Summer is officially here and NFL teams have released their training camp schedules for the 2010 NFL football season. There is no better summer vacation for families than a visit to watch the NFL players prepare for the upcoming season.

Each year in late July, NFL players, coaches, administrators, and other staff members head to training camp. For 3 to 4 weeks, players and coaches work intensely to improve their personal and team performance. It’s great to see the rigorous work the players put in to prepare for the 16-game regular season.

Many of the 32 NFL teams hold their camps outside of their hometown. For example, the Baltimore Ravens have a training camp 1 hour outside of Baltimore in Westminster, MD and the Chicago Bears have theirs in Bourbannais, IL, 1.5 hours south of Chicago.

Field practices are usually open to the public and free of charge. This means fans can watch players at work: engage in drills, 7v7, and joke around with teammates, coaches, and even fans. Also, for fantasy football players, it’s a chance to see the players up close before the fantasy football draft.

All 32 NFL teams hold public practices, but each varies in their schedules, policies, and. Here are 5 tips to get the most out of your visit to the NFL training camp: Here are the locations and dates of the training camp.

one) Items for physical comfort.. There are many things to bring to make sure you and your crew are as comfortable as possible. This is especially true if you bring children with you. Remember, boot camp is outdoors and occurs in late July and early August. In many places, this means that it will be hot. Bottled water, snacks, sunscreen, hats, and even seats like the ones you might take to a kid’s soccer game. Different teams offer different seating arrangements and provisions for shade. They all have some kind of concessions, but they can be expensive and probably aren’t the healthiest options. (By the way, parking is usually free)

two) Confirm practice time, location, and arrive early. The benefit of being there early is that you get to see the players walk onto the field and stretch. You will quickly see the personality of each player at the time and the way they enter the field. It’s also a great opportunity to see the players up close, many times before they don their pads or helmets. Great opportunities for photos and sometimes autographs and short conversations. Be sure to allow some time for traffic, parking, and walking to the facility from the parking area. (Most teams offer parking information on their official websites)

3) Bring a camera, markers and pens, and mini helmets, pennants, caps, jerseys, t-shirts, and other items you’d like to autograph.. First, when we say bring a camera, we mean a real camera. While cell phone cameras have expanded our universe, for an NFL training camp, a real camera is much better. For example, zooming in may be the best way to get a close-up of Peyton Manning as he works with backups and the quarterbacks coach in far field. Or you may want more megapixels for the photo of you and Larry Fitzgerald during your visit to Flagstaff, AZ.

For autographs, opportunities will vary based on team policies. Each team will have designated autograph sessions and some autograph opportunities depend on the personalities of various players. For example, at every training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers hold a practice on Friday nights at a local high school in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. When practice starts, the entire Steelers team walks to the fences around the field and signs autographs for about 15 minutes.

4) Get a good night’s sleep and save your voice. A visit to an NFL training camp is a lot of fun and can be very exhausting. Just like a trip to an amusement park: the excitement + the sun + the heat can tire us all. Some of us can even become irritable. Be sure to follow this tip, as well as the others, to reduce the chance of irritability. Plus, get ready to cheer on your favorites. Whether it’s shouting hi to Ocho Cinco or joining in a Bear Down Chicago Bears rendition with other fans, training camp is a great opportunity to show off your team spirit.

5) Bring a soccer ball and other small games to play. There is nothing more inspiring than watching professional soccer players practice. That’s why you’ll see countless pigskins flying and fans running patterns while the pros practice on the field.

Some teams may even provide activity-filled kid zones or allow you to help with practice (fans at Raven’s camp can play field goal attempts on the sidelines). Check your team’s website to find out what kind of activities they offer at their facilities. Everyone probably has souvenir shops, so be prepared for that!

6) Dress like it’s a game! Players, coaches and other fans will appreciate your full support during camp. Two practices a day is grueling, and enthusiastic fans can easily change the momentum in camp. Prepare your jerseys, team shirts, hats and flags. Remember, the real season is just around the corner and we could all use a tune-up.