NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ATHLETICS
TRANSFORMING YOUNG LIVES USING THE POWER OF ATHLETICS
The National Academy of Athletics exists to ensure every child has access to safe, affordable, and inspiring sports and enrichment experiences. By partnering with schools, cities, and communities, we combat childhood inactivity and obesity, promote equity in youth sports, and help kids from all backgrounds develop confidence, resilience, and lifelong healthy habits. Using our talk.teach.PLAY!® philosophy and Proximal Play framework, we go beyond the game—helping children build teamwork, leadership, and social-emotional skills that prepare them to thrive both on the field and in life.
Our vision is to create a generation of confident, optimistic, and resilient individuals—on and off the field. We believe that through the power of athletics, every child can discover their potential, every coach can become a mentor, and every community can grow stronger together. We aim to inspire lifelong passion for physical activity, teamwork, and personal growth. Our programs teach communication, leadership, and confidence through play—skills that last long after the game ends. We envision a network of empowered franchise owners, coaches, and partners united by a shared purpose: to make youth sports accessible, enriching, and transformative in every community across the nation. Together, we are building a brighter, healthier future—one child, one coach, and one city at a time.
We believe there is no better way to learn important life lesson than the time spent in our youth learning team sports. Even if a child grows up with different dreams and goals other than sports, their time spent on a court or field will enrich a child for their lifetime.
THE NAofA TEAM IS ON A MISSION TO BRING YOUTH PROGRAMS TO CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE NATION!
Aaron Locks is the Founder & CEO of the National Academy of Athletics and the creator of the trademarked teaching method, talk.teach.PLAY!®. He is also the main developer of the academy’s comprehensive program curriculums. Aaron earned a BA in Communications from Sonoma State University, with a minor in business, and has dedicated the last 39 years to the world of sports. His lifelong passion is helping children grow into healthy, confident individuals through the power of sports and athletics.
As a father, author of The Coach’s Best Friend series, trainer, coach, speaker, and entrepreneur, Aaron’s career includes working alongside prestigious professional organizations such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, and Sportsworld. He has had the privilege of collaborating with legendary coaches like John Wooden, Pat Riley, George Karl, Don Nelson, Gregg Popovich, and Dusty Baker.
When Aaron isn’t leading the growth of NAofA, he’s spending time being a devoted father and grandfather or enjoying scenic drives through wine country with the top down in his jeep.
Laree Mancour is the driving force behind the brand, systems, and growth of the National Academy of Athletics. As Partner, Chief Brand Officer, and Franchise Executive, she has transformed the company from a regional sports camp provider into a fast-growing national franchise network.
With deep expertise in brand strategy, marketing, and digital platforms, Laree architected NAofA’s franchise onboarding systems, intranet training, and scalable processes that give franchisees the tools to succeed from day one. She combines creative vision with technical savvy—building websites, designing automation systems, and developing streamlined workflows that keep the organization efficient and future-ready.
Under her leadership, the company has sold 11 franchises across multiple states in less than two years. Laree’s ability to align brand storytelling, operational infrastructure, and franchise development has positioned NAofA as both a leader in youth sports enrichment and a top low-cost franchise opportunity recognized by Entrepreneur.
Passionate about the power of sports to build stronger communities, she continues to expand NAofA’s reach by ensuring every touchpoint—brand, technology, and operations—works together to deliver impact at scale.
Michael Stone is a Partner and the Chief of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at the National Academy of Athletics. A former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur, Michael transitioned from a successful 7-year career in the NFL to founding a premier membership organization for professional athletes, focused on building strategic partnerships with product and service providers.
He was the Founder and Executive Director of the Professional Athlete Franchise Initiative and the CEO of Coliseum Enterprises. Michael holds a BA from the University of Memphis and completed executive education programs at Stanford, Wharton, and Kellogg Business Schools. At NAofA, Michael is dedicated to streamlining operational procedures and actively supports Area Captains with sales strategies to drive growth.
When he’s not working to expand NAofA, Michael enjoys playing sports with his four sons or managing his real estate ventures.
