Youth Athletes United, the multi-brand franchisor behind Soccer Stars, Amazing Athletes, TGA Premier Sports, JumpBunch, and Little Rookies, has established successful programs in communities throughout the U.S., most recently in Kansas City, Missouri, where local Amazing Athletes franchisees David and Ann Bagan more than doubled enrollment in 2021. Now, looking to grow the franchise in their local Kansas City area, the couple has signed for a second location, which they say will empower more children to reach developmental milestones at an individual pace in a fun, sports-centric atmosphere.
“After the isolation of the pandemic, parents in our community are eager to get their kids back into organized sports programs,” said Ann. “Kansas City is also a huge sports city, so we have a lot of kids who grow up watching sports, and Amazing Athletes gives them the chance to try multiple activities. The number of kids enrolled in Amazing Athletes has doubled over the past year. We’ve partnered with local schools in the Kansas City community, including homeschooling pods. We have the fortunate problem of needing to expand our coaching staff to keep up with demand and would love to bring on another four coaches.”
The Bagans see the expansion of their Amazing Athletes program as a result of the program’s successful operational model that is not only a sports program but also teaches children the values of teamwork, discipline and persistence, as well as the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Amazing Athletes bills itself as the premier year-round developmental physical fitness program empowering children aged 2.5–6 to reach developmental milestones at an individual pace. The brand taps into the potential of young athletes in its 30–35 minute weekly classes while teaching them about muscle groups, nutrition, and lessons they can use in day-to-day life. And whether the kids go on to pursue athletics professionally or recreationally, David says they will have had the fundamentals to foster a love of healthy living and teamwork on and off the field.
David, who played professional soccer in Scotland for 16 years before moving to the U.S. to coach the sport, finds the ability to coach young athletes particularly gratifying. Paired with the help from Amazing Athletes’ corporate team and Ann’s extensive experience working with children, he says the couple has been forging a path of growth with the nation’s premier multi-sport education provider.
“As Amazing Athletes continues to expand across the country and empower more kids, we are thrilled to have franchise partners like the Bagans,” said John Erlandson, C0-Founder of Youth Athletes United. “Not only are they entrepreneurs in their community but they are also active parents to three children. They understand the impact of sports and the value a multi-sport program brings to a community. We are excited for the second location the Bagans have recently signed for in Kansas City and the impact they will continue to make.”
About Amazing Athletes
Amazing Athletes, founded in 2003, uses a multi-sport program to benefit children physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. The program introduces the fundamentals of 10 different sports (soccer, hockey, volleyball, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, football, track and field, baseball, and golf) in a non-competitive environment. Children in Amazing Athletes routinely gain greater confidence, learn to combine fitness with fun, and develop 6 key motor skills: balancing, running, jumping, throwing, catching and kicking. For more information and to find out about franchise opportunities, currently covering 32 states and over 50,000 kids annually, visit www.amazingathletes.com.
