What to Expect at Your Child's First Youth Training Class
At The Performance Center, a child's first classes are a three-class on-ramp that teaches the squat, the press and the hinge before any intensity is added. Each class runs one hour and is coach-led in small groups. This guide walks through what to expect at your child's first youth training class in Collierville, from the ten-minute call to the end of the on-ramp.
Key Takeaways
Everyone starts the same way. Beginners and experienced athletes both begin with a three-class on-ramp.
Three patterns first. The on-ramp teaches the squat, the press and the hinge.
No intensity until the mechanics hold up. This applies to every athlete, including the strong ones.
One-hour classes, four parts. Warm-up, skill or strength work, conditioning and a cool-down.
Coaches correct in the moment. Groups are coach-led and small, so every rep gets seen.
Open to ages 7 to 18. All fitness levels are welcome.
Start with a ten-minute call. A coach asks what your athlete plays and what they want to work toward.
What happens before the first class?
It starts with a short call with a coach. The coach asks what your athlete plays, what they are working toward and what has not worked before. Then they tell you honestly whether The Performance Center is the right room. You can book it from our contact page.
What happens in the three-class on-ramp?
Every athlete starts with three classes on three movement patterns. We teach them first because almost everything else in sport is built from them.
The squat: the base for jumping, changing direction and landing.
The press: overhead strength and shoulder stability, taught before any load is added.
The hinge: the pattern that protects the back and produces power. It is the hardest to teach and the most worth teaching.
There is no intensity until the mechanics hold up. That applies to every athlete, including the strong ones. Especially the strong ones.
What does a one-hour class look like?
Each class runs one hour and has four parts:
Warm-up: mobility and muscle activation.
Skill or strength work: depending on the day, this may involve Olympic lifts, powerlifting or gymnastics.
Conditioning: work that builds endurance and fitness.
Cool-down: a short reset to finish.
What are coaches watching for?
How your athlete moves, so the coach can assess where to start.
Whether the squat, press and hinge hold up before anything is loaded.
Where a movement needs scaling, using clear demonstrations, tactile guidance and real-life cues.
Coaches correct form in the moment rather than after the fact, and groups are small enough that every rep gets seen.
What happens after the on-ramp?
Once an athlete has the basics, they move into the Youth Progression Program. It is built in tiers, and athletes clear 11 of 15 checkpoints across gymnastics, strength and metabolic conditioning to advance. They earn their way up rather than being pushed up. You can read the details on our youth training page.
If safety is your first question, read our guide to youth strength training. If your athlete is focused on speed, our guide to speed and agility training for kids explains how it fits in.
Which option fits your athlete?
If your athlete is a complete beginner
Start with the on-ramp. Everyone begins on the same footing, so no one is behind.
If your athlete is already strong or fast
Strength and speed alone do not prove good mechanics. The on-ramp applies to strong and fast athletes too, and it protects them as intensity goes up.
If your athlete is nervous
1:1 Personal training is built around one athlete and works well as a first step for a nervous beginner.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need experience before the first class?
No. The program accommodates all fitness levels, and everyone starts with the same three-class on-ramp, so a complete beginner and an experienced athlete begin on the same footing.
How long is a class?
Each class runs one hour. It opens with a warm-up focused on mobility and muscle activation, moves into skill or strength work, then conditioning, then a cool-down.
Will my child lift heavy weights right away?
No. There is no intensity until the mechanics hold up. Load is added only once an athlete can show the movement properly, and this applies to every athlete, including the strong ones.
What if my child struggles with a movement?
That is normal, and coaches expect it. They scale each movement to the athlete using clear demonstrations, tactile guidance and real-life cues. The goal is a rep done properly, not a heavier one.
How do we get started?
Book a ten-minute call from the contact page. A coach asks what your athlete plays, what they want to work toward and what has not worked before, then tells you honestly whether The Performance Center is the right fit.
About The Performance Center
The Performance Center is a private training space at 632 W Poplar Ave in Collierville, Tennessee, for athletes ages 7 to 18, serving families in Germantown, Bartlett and Arlington. We share our building with Pittman Physical Therapy, so help is close by if something feels wrong. You can meet the coaches and read our FAQ page before you commit. Book a ten-minute call to get started.
