The National Academy of Athletics (NAofA) is a youth sports organization created in 2012 by Aaron Locks. Based in Santa Rosa, California, the company started as a small operation offering seasonal camps and multisport programs designed to help kids build foundational athletic skills in a fun, supportive setting.

Since its early days, the organization has expanded significantly and is now a well-established name in youth sports programming across various communities.

In 2023, NAofA launched its franchise model, allowing business owners to bring its structured youth recreation and coaching programs to new regions. Franchisees can offer a wide selection of sports-based activities with a strong emphasis on confidence building, teamwork, and physical development.

What sets the National Academy of Athletics apart from similar youth sports brands is its integration of athletic training with character-building and social-emotional development. Its signature “talk, teach, PLAY!” framework guides coaches through each session, ensuring the experience remains engaging, intentional, and age-appropriate for every participant.

Training

The National Academy of Athletics provides several structured training programs for its franchisees to ensure operational excellence and consistency across all locations. These programs include:

1. Initial Training Program: This is mandatory before opening the franchised business. Franchisees and their Designated Managers must attend and successfully complete this program, which covers orientation to the system, customer service, operational and financial management, software usage, advertising, marketing, and reporting. It lasts up to two weeks depending on experience and is held in Northern California or virtually. Instruction includes manuals, videos, and PowerPoints. Failure to complete the training can result in cancellation of the franchise agreement.
2. Training of Replacement Personnel: If a Designated Manager or Franchised Business Manager leaves, the franchisee must appoint a replacement who meets the franchisor's training standards and completes the initial training within 45 days.
3. Ongoing Training and Refresher Courses: The franchisor may require franchisees, managers, employees, and contractors to attend additional seminars, refresher sessions, or other training programs as needed.

Territory Protection

The National Academy of Athletics grants franchisees a defined geographic territory that typically encompasses a minimum population of 150,000 persons. Within this territory, franchisees are allowed to advertise, sell, and deliver services, but they are not granted exclusive rights.

The franchisor does not promise that other franchisees or company-owned operations won’t compete within the same area, and franchisees are not entitled to compensation for sales made in their territory by others.

Although the franchisor agrees not to operate or license another business using the same Model Concept within the franchisee’s territory during the agreement term, it reserves broad rights.