NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ATHLETICS

TRANSFORMING KIDS LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORTS

National Academy of Athletics Team

THE NAofA TEAM IS ON A MISSION TO BRING YOUTH PROGRAMS TO CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE NATION!

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AARON LOCKS

Athlete, Coach, Mentor, Speaker, Author

Aaron Locks is our Founder & CEO, the producer of our trademarked teaching method, Talk, Teach, Play.®, and the main developer of our program curriculums. Aaron earned his BA in Communications from Sonoma State University with a minor in business and spent the last 39 years working in sports. Aaron is a father, author of The Coach’s Best Friend series of books, trainer, coach, speaker, and entrepreneur. His background includes working with various professional organizations: The Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Sportsworld, and legendary coaches John Wooden, Pat Riley, George Karl, Don Nelson, Greg Popovich, and Dusty Baker.

When Aaron isn’t working to grow the NAofA, he is being an awesome dad and grand-dad, or taking the “backroads” through the beautiful wine country with the top down in his jeep.

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LAREE MANCOUR

Athlete, Trainer, Entrepreneur, Brand Strategist- PPR, USAPA, AFAA, WIFA

Laree Mancour is our Managing Partner and CBO. She was born the daughter of a Professional Golfer and held her first club before she could speak. Next came soccer, cheerleading, skiing, cycling, teaching aerobics, and instructing spin classes. Recruited to launch a start-up at 23, she orchestrated Operations, Sales and Marketing Strategies, and the Company Financials. They successfully sold to their biggest competitor, where she became a key player in developing their Global Partner Division.

Laree remained an athlete while she continued climbing the corporate ladder as an Executive Sales, Marketing & Relationship Development Trainer at a Fortune 500 Company. Leaving the corporate world to follow her passion for sports, she successfully launched her Marketing and Consulting business in 2007, helping entrepreneurs launch their own sports and health-related businesses. In 2018 she was contracted by Aaron Locks, which led to her partnership and dedication to the National Academy of Athletics.

When Laree is not working to grow the NAofA, she is competing in Pickleball, teaching Pickleball or passionately instructing her indoor cycling classes.

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MICHAEL STONE

Athlete, Coach, Entrepreneur

Michael Stone is the Director of Operations at the NAofA. Michael is a former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur. After 7 years in the NFL, he put up the pads & founded the premier membership organization for professional athletes with the goal of leveraging strategic relationships with product and service providers.

Michael was the Founder and Executive Dir. of the Professional Athlete Franchise Initiative, Founder and CEO of Coliseum Enterprises. Michael holds a BA from the University of Memphis and participated in the NFL Exec Education Programs at Stanford, Wharton, and Kellogg Business Schools. Michael is devoted to our operational procedures at the National Academy of Athletics and supports the Area Captains with sales strategies.

When Michael isn’t working to grow the NAofA he is playing sports with his 4 boys or managing his Real Estate ventures.

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DAVID LIBBEY

Athlete, Coach, Official, Teacher

David Libbey was a basketball official for 39 years. For 30 years, he worked Div. 1 games in the Pac-10, West Coast, Big 12, Big Sky, Big West, WAC, Southwest, and Conference USA. He worked 72 NCAA Tournament games and 8 Regional Finals in 23 consecutive years. He was selected to work eight FINAL FOUR games. David has been involved in instructional admin roles of officiating clinics for over 37 years. He is also a highly regarded lecturer & clinician in officiating throughout the country, Canada, and Japan.

David has worked and coached kids at all levels and ages. He was a teacher, coach, and administrator for 35 years in the San Diego School District. David is passionate about the NAofA programs and our mission to fight the mental health issues and childhood obesity crisis in our country.

When David isn’t supporting the efforts of the NAofA Executive Team, he is taking orders from his Australian Sheppard Lady.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Interested in the opportunity to become a Coach? Find out more!