Bay Area Baseball Camp for Boys & Girls: Overnight Camp at Cal State East Bay

Baseball is a game of details. The angle of a back foot in the batter’s box. The timing of a pitcher’s hip rotation. The read a shortstop makes before the pitch. No sport rewards preparation and IQ more — and no sport is harder to develop in a surface-level program that runs players through drills and calls it a camp.

At Maccabi Sports Camp, our co-ed overnight baseball camp is built for players who want to get genuinely better. Set on the campus of Cal State East Bay in Hayward, our baseball summer camp gives boys and girls real position-specific coaching, competitive game situations, and the immersive overnight environment that accelerates development faster than any day program can. Whether you’re looking for a baseball camp for kids just starting out or a serious program for competitive youth players, Maccabi is built for both.

This is the Bay Area’s only Jewish overnight baseball camp for boys and girls — including girls who want to play real baseball, not softball. And there’s nothing else like it in the region.

Enroll now, request a camp tour, request more information, or call us at (415) 997-8844 — we’re happy to answer any questions about the program.

More Than a Day Camp: Why Overnight Camp Develops Better Baseball Players

Day camps give players more reps. Overnight camps give them more of everything else — and in baseball, everything else matters just as much.

The mental side of the game — how a player handles failure at the plate, refocuses after a bad inning, prepares for the next at-bat — doesn’t develop in a morning session. It develops over time, under pressure, in an environment where players are accountable to each other around the clock. That’s what our summer baseball camp at CSUEB provides.

Campers live in the Cal State East Bay dormitory suites in Hayward, eat together in the university dining hall, and train on CSUEB’s baseball facilities throughout the day. Evening programming, team film sessions, and community time between practices are built into the schedule — not afterthoughts. It’s a complete baseball immersion experience in one of the best athletic facilities in the East Bay.

Boys and girls train and compete together. Baseball has always been a sport where boys and girls can develop side by side — and our co-ed program reflects that. Our girls baseball players aren’t offered a softball alternative. They play baseball, receive the same position-specific coaching as the boys, and compete on equal footing. That’s been the Maccabi model from the start.

Position-Specific Development: What We Actually Coach

The best baseball camps don’t treat every player the same. Catchers need a completely different skill set than outfielders. Pitchers develop on a different timeline than position players. Our coaching staff — experienced players and instructors first, mentors always — works with every camper at their position and skill level.

Hitting & plate approach

Swing mechanics, load timing, hip-to-hand sequencing, and bat path are worked individually. Beyond the physical mechanics, we teach plate approach: pitch recognition, count management, and the mental process of an at-bat from the on-deck circle through two strikes. Hitting is half physical skill and half decision-making — we coach both.

Pitching & arm care

Mechanics, grip, command, and sequencing for pitchers of all experience levels. Arm care protocols are built into every pitching session — warm-up routines, pitch count awareness, and recovery habits that protect young arms for the long term. We don’t just build better pitchers; we build pitchers who stay healthy.

Defense & position work

Infielders, outfielders, and catchers work in position-specific groups on footwork, glove work, throwing mechanics, and positioning. Catchers receive dedicated instruction on receiving, blocking, and game management. Outfielders work on routes, reads, and arm strength. Infielders focus on footwork, range, and the mental processing speed that turns hard-hit balls into outs.

Baserunning & situational IQ

Reading pitchers, getting secondary leads, taking the right angle, knowing the situation — baserunning is where baseball IQ is most visibly on display. We dedicate real time to it, because it’s one of the fastest ways to separate good players from great ones without adding a single rep of physical training.

Game situations & team play

Cutoffs and relays, bunt coverages, first-and-third situations, double plays — baseball is a team sport built on practiced coordination. Live game situations with coached debriefs are a central part of every day’s schedule, not an end-of-session add-on.

