NIU Softball Camp Information

Welcome to the Northern Illinois University Softball Camp website! 

Are you interested in improving your skills and receiving position-specific one-on-one instruction to enhance your game?  Would you like to spend the day with the Huskies and see what it's like to be a Division I student-athlete at Northern Illinois University?  If so, we invite you to join Coach Sutcliffe, her staff, and the Huskie student-athletes at one of our upcoming skills camps.  Campers have the opportunity to practice and train like a Huskie, working closely with some of NIU's All-Mid-American Conference, All-Region, and All-America selections.  NIU Softball camps are designed to help softball players of all skill levels enhance their knowledge of the game, improve their fundamental and advanced skills, and see what it takes to be a Huskie!   

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SUMMER CAMP CHECKLIST:

Dress accordingly: Wear appropriate practice attire and shoes.
Equipment: Bring your own glove, catchers' gear (if applicable), bat, batting gloves, and helmet.
Shoes: Campers are required to wear tennis or turf shoes while inside the Chessick Practice Center. No cleats (rubber or metal) are permitted. 
Other Items to Bring: Due to COVID-19, you are required to bring your own water bottle as reusable cups will not be provided. Additionally, you are required to wear a face mask/covering over your nose and mouth for the entirety of camp. Disposable face masks WILL NOT be provided. 

 

CAMP CHECK-IN:

Due to COVID-19, check-in will be performed in a "drive-thru manner" in the loop on the 3rd Base side of Mary M Bell Field (next to the Chessick Practice Center). Once cleared by staff, campers will be escorted to the facilities prior to the begining of camp. 

MEALS:
There will be a lunch break during camp. Lunch is not provided; however, you are more than welcome to bring a lunch with you to eat in your car or you may go out to a nearby establishment. Due to COVID-19, campers WILL NOT be allowed to eat lunch inside the Chessick Practice Center, Hall of Champions, or Yordon Center. A list of NIU athletic-sponsored restaurants can be viewed via the Visitor's Guide link at the top of this page or in the NIU Camp Information Guide in the Camp Files section within the Winter Defensive and Offensive Camp pages. 

TRAVEL:

When making your travel plans, please keep in mind that NIU is on Central Standard Time.
By Car: When driving, use either Interstate 90 or Interstate 88 when driving from the East or West; Interstate 39 when driving from the North or South. Both are toll roads that require exact change or IPass/EZ Pass.  I-88, I-90, and I-290 are all toll roads.  The Annie Glidden Road exit requires a $2.10 exact change only cash toll or IPass/EZ Pass are accepted.  The Peace Road exit requires a $1.50 exact change only cash toll or IPass/EZ Pass are accepted. 
By Air: When arriving by air, DeKalb is within easy driving distance from Chicago Rockford International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, or Chicago Midway Airport. 
Hotels: A list of NIU athletic-sponsored hotels can be viewed via the Visitor's Guide link at the top of this page or in the attached NIU Camp Information Guide.


PARENTAL AUTHORIZATION/MEDICIAL WAIVER:
Prior to any camper participating in camp, a copy of the parental authorization/medicial waiver must be received.  The completed form can be sent in advance via email (Coach Bell, mbell2@niu.edu), by fax (815-753-7700), by mail (NIU Softball, C/O Mickey Bell, Convocation Center 220E, 1525 W Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL 60115), or turned in at camp check-in.  The PDF of the medicial waiver is attached to each camp's registration page.  A certified athletic trainer will be present throughout the entirety of each camp. A medical clearance survey will be sent out a few days before camp to ask if you have experienced COVID-19 symptoms or been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the 2 weeks leading up to the camp date. Upon check-in, our athletic trainer will also ask questions pertaining to if you are experiencing symptoms that day. 

REGISTRATION AND REFUND POLICY:

For all NIU camps and clinics, Jump Forward requires a processing fee upon registration which will be added upon check-out.  Cancellation notices received two weeks prior to camp day will receive a full refund. No monetary refunds will be issued for ALL cancellations (including illness and injury) received 13 or less days before the start of camp. In the event of a positive COVID test or extreme inclement weather, camp registration may be transferred upon approval ONLY to the next NIU Softball camp date. All cancellations/refunds must be requested via email to mbell2@niu.edu. Transfer of registration to a non-registered camper are prohibited.  The camp will be held rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the camp will be moved indoors. 
 

COVID-19 POLICY:

I/we acknowledge and agree that Northern Illinois University, including its camp participants, must comply with national, state, and local health guidelines and requirements, and the safety rules and precautions of Northern Illinois University, in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, which rules and precautions may be updated at any time.  While acknowledging that these rules and precautions may or may not be effective in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, camp participants are required to comply with such rules and precautions which may include, but are not limited to, education and screening, testing recommendations, sanitization, and personal hygiene.  I/we further acknowledge and agree that at any time the operations of the University may be affected and/or your camp may be impacted by the pandemic and its effects.

 

PARENTS/GUARDIANS AT CAMP:

In an effort to mitigate the risk surrounding the spread of COVID-19, parents/guardians will not be allowed into the Chessick Practice Center to observe the camp. The only people permitted in the building are campers and NIU camp staff.

WEATHER:

Please check the NIU Softball Twitter account for same-day camp weather updates. We will make all efforts to ensure that the camp is held as planned if we deem it is safe to do so. 

 

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES:

If you experience any type of technical difficulties while registering, it usually is a simple fix with the switch of the browser that you're using.  We recommend that you use Google Chrome or Firefox to complete the camp registration.  Internet Explorer and Safari are not typically compatible with our camp registration site and often present issues during registration.  If you are using Google Chrome or Firefox and are still experiencing technical difficulties, please reach out to Coach Bell by phone at 815-753-2245 or by email at mbell2@niu.edu. 

CAMP QUESTIONS:

Please direct all camp questions to Coach Bell via email to mbell2@niu.edu or by phone at 815-753-2245.