About the National Academy of Athletics
Building Confident Kids Through Athletics, One Community at a Time
The National Academy of Athletics (NAofA) is a national leader in youth sports education—partnering with cities, schools, and community organizations to deliver safe, structured, high-quality programs that teach fundamentals, build confidence, and inspire lifelong healthy habits.
A Mission to Help Kids Play Hard, Have Fun & Grow
The National Academy of Athletics was founded on a single powerful belief: sports have the ability to change lives. Our mission is to help every child develop confidence, character, resilience, and communication skills through meaningful, well-designed sports experiences.
Since 2012, NAofA programs have reached more than 1,000,000 children through camps, clinics, leagues, PE programs, after-school enrichment, and specialty sports events. Our professional curriculum, certified coaching model, and proven safety systems ensure that every child experience growth, teamwork, and joy through sports.
We believe sports are more than athletics—they’re opportunities for kids to discover their strengths, overcome challenges, connect with peers, and learn essential life skills. Every program we run is intentionally structured to help children:
- Build confidence and emotional strength
- Learn teamwork, communication & leadership
- Develop physical literacy and sports fundamentals
- Experience encouragement, inclusion & belonging
- Gain lifelong healthy habits through movement
NAofA partners with cities, schools, and recreation departments to deliver safe, affordable, high-quality programs that enrich communities and support families year-round.
Our Story of Growth & Impact
2012
Our Beginning
Aaron Locks launches NAofA with 44 programs across 3 cities.
2015
Rapid Expansion
NAofA grows to 3 Area Captains managing 37 cities. Over 250 programs were delivered, and more than 4,000 children served.
2017
Growing Our Team and Curriculum
The Executive Team expanded and strengthened the company’s identity, systems, and strategy, building the operational foundation that transformed the National Academy of Athletics into a scalable organization ready for franchise launch and national expansion.
2020–2024
Regional to National Growth
The NAofA becomes a franchise, selling six territories in our first year as our proven growth strategy succeeds across multiple markets; camps are selling out, and we now provide Physical Education in more than 60 schools.
2025
2025 & Beyond
With franchise territories opening across multiple states and new community partnerships forming every month, NAofA continues to expand its mission to build confident, active, healthy kids through sports.
Extended History of NAofA
The National Academy of Athletics began with a mission to offer better youth sports experiences than what many families were receiving. Founder Aaron Locks recognized that while youth sports participation was growing, many programs lacked the structure, safety, teaching methodology, and consistency needed to truly help children thrive.
During the early years, NAofA focused on creating high-quality fundamental programs taught by trained coaches who emphasized encouragement, communication, and character development. Parents immediately recognized the difference: children were learning faster, smiling more, and developing a genuine love for sports.
By 2015, demand outpaced capacity. Recreation departments and school districts began requesting programs year-round. NAofA expanded its curriculum, hired additional leadership, and continued refining its instructional systems.
2017 – A New Foundation of Excellence
- A revitalized Executive Team reimagined the NAofA brand, strengthened its systems, and built the operational backbone that would ultimately prepare the company for national expansion.
2018 – Programs Built to Inspire
- Core programs were redesigned and standardized, ensuring every child, regardless of location, experienced the same high-quality coaching, character development, and “Play Hard. Have Fun.” energy.
2019 – Modernization & Market Readiness
- Significant advancements in technology, digital marketing, and web infrastructure positioned NAofA to compete and scale in a rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.
2020 – Resilience Through Innovation
- Amid nationwide shutdowns, NAofA adapted by offering virtual and modified programs, demonstrating the strength of its mission and the agility of its systems even in the most challenging environments.
2021 – Expanding Community Impact
- Strengthened our NAofA Coach Certification with elevated safety standards and a robust SEL curriculum designed to support children struggling with anxiety and depression. Partnerships with cities, schools, and recreation departments surged, opening year-round opportunities and establishing NAofA as a trusted leader in youth development.
2022 – Systems for Sustainable Growth
- Developed a scalable operational infrastructure that would enable franchise success and multi-market expansion.
2023 – Official Franchise Launch
- After years of strategic development, in December of 2023 NAofA became a franchise—fully equipped with the branding, systems, and support infrastructure needed for national replication.
2024 – Proof of Concept & Accelerated Momentum
- Six new franchises were sold in the first year, validating the business model across diverse markets as camps sold out, partnerships expanded, and NAofA delivered Physical Education in more than 60 schools.
2025 – Proof of Concept & Accelerated Momentum
- Six new franchises were sold in the first year, validating the business model across diverse markets as camps sold out, partnerships expanded, and NAofA delivered Physical Education in more than 60 schools.
When COVID reshaped youth sports nationwide, NAofA emerged as a reliable, adaptable partner. Programs were redesigned, safety protocols enhanced, and outdoor small-group formats helped kids stay active during a difficult time.