Character & the complete athlete

This is the pillar that defines Maccabi. The original boys baseball page was titled ‘The Complete Athlete’ — and that’s not a marketing line, it’s a philosophy. Every day of camp includes deliberate lessons in how to handle failure, compete with integrity, lead in the dugout, and show up for teammates. Grounded in Jewish values and mentored by coaches who prioritize character alongside craft, Maccabi develops players who are better to be around as well as better to watch.

What Boys Gain at Maccabi Baseball Camp

For boys, Maccabi baseball is the kind of environment that accelerates development — not because it’s the hardest camp around, but because the instruction is genuinely individualized and the culture pushes players to hold each other accountable in the best way.

For the competitive player: position-specific coaching from experienced instructors, live game situations with real stakes, and the mental game development that most travel ball programs never get around to.

For the developing player: a patient, progressive curriculum where mechanics are built correctly from the ground up. No player gets lost in the crowd. Every camper receives individual attention and leaves with specific, actionable things to work on.

For the kid who loves the game: an overnight community of players who share that love. Boys form real bonds in our CSUEB cabins — the kind built around competition, shared meals, and honest conversations about the game that don’t happen at day camps.

Girls Playing Baseball — Not Softball. Here’s Why That Matters.

Most youth sports programs steer girls toward softball the moment they express interest in baseball. Maccabi doesn’t. Our girls baseball program offers female players genuine baseball — same rules, same field, same position-specific coaching as the boys — in a co-ed environment where every player is developed at the same standard.

For girls who love baseball and have spent years being redirected toward a different sport, Maccabi is something they’ve been looking for. For girls exploring the sport for the first time, it’s one of the most encouraging environments in the Bay Area to start.

For the player who’s always wanted to play baseball: a co-ed program where your presence on the field is treated as completely natural — because it is. You’ll receive the same instruction, play in the same game situations, and be held to the same competitive standard as every other player in the program.

For the athlete crossing over from softball: our coaches understand both games and can work with the transferable skills you already have — while building the baseball-specific mechanics, pitch reads, and situational awareness that make the transition real.

For the girl who loves camp as much as baseball: Maccabi is the only co-ed overnight baseball camp in the Bay Area with a genuine Jewish camp culture. The baseball is serious. The community is just as meaningful.

Jewish Values. Real Friendships. Unforgettable Summers.

Maccabi Sports Camp is the West Coast’s only Jewish overnight sports camp, and a flagship partner of the Oshman Family JCC. On a baseball diamond, that culture shows up in how players handle adversity, how they compete, and how they treat opponents — win or lose.

Baseball is a game where failure is constant. The best hitters in the world fail seven out of ten times. How a player responds to that — how they carry themselves after a strikeout, how they lead in the dugout when things aren’t going well — is where character lives. At Maccabi, that’s coached as deliberately as swing mechanics.

Jewish players feel immediately at home. Players of all backgrounds consistently tell us they leave Maccabi with something they didn’t expect to find at a baseball camp: a group of people they competed hard with and genuinely trust.

Shabbat, evening programming, and community traditions are woven through the week in a way that feels alive — not scheduled or obligatory.

Our Home: Cal State East Bay in Hayward, CA

Maccabi Baseball Camp is hosted on the campus of California State University, East Bay — a spacious university campus on a hill in Hayward, CA, in the heart of the East Bay. For families searching for a summer baseball camp near them in the Bay Area — from San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, the Peninsula, or Silicon Valley — CSUEB is centrally located and a short drive from all three major Bay Area airports.

The CSUEB campus gives our campers access to the same athletic facilities used by collegiate athletes:

– Baseball and multi-sport fields on the CSUEB campus for all training, fielding, and game play
– University dormitory suites serving as cabins, with 8 campers and 2–3 dedicated counselors per suite
– Lane and recreational swimming pools for off-field recovery and evening activities
– Campus dining hall serving kosher-style meals, with organic, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options
– Classrooms and outdoor spaces for team film sessions, situational discussions, and evening programming
– A campus garden used for Shabbat and community gatherings
 
It’s a world-class facility for a summer baseball camp in the Bay Area — and the overnight structure means players get the full benefit of it, not just a few hours.

