Finding Her Place on the Diamond: A Co-Ed Baseball Experience Built on Community and Character

When you are evaluating summer athletic programs for a daughter who loves baseball, the landscape can feel fragmented. On one end, you have hyper-competitive, metrics-obsessed “showcase” camps that often treat female players as anomalies. On the other, you find general day camps where baseball is an afterthought, or softball programs that—while excellent—aren’t the sport she actually wants to play.

You aren’t just looking for batting cages and fielding drills. You are looking for an environment where she is seen as a ballplayer first. You need a program that balances high-quality instruction with the social safety and character building that defines a transformative summer.

At Maccabi Sports Camp, we have calibrated our baseball program to sit exactly in that sweet spot. We provide a Jewish overnight camp experience where the game is respected, but the camper is cherished. Situated on the campus of Cal State East Bay in Hayward, we offer a co-ed baseball track that champions inclusion, skill development, and the profound sense of belonging that young athletes need to thrive.

The Maccabi Difference: Skill Development Meets Personal Growth

Navigating the options for summer sports can be overwhelming. Many parents we speak with are trying to decide between a “sports-only” intensive and a “traditional” sleepaway camp. We believe you shouldn’t have to choose.

As the West Coast’s first overnight Jewish sports camp—and a proud part of the Oshman Family JCC—our philosophy is distinct. We don’t view sports as just a physical pursuit; we view the diamond as a classroom for life.

A Culture of Inclusion, Not Just Tolerance

In many co-ed sports environments, girls can sometimes feel like they are merely “allowed” to participate. At Maccabi Sports Camp, they are integral to the dugout.

Our program is co-ed by design. We believe that segregating young athletes by gender on the field often robs them of the chance to learn mutual respect and collaboration. However, we also understand the social dynamics at play for girls entering grades 3–11.

On the Field: Girls and boys train side-by-side, grouped by skill level and age, not gender. This ensures your daughter is challenged appropriately, whether she is a novice learning the mechanics of a throw or an advanced player refining her pick-off move.
Off the Field: While the sports instruction is co-ed, the overnight experience fosters deep bonds within secure, gender-specific housing. This allows campers to decompress with their bunkmates, building the lifelong friendships that define Jewish camping.

Coaching That Builds Confidence

Our coaching staff understands that an athlete’s mindset is as important as their mechanics. We move beyond the “win-at-all-costs” mentality found in elite travel ball circuits. Instead, we utilize sports to teach our core values: Rachmanus (Compassion) and Kavod (Respect).
For a girl playing baseball, confidence is the primary currency. Our coaches are trained to validate her presence on the field, focusing on:

Technical Mastery: Proper mechanics for longevity and injury prevention.
Game IQ: Understanding situational baseball, base running, and defensive alignment.
Resilience: Learning how to handle the failure inherent in a game where batting .300 is considered success.

Why Families Choose Maccabi Over “Elite” Clinics

If your primary goal is to have your child scouted by D1 colleges this summer, there are specific showcase camps designed for that high-pressure purpose. However, if your goal is to nurture a love for the game while developing a well-rounded human being, our approach offers a superior return on investment.

The “Whole Camper” Approach

A relentless focus on athletics alone can lead to burnout. We structure our days to ensure balance. While the core sports sessions are intensive, they are balanced with traditional camp activities. Your daughter might spend the morning turning double plays and the afternoon swimming, doing art, or preparing for Shabbat.

The Power of Community

Research indicates that girls’ participation in sports is growing—softball is now the 5th most popular sport for girls in California—but girls in baseball remains a unique niche. This can sometimes feel isolating in a home league.

At Maccabi Sports Camp, the shared identity of being a Jewish athlete creates an instant connection. The barrier to entry is lowered because everyone here shares a common vocabulary of values and tradition. Whether she is the only girl in the dugout or one of several, she is supported by a community that values her contribution.

The Venue: Training at Cal State East Bay

The environment dictates the quality of the training. Our location in Hayward, on the campus of Cal State East Bay, provides us with collegiate-level facilities that far exceed typical camp fields.
This location serves as a central hub for families across the Bay Area, from Palo Alto to Marin.

The campus offers:

Professional-Grade Fields: Well-maintained diamonds that allow for true hops and safe fielding practice.
Modern Amenities: Access to the university’s athletic complex and dining facilities.
Safety and Security: A contained, monitored campus environment that ensures peace of mind for parents of overnight campers.

Evaluating the Investment: What to Expect

When comparing Maccabi Sports Camp to other regional options (like day camps or sport-specific clinics), consider the “hidden” curriculum we offer.

Primary Focus: Skill Development + Character Growth (Unlike Typical Sports Clinics that focus only on Drills & Reps, or Traditional Camps that focus on Social/Arts).

Coaching Staff: Expert Coaches + Mentors (Providing a higher level of instruction than General Counselors, with more personal mentorship than tactical-only Tech Coaches).

Community: Values-Driven Community (Moving beyond transactional sports clinics or standard social environments to create a deep, values-based bond).

Daily Schedule: Intensive Sport + Camp Fun (A full-immersion experience that balances high-level 9 AM – 3 PM training with traditional overnight camp magic).

Our tuition reflects a premium, all-inclusive overnight experience. This includes professional coaching, housing, meals, and the full programmatic support of the Oshman Family JCC. We believe that the value of sending your daughter home not just as a better shortstop, but as a more resilient, connected, and confident young woman, is immeasurable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a softball camp?
No. This is a baseball camp. While we support female athletes in all sports, this specific track utilizes regulation baseballs, field dimensions, and overhand pitching rules. We welcome girls who prefer baseball over softball and want to continue developing in this specific discipline.

Will my daughter be the only girl in the baseball program?
Our baseball program is co-ed, and the ratio of boys to girls varies by session. However, we are intentional about fostering an inclusive culture. We do not tolerate exclusion. If your daughter is the only girl in a specific drill group, our coaches ensure she is integrated fully as a teammate. Outside of sport time, she is bunked with other girls her age, ensuring she has a strong female peer group.

Do we need to be religiously observant to attend?
Not at all. While we are a Jewish camp and celebrate traditions like Shabbat (which our campers often cite as their favorite part of the week), we welcome families from all backgrounds and levels of observance. The focus is on universal values like community (Kehilah) and character (Middot).

How competitive is the play?
We accommodate all levels, from beginners to advanced players. We group campers by ability to ensure safety and appropriate challenges. The environment is supportive, not cut-throat. We compete with each other to get better, rather than against each other to prove dominance.

The Next Step in Her Journey

Choosing a camp is about trusting an organization with your child’s development. If you are looking for a place where your daughter can wear her baseball cap with pride, improve her swing, and connect with a community that celebrates her for exactly who she is, Maccabi Sports Camp is that place.

We invite you to explore the specifics of our upcoming summer sessions.

Have more questions? We’d love to answer them. Contact Our Camp Director today!