Coach Ramsey

Keep your kid away from Ramsey. There is a reason that HS coaches in KC call him the witch doctor. He is a nut.

Thanks for your input. Did you have a bad experience?

Ramsey has worked with A LOT of good runners over the years. Very knowledgable and passionate about the sport. The kids have a great time at the Brokaw Blazers Camp, you can check out their website for more info.

Are you a parent? My shout out is to parents who have had a personal experience with Coach Ramsey about registering their child for his camp. Thanks!

Hello!

I am actually a camp counselor of about five years at Coach Ramsey's Smarter Training for Faster Running Cross Country Running Camp, and have worked with him as an athlete for nearly 15 years. Enough cannot be said about his expertise and his dedication to the sport and the kids he coaches.

It is my understanding that the camp is actually full at this point.

He would be more than happy to answer any of your questions. You can reach him through his email at

www.brocawblazers.org

Definitely full of himself, and classic example of a club coach who'd claim credit for developing a kid even if the extent of his involvement was saying "good job" after a race. On the bright side, unless he's changed his hair style, meeting him is like meeting a Lord of the Rings character.

Thanks, and I'm glad you had a great experience as an athlete and counselor, but again, I was asking for feedback from PARENTS of minor children (like high schoolers) who have the responsibility of registering and paying for their children's summer activities. I'm asking about the parents' experience for a reason, but thanks anyway!

I know you are looking for a parents perspective, but I can provide some input from a hs coaches perspective. I am challenged with deciding between multiple quality camps in Missouri; Wilderness Running Camp, Mizzou, Southwest Missouri, Big River, etc. Deciding which to tell parents/athletes some who have to pay for camp on their own to attend is a reaponsibility I take seriously.

Coach Ramsey runs possibly the most comprehensive camp availiable for young athletes. It is a great place for athletes to start their journey in athletics. Some of the other camps are great for more advanced athletes, but for learning the basics and starting a passion for the sport there is no better option.

I personally attend camp with the athletes I send, and have sent kids to multiple different camps.

Coach Ramsey is also holding a camp near Chicago this year which may be an option if the Colorado camp is full.

Such a glowing recommendation, yet difficult to reconcile with the wildly different views expressed by several others who say run in the other direction, and fast! What could account for such different opinions? Also, FYI, THE CHICAGO CAMP FOR 2014 WAS RECENTLY CANCELLED!!

Here's your answer PHHS, go somewhere else then. Different camps for different people, simple as that. If you just want to stir the pot then forget it and move on.

I have always believed the reason for the different views is how well they know Coach Ramsey. He is willing to help any kid anytime they ask. Many coaches see this as him trying to "take credit", or push them out. He just wants kids to have every opportunity possible.

He has asked many of my athlets to race with the Blazers. He never claimed he coached them, just took them to the meet and gave them the chance to race. He has offered to take kids who were not all-stars as well. He still calls many of them on their birthday to wish them well. Another testament to his commitment to kids and making them better people, not only better athletes.

Remember you are the parent, feel free to email him and get your questions answered by Coach himself. With any review you are only going to see the bad and good experiences. I would talk with your childs coach and see their experiences, does the HS Coach want them to attend, why/whynot?

Are people honestly surprised there is a full spectrum of reviews on a certain coach and also a summer camp?!? People today make opninions on a person so quickly ... "he didn't look me in the eyes, so I know he's a bad person" or "he wouldn't stop looking at my eyes so I know he's up to something" ... "he smiled too much" or "doesn't smile enough" ... "drives an expensive car so I know he charges too much" or "drives a crap car so I know he can't manage money" etc etc

Why don't you ask one person you honestly trust, like your kid's coach perhaps? Or maybe your just trolling online trying to hurt Coach Ramsey's reputation? Why don't you come clean and share what heinous thing he did or what your apprehensive about?

My son has known and run for Coach Ramsey for several years and has attended the Colorado camp twice. Sometimes he can be a little bit "out there" with some of his ideas (cell phone use being linked to lingering muscular pain is one thing I recall). Overall, though, he has solid training methods and cares about the kids who run for him.

You asked me to come clean, so I will. No, I'm not just trolling on-line or trying to damage a reputation. Here's my personal experience: my son went to the Colorado camp last year and had a great time. I don't dispute his coaching abilities or techniques. From a PARENT standpoint, I had a VERY DIFFERENT experience talking with him myself. I thought to myself, it's not about me, it's my son who is going, so I'll send him anyway. I'm not out to damage a reputation, hence the choice of words in my posts and asking for parent feedback. I won't go into detail again so as not to damage his stellar coaching reputation. Suffice to say I registered my son this year for the Chicago location which was just cancelled. In my opinion, it may benefit Coach Ramsey to hire an assistant to handle the business side of things such as registration forms, money, marketing, etc. To answer your question, my son's coach did not attend the camp with the kids last year as he usually did due to such issues, after making a call to Coach Ramsey himself to try and sort out a few things. I was willing to send him this year anyway (to Chicago - we had a conflict with the Colorado dates).

So, my personal advice to any parent wanting their child to attend one of Coach Ramsey's camps as a first time camper: Stick with the Colorado location even if others are offered - it's a proven entity, and if you live at a distance, make sure you fully understand your responsibilities regarding transporation and costs, not just the cost of the camp itself. Unless your child has attended many summer camps already, some of this information may not be clear or spelled out - so ask!

Seems bizarre that nowhere on the camp website or club page is Coach Ramsey's actual first name. Unless, of course, Coach is weirdly his first name...

Mashrunner wrote:

Seems bizarre that nowhere on the camp website or club page is Coach Ramsey's actual first name. Unless, of course, Coach is weirdly his first name...

His first name is Dave.