Most kids who play sports never get coached on the strength, speed, and movement skills underneath the sport. LEAP Youth Athletic Training fills that gap — the same coaching standards we apply to our adult athletes, adapted for the way young athletes actually develop.
WHO THIS IS FOR
Athletes ages 8 to 18, every level, every sport
Kids starting their first sport. Three-sport middle schoolers. Serious high school athletes. And kids who don't play competitively yet — they just want to get better at moving.
HOW IT WORKS
50-minute coached sessions, built around three elements
Foundational athletic development
Squat, hinge, push, pull, brace, jump, land, sprint. The patterns that make every sport better. We coach them from the ground up, then progressively load them over weeks and months.
Sport-specific support
Once foundations are solid, programming can incorporate movements that translate to your athlete's sport — explosive starts, rotational power, single-leg stability, sport-relevant conditioning.
Coaching, not babysitting
Every session is run by an experienced coach who actually coaches. Your athlete is taught technique, corrected in real time, and held to a standard. Not entertainers. Coaches.
PARENT QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
What about strength training and growth?
Three concerns come up in nearly every parent intake. Worth addressing them directly.
"Doesn't strength training stunt growth in kids?"
No. This is one of the most persistent myths in youth fitness, and the research is clear — well-coached, age-appropriate strength training is safe for kids and teens, and in many cases improves bone density and reduces injury risk. The actual risk to young athletes isn't strength training. It's uncoached strength training, where loads and progression are wrong for the athlete in front of you. That's exactly what coaching solves.
"Shouldn't they just play their sport?"
Playing the sport is essential. Playing the sport alone — without strength, speed, and movement training — is what produces overuse injuries, asymmetries, and athletes who plateau early. The best youth athletes train AND play. They don't do one instead of the other.
"They're too young to start."
The right starting age depends on the athlete, not the calendar. We've coached strong eight-year-olds and surprisingly green fourteen-year-olds. What matters is whether your child can follow basic instructions, focus for 50 minutes, and is interested in getting better. If yes, they're ready.
Why East Lakeview Parents Choose LEAP
A Coaching Facility — Not a Gym
LEAP has been coaching East Lakeview athletes for 11+ years at 1057 W Belmont.
The same coaching standards we apply to adults apply to our young athletes.
Open-door policy
Parents are welcome to observe any session, anytime. No appointment needed, no special arrangements. Watch your athlete train and trust what's happening on the floor because you've seen it.
Experienced coaches
Matt Durdin has been coaching East Lakeview athletes for 18+ years. LEAP's coaching team has the credentials and the track record. Your athlete is in adult hands — not interns, not "trainers in training."
A serious training environment
Young athletes train alongside adults who take their training seriously, which sets the standard and the tone. The kind of environment that builds confidence and habits that last past adolescence.
The Starting Point
How Young Athletes Start at LEAP
Kids start the same way adults do — with a Starting Point Onboarding Session. The difference: at a Youth Starting Point, the parent comes in with the athlete.
Intake conversation.
Parent + athlete: training history, current sport involvement, goals, any injuries or limitations.
Movement assessment.
We watch how the athlete moves through foundational patterns.
First coached session.
Your athlete gets a real taste of what training at LEAP feels like.
Recommendation.
We walk you both through what program, frequency, and progression makes sense.
No long-term membership decision until you've trained with us. Go home, talk it over as a family, and let us know when you're ready.
Investment
Youth Athletic Training uses the same membership tiers as adult Personal Training. Whatever Personal Training would cost for an adult is what it costs for your young athlete. We'll walk through tier options and frequency at your Starting Point.
Parent Questions, Answered
Ready to bring your athlete in?
We limit onboarding spots each month to maintain a high level of coaching. We'll meet you both, watch how your athlete moves, and recommend the right path forward.
Includes your LEAP Onboarding Session