Want to see the campus and fields for yourself? Request a camp tour or attend an open house — or call us at (415) 997-8844 and we’ll walk you through what a week at camp looks like.

Program Details at a Glance

Who it’s for: Boys and girls, ages 8–16, all skill levels — beginners to competitive travel and school team players

Camp format: Overnight (sleep-away) — the Bay Area’s only Jewish overnight baseball camp for boys and girls

Location: Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) campus, Hayward, CA — accessible from across the Bay Area

Housing: CSUEB dormitory suites; 8 campers + 2–3 counselors per cabin, organized by grade and gender

Training: Morning and afternoon sessions: position-specific skill work, live game situations, baserunning, mental game

Groupings: Players grouped by ability level and position for all skill and game sessions

Girls baseball: Girls play actual baseball — not softball — in the same co-ed program as the boys

Dining: Kosher-style meals in the CSUEB dining hall; organic, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available

Evening programming: Team film, situational discussions, Jewish life programming, community events, Shabbat

Staff: Coaches with playing and instructional backgrounds, selected for character as much as credentials

Affiliation: Oshman Family JCC | West Coast’s only Jewish overnight sports camp

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this camp co-ed? Can boys and girls attend together?

Yes — Maccabi Baseball Camp is fully co-ed. Boys and girls train and compete together in the same program. And to be clear: our girls players play baseball, not softball. They receive the same position-specific coaching, play in the same game situations, and are held to the same competitive standard as the boys. We don’t offer a separate girls program — because baseball doesn’t require one.

Do girls play baseball or softball at this camp?

Baseball. Real baseball — same field, same rules, same positions as the boys. Maccabi is one of the only youth sports camps in the Bay Area that offers girls a genuine co-ed baseball program rather than redirecting them to softball. If your daughter wants to play baseball, she’s in the right place.

What ages and skill levels is this camp for?

We welcome players ages 8 through 16, from kids picking up a glove for the first time to competitive travel and school team players working on specific skills. Our kids baseball camp sessions are progressive and ability-grouped — so every player is challenged and coached at the right level, not sorted by age alone.

Is this an overnight camp or a day camp?

Maccabi Baseball Camp is a true overnight, sleep-away camp. Players live on the Cal State East Bay campus in Hayward for the duration of the session. For a sport with as much mental complexity as baseball, the overnight format — with team film sessions, evening discussions, and the accountability that comes from living and competing together — produces better development than any day camp can.

Where exactly is the camp located?

Camp is held on the campus of California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) in Hayward, CA — in the East Bay, accessible from San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley, and a short drive from all three major Bay Area airports. The Oshman Family JCC’s administrative office is in Palo Alto — but the camp itself takes place at CSUEB in Hayward.

Does my child need to be Jewish to attend?

Not at all. Maccabi Sports Camp welcomes players of all backgrounds. Our Jewish values create a culture built on character, integrity, and community — qualities that resonate across traditions. Jewish players feel deeply at home; players of all backgrounds consistently tell us they leave with friendships they didn’t expect to make at a baseball camp.

How do I register?

Use the Enroll Now link to start your application through the CampInTouch portal. You can also request a camp tour, attend an open house, or call us at (415) 997-8844 — we’re happy to answer any questions and help you figure out if Maccabi is the right fit for your player.

Ready to Give Your Child the Summer They’ll Talk About Forever?

Enrollment for our Bay Area co-ed overnight baseball camp fills quickly — especially for returning families. Whether your child is stepping into the batter’s box for the first time or pushing toward their next competitive level, we want them with us at Cal State East Bay this summer.

Spots are limited. Secure your child’s place today.

Enroll now, schedule a camp tour, attend an open house, or call us directly at (415) 997-8844 — we’d love to have your child on the field with us this summer.

Have more questions? We’d love to answer them. Request info today!