Playpen Sports Academy

Playpen Sports Academy offers Tiny Tot Kickers and Tot Shot Kickers soccer classes, Mini-League Soccer, MLS GO Leagues, Tot Shot Sluggers baseball classes, Tot Shot Mini-League baseball, and PlayActive sensorimotor-based movement, sports, and fitness classes. In these programs, children take part in games and activities that use regular soccer balls, super soft and light play balls, parachutes, noodles, cones, scoring goals, and high-fives. Adult participation is required for Tiny Tot Kickers and Tot Shot Kickers, and some parent participation is required for Tot Shot Sluggers.

• Ages: 2–14 years old
• Schedule: Weekly 40–50 minute classes, with options including Saturday sessions from June 27 through August 8 and Monday sessions from June 22 through July 27
• Price: $100–$122 per session

Mini-League Soccer combines early childhood development class elements with league-style scrimmage play, with 20 minutes of warm-up and skill development followed by 30 minutes of mini-league games, and no official score is kept; shinguards are required for Mini-League Soccer. MLS GO Leagues are co-ed recreational soccer leagues operated by Playpen Sports Academy at select locations, using a 1-day-per-week league model where scores are internally tracked for parity but no official score, records, or standings are publicly tracked. Tot Shot Sluggers baseball classes introduce throwing, catching, and swinging through games and activities and focus on hand-eye coordination, environmental reflexes, patience, working together, and relying on others, while Tot Shot Mini-League uses the same 20-minute warm-up plus 30-minute mini-league game format without keeping official score. PlayActive is a sensorimotor-based movement, sports, and fitness class in which participants explore a variety of games and activities across different sports and fitness themes appropriate for each age group.

Playpen Sports Academy states that its childhood development programs introduce children to sport and physical activity in a non-intimidating social environment with a small group of other toddlers and parents, and that its curriculum focuses on teaching children how to move and use their bodies, share with other children, interact in social settings, follow directions, and have fun in a physically active environment. The program states that it is focused as much on the individual development of the child as on sport-specific skills and that it expects some children to become great athletes and all children to become great humans. Registration fees for the soccer and baseball programs include a free jersey, and all necessary equipment for these programs is supplied by Playpen Sports Academy. Referral discounts are offered in which referred friends receive $10 off, the referrer receives a $10 credit, and referring five friends earns a free full season.

Playpen Sports Academy was founded by Chris Nagel and identifies itself as “A Midwest Company, With Midwest Values.” The organization lists © 2017 Playpen Sports Academy LLC on its materials and states that it is based in Chicago, IL and Appleton, WI. The program’s mission statement says that Playpen Sports Academy was started on the concept of reimagining what youth sports can be and the role it can play in a child's overall development.

One verified participant, Sarah P., states, “I was surprised how much my little guy seemed to love his soccer class! We can't go more than two days without him asking about class or coach Ben!” Another testimonial from Sarah & Mikey P., also listed as a verified participant, repeats part of this statement.

Last updated May 13, 2026.