As demand spread beyond California, the NAofA franchise model was developed to empower mission-driven entrepreneurs to bring high-quality youth sports programs to their own communities. Franchise Owners now operate territories nationwide using NAofA systems, curriculum, and coaching models, ensuring consistency regardless of location.
Today, NAofA continues to refine and innovate youth sports education—expanding sports offerings, strengthening community partnerships, and impacting more children each year.
Our Vision for the Future of Youth Sports
The National Academy of Athletics exists to create sustainable confidence, optimism, and personal growth within every child, coach, and community partner we serve.
We envision a future where:
- Children develop foundational skills that support academic, athletic, and emotional success
- Coaches grow as leaders and mentors
- Communities have accessible, affordable youth sports opportunities
- Franchise Owners make meaningful contributions while building thriving businesses
- Schools and cities can rely on professional, accredited youth sports providers
Through expert coaching, positive reinforcement, and intentional curriculum design, NAofA helps build the next generation of confident, active, resilient young people.
WHY FAMILIES & COMMUNITY PARTNERS CHOOSE NAofA
Why Families & Community Partners Choose NAofA
Built by experts in youth development, coaching, and movement science.
NAofA Certified Coaches
Training includes safety, communication, positive coaching, and fingerprinting.
Trusted by Cities & Schools
We offer turnkey solutions for camps, clinics, leagues, PE, and enrichment.
Safe, Structured, & Fun Programs
Every session follows behavior-positive coaching and age-appropriate progressions.
Twelve Sports
Basketball, soccer, football, volleyball, lacrosse, cheer, all-sport, pickleball and more.
Year-Round Flexible Programming
Summer camps, holiday programs, PE, and after-school opportunities.
Local Leadership in Every Territory
Every location is operated by trained local leaders rooted in their communities.
Growing Nationwide Through Franchising
Entrepreneurs bring NAofA’s mission to new regions, supported by national systems.
A Proven System for Building Confidence
More than 1,000,000 children have experienced growth through NAofA programs.
Growing Nationwide Through Passionate Franchise Owners
To bring high-quality sports programs to more communities, the National Academy of Athletics launched its franchise model—an opportunity for mission-driven leaders to operate a business that truly changes lives.
Franchise Owners use NAofA’s nationally developed curriculum, safety systems, marketing support, training programs, and operational tools to launch quickly and grow effectively. They partner with local cities, schools, recreation centers, and organizations to run camps, clinics, after-school programs, and more.
Franchising allows NAofA to expand nationally while maintaining local connection, community trust, and personal leadership in each region.
What Franchise Owners Receive
NAofA Franchise Owners receive a comprehensive support system including:
- Complete training & ongoing coaching
- Step-by-step operations and curriculum systems
- Turnkey marketing templates, branding, and design support
- A proven multi-revenue business model
- Access to proprietary systems for registration, scheduling & staffing
- City and school partnership strategies
- Ongoing program and curriculum updates
Franchise Owners join a network of leaders committed to youth development. They receive guidance in staffing, relationship building, program development, operational management, and best practices for scaling their territory.
The NAofA franchise model is designed to empower owners to build impactful businesses while benefiting from national brand recognition and shared expertise.
THE NAofA IMPACT
- 1,000,000+ children served
- Thousands of programs delivered
- Hundreds of city & school partnerships
- Millions of hours of activity created
- Countless moments of courage, confidence & joy
Meet Aaron Locks, Founder & CEO
Aaron Locks founded the National Academy of Athletics to restore the role of sports as a builder of confidence, character, and community. With decades of experience in coaching, sports leadership, and youth development, Aaron recognized the need for high-quality programs led by trained professionals—not volunteers or unstructured recreation formats.
His belief that “every child deserves a positive sports experience” led to the creation of a national system built around curriculum, safety, and meaningful human connection. Today, Aaron’s vision guides NAofA’s coaching, curriculum, partnerships, and national franchise expansion.
Leadership Dedicated to Kids, Communities & National Growth
The National Academy of Athletics is powered by an executive leadership team with over 100 years of combined expertise in youth sports programming, coaching science, curriculum design, recreation management, and franchise operations. Supported by trained Area Captains, Franchise Owners, and certified coaches, our team ensures consistent quality across every location. This deep experience allows NAofA to deliver industry-leading sports programs that strengthen communities and help children develop confidence, resilience, and life skills through sports.
Be Part of Something Bigger
For Parents
Help Your Child Grow
Find programs that build confidence, resilience, skills, and friendships.
For Cities & Schools
Expand Your Youth Offerings
Partner with NAofA to deliver safe, high-quality, turnkey youth sports programming.
For Entrepreneurs
Bring NAofA to Your Community
Own a mission-driven youth sports franchise backed by national training & support.