Kevin Lowry is a dynamic and results-driven Chief of Staff with a strong background in people management and leadership development. With a keen ability to foster collaboration and guide teams toward success, Kevin works closely with our Area Captains, ensuring they have the support and direction needed to thrive in their roles.
In his role, Kevin oversees key projects that drive organizational growth, keeping both the Corporate team and Area Captains aligned with strategic goals and timelines. His commitment to accountability and efficiency helps maintain momentum, ensuring initiatives are executed with precision.
With a passion for leadership, teamwork, and professional development, Kevin is dedicated to building a culture of excellence and continuous improvement across the organization.
As the Marketing Director & Social Media Manager, Carleigh is the driving force behind our brand’s visibility and engagement. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for digital trends, Carleigh oversees all marketing strategies, ensuring our message reaches the right audience in impactful ways.
Carleigh leads the development and execution of marketing campaigns, content creation, and brand positioning while managing our social media presence to foster community engagement and growth. Through innovative strategies, data-driven insights, and creative content, Carleigh ensures our brand stays relevant and resonates with our audience.
Taylor Spooner plays a key role in keeping the National Academy of Athletics running efficiently and effectively. She manages company-wide financial operations, including revenue reconciliation, franchisee invoicing, and performance reporting for executive leadership. In addition, she oversees compliance across the franchise system, ensuring high standards in both administration and financial practices.
Taylor also supports onboarding and training for franchisees and corporate captains, coordinates cross-departmental projects, and partners with leadership on strategic outreach and marketing initiatives. Known for her precision, organization, and collaborative approach, Taylor strengthens the company’s foundation while helping drive growth and innovation.
NAofA CERTIFIED
At the National Academy of Athletics, our team takes our training very seriously. Due to the proximity of coaching, leading, and supervising children, or people of vulnerable age, the NAofA team thoroughly trains all Area Captains and Coaches. Many of our coaches are college athletes in pursuit of their athletic dreams, whether that is to play professionally or to coach professionally. They take their roles very seriously and the NAofA takes their training very seriously. Through every program we put on with the help of our community partners, we want our participants to have the best coaches to help guide and mentor these young athletes to pursue their own dreams.
Talk-Teach-Play® Certified
Talk-Teach-Play® is our trademarked teaching system. The NAofA team is fully trained in our signature instruction protocol to make certain every program is efficiently run from start to finish. Talk-Teach-Play® Certification means that our staff uses the fundamentals of 3 minutes of verbal instruction, 6 minutes of skill and drill work, and 6 minutes of competition and games emphasizing the fun of sports and getting kids out there playing.
Mandated Reporter Training
Every staff member is required to complete and pass the mandated reporter training provided by the California Department of Social Services before starting work. This training allows our staff to better recognize child abuse and neglect and gives them the knowledge and skills to help them carry out their responsibilities.
DOJ Background Check & Fingerprinted
Due to the nature of our work and the close proximity of our team working with children, they are all background checked and fingerprinted through the Department of Justice to ensure there are no previous issues when working with youth. ORI #AH956.
Harassment & Bullying Prevention
Our team is trained to be mindful and aware of the things kids say to each other and how they treat one another. This allows our team to be better equipped to address a situation before it gets out of hand. Our internal program is based upon the guidelines from StopBullying.gov. Using some of our techniques and the lessons of being a “team player” and “sportsmanship first,” help to counteract some of the issues kids face with harassment and bullying.
Concussion Protocol
In sports, the risk of having a concussion is high; we have taken the steps to be sure that all of our staff is adequately trained and certificated in recognizing the signs and symptoms of a possible concussion. With this training and certification we can be sure that in the case of this happening our staff will know exactly what to do to aid the child.
NAofA CHILD SAFETY
We have strict check in and check out procedures in place so we know every child is going to the right place or going home with the right person. If the person picking up the child from our program can not verify all the steps required for pick up, the child will not be released into their custody. Each program uses “family” or “safety words” to help insure every kids safety.
