Thousand Oaks' New Sports Academy: Where Anyone Can Train Like A Pro

Southern California has a new world-class sports training and development campus for people of all ages and abilities. The 96,000 square foot Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks offers specialized programs to meet every athlete’s needs and will host competitions, leagues, camps and clinics. The center is for people of all ages and athletic abilities to receive the highest quality training of a caliber typically reserved for the elite athlete.

CEO Chad Faulkner says, “we believe in individual excellence and elevating human character. We will facilitate and lead an athlete through their development process, forging their character with positivity and resilience to effectively lead themselves and others to achieve their highest goals.”

Volleyball and basketball courts (credit: Sports Academy)

The campus includes five basketball/volleyball courts, two indoor beach volleyball courts that are also utilized for soccer and multiple training purposes and a 5,000-square-foot turf-zone for personalized skills training in football, lacrosse, baseball/softball, futsal and soccer.

“We will empower athletes of all ages and abilities with Full Circle development,” affirms Sports Academy Director of Athletics Tim Jensen. “To us, everyone who walks through our doors is an athlete and deserves the best, no matter your age.”

Sports Academy’s comprehensive approach to athletic and human development encompasses mind, body and spirit through its integrated Centers of Excellence. The Sports Academy’s team of coaches, trainers, and practitioners are some of the leading experts in their fields.

Facilities at Sports Academy (credit: Sports Academy)

The Integrated Sports Medicine Center, led by Dr. Beau Daniels, includes medical doctors, nurses, chiropractors, nutritionists, a holistic medical specialist, and massage and physical therapy. A biomechanics lab features a 24 camera marker-less system to assess physical performance and guide training protocols to help athletes reach their goals with individualized injury prevention training plans.

Mindset Development is led by Kathryn Scardino, M.Ed., and Devin Markle, M.Ed., both formally trained in sport psychology. Technologies utilized train athletes to focus, increase reaction times, expand peripheral vision and manage heart rate under duress. Through sports science technologies, the Center performs concussion protocol testing to determine if an athlete is cleared to return to play.

Nate Borunda, the NFL and NBA go-to guy for speed and agility training for pre-combine athletes, leads the Sports Performance Center. The Center has a 60-yard turf track equipped with electronic precision timing for speed/agility drills and the training room includes state-of-the-art equipment. For track athletes, there is a 30-meter Mondo