National Academy of Athletics Youth Sports Programs

National Academy of Athletics Youth Sports Programs offers youth sports programs that include camps, clinics, after-school enrichment, recreation services, recreational leagues, leagues, physical education, school break camps, weekend clinics, holiday programs, and community events. Children take part in sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, lacrosse, pickleball, baseball, softball, cheerleading, rugby, dodgeball, and all-sport activities, along with agility training and the R.S.V.P program.

• Ages: 3–14 years old

The National Academy of Athletics was founded in 2012. Its mission states that it was founded on the belief that sports have the ability to change lives, with a focus on helping every child develop confidence, character, resilience, and communication skills through meaningful, well-designed sports experiences. The organization uses an expert-designed curriculum and offers more than 12 sports and multi-sport programs, including age-appropriate programs for ages 3–6 and 6–14 that can be adapted for beginners, intermediate players, and advanced athletes seeking competitive development.

All programs use NAofA Coach Certification, which includes elevated safety standards and a robust social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum. Coaches are certified and fingerprinted, and their training includes safety, communication, positive coaching, and fingerprinting. The organization describes its approach as behavior-positive coaching with age-appropriate progressions, supported by professional curriculum and proven safety systems.

National Academy of Athletics partners with cities, schools, recreation departments, and community organizations to provide youth sports programs, including physical education in more than 60 schools. It is a youth sports program provider for schools and city recreation centers and is trusted by more than 300 schools and cities. The organization operates through city partnerships, school partnerships, and league partnerships, and provides turnkey youth sports solutions that include full program management such as registration, equipment, staffing, curriculum, supervision, safety, and reporting.

The leadership includes founder and CEO Aaron Locks, who is referenced in multiple testimonials, along with an executive team. Testimonials describe strong support for franchisees, praise Aaron Locks and his team, and mention a focus on teaching kids life skills through sports and play. The program’s slogans include “Building Healthy Bodies and Happy Hearts®,” “Play Hard. Have Fun.,” and “talk.teach.PLAY!”

Last updated June 26, 2026.