For the past nine years, Charles Fishbein has organized and run football camps and combines all over the country. From California to Pennsylvania and every state in between, he has provided information to fan websites and other publications to help expose prospects.

While putting together events that featured some of the top athletes in the country, Fishbein found that colleges had little or no way to get valid information from these showcases that measured talent and collected data on speed, agility and football skills.

On April 25, Fishbein's Elite Scouting Services will break ground on a unique event that will be a mix of all the positives that he has put together throughout the years.

The Elite Scouting Services Combine will be held at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, and with input from those who also have been involved in the promotion of high school athletes for more than 40 years, it promises to be something that combines everything about the camp experience -- and more.

''What we always wanted to do is give the colleges an opportunity to receive first hand information about the prospects here in South Florida,'' Fishbein said. ``We will send everything from the event directly to the colleges who we work with year round.

``The schools we work with already know that we work these events as hard as anyone in the country and provide information that is tough to get from people who don't do this for a living.''

DIRECT TO COLLEGES

From 40 times and lifting results, to heights, weights and film of actual one-on-one, skill drills and 7-on-7 competition, everything will be sent directly to the colleges.

In addition, the day-long event, which will feature top athletes from the Class of 2010, 2011 and 2012, parents will be involved from the time the registration begins at 7 a.m. to the last event in the afternoon.

''Parents are often left out of the equation,'' said Cardinal Gibbons offensive coordinator Matt DuBuc, who not played at Texas Tech and also enjoyed a career in the Canadian Football League. ``The objective is for the parents to be involved in the camp, asking questions along the way and seeing what their child goes through during the course of an event like this.''

While some events push parents to the side, this is one showcase where parents will be involved to see what it takes to get to that next level.

At a time when achieving a college scholarship has become more of a priority than ever before, this is the perfect time for this showcase to happen. It is a week before the start of spring practice, so being in football shape is essential when colleges are preparing to come down and see these players off of what happens at this event.

''Perfect timing for this to be held,'' Fishbein said. ``As the budgets at colleges across the country tighten, having prior information on an athlete is very helpful. In addition, each football prospect that attends will bring game tapes that we send off along with the information and evaluation from the camp.''

Area high school coaches will provide instruction for the players who have already started to sign up from as far away as South Miami and West Palm Beach -- and as close as Fort Lauderdale, where Cardinal Gibbons and St. Thomas Aquinas players are getting on the (www.elitescoutingservices.com) website.

CAMP ALREADY FILLING UP

While Saturday will be a huge day for position players, Sunday's event for kickers, punters and long snappers has already started to fill up as well. Tim Conrad's BIGFoot Kicking Camp has already started to attract some of the top special teams players from across the state.

''This is such a huge opportunity to be involved with,'' said Conrad, who continues to develop special teams players, along with his assistants Mike Crissy and Chris Cormier. ``We will have the best special teams players in the entire state there on Sunday, but are also looking for others to come and learn what we do.''

While colleges will benefit from this showcase, the athletes will also have the chance to be a part of the media spotlight as 790 The Ticket will start their NFL Draft Day coverage off with a live two-hour show from the event with Alan Strauss and Bruce Warner, who will have interviews with some of the top players on hand as well as talk about the latest sports topics.

The Miami Herald will also be on hand with photos, video coverage and interviews throughout the two days.

Local sponsors have already started to jump aboard on what is expected to be a football camp/combine experience that will long be remembered.

For questions and more information, contact Elite Scouting Services at 305-467-5864.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ATHLETES

Don't forget that we are always looking to help our area recruits for the current Class of 2010, 2011 and 2012. All you have to do is send a DVD and information about the athlete to: Larry Blustein, P.O. Box 3181, Hallandale Beach, Fl. 33009.

Larry Blustein is co-host of the Miami Dolphins Gridiron Show every Thursday evening from 9-10 on WQAM (560 AM). Have a comment? E-mail lblustein@MiamiHerald.com.

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