THE NAofA TEAM TEACHES KIDS
LIFE LESSONS THROUGH SPORTS!
MISSION:
The National Academy of Athletics is on a mission to bring our youth programs to kids throughout the nation. We use sports to promote positive mental and physical development in our youth. Our goal is to diminish childhood obesity by advocating for healthy lifestyles while providing tools to boost confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and personal growth.
Through inspiration, motivation, and perspiration, we believe sports bring out a positive change in every participant!
Our participants will possess the skills to communicate effectively with anyone, know how to build positive, lasting relationships, and have a lifelong passion of keeping physical fitness in their life.
Our team members receive enrichment with coaching skills that create passionate players on and off the field. They will face challenges, learn new techniques and continue to grow on a personal and professional level.
Our partners will be proud of their contributions to the children they supported and thrive each day working in a business they love. They will continue to share their talents and grow professionally, to collectively engage in new opportunities and rewards as our company continues to grow.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.