMP INSURANCE.  IF YOU DO NOT PURCHASE CAMP INSURANCE AND YOU NEED TO CANCEL YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND.  PURCHASING CAMP INSURANCE IS THE ONLY OPTION TO RECEIVE A REFUND IN THE EVENT YOU NEED TO CANCEL.  INSURANCE CLAIMS ARE BETWEEN YOU AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND DIRECTION EVENTS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH INSURANCE CLAIMS.  

Transfer Policy

If you cannot make the camp day you signed up for, you can transfer to another Connect Camp if you notify us 30 days prior to your original camp date.

  • Note - your college sessions do NOT get transferred! They get cancelled and you will have to select from what is available in the camp you want to transfer to. 
  • Every camp does not have the same schedule nor the same staff, so if you transfer a camp credit to the next camp you will have to choose from what is open at that time.
  • Do NOT register for the Connect Camp you want to be transferred into, you must email us in order to make this happen. 
  • Our staff will make the final transfer of your registration on the backend.
  • If you chose the payment plan - you will be locked into the original payment plan payment dates.
  • If the new, transferred to, event cost more than the original event, you will be responsible for paying the difference prior to 21 days to the new event. 
Switching Sessions
  • If you need to switch from one session to another, please email us prior to 14 days prior to the event and we will be happy to switch you into another open session IN THE SAME CONNECT CAMP.

This Connect Camp is open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender.

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Where talented softball athletes CONNECT with top softball programs all over the country in one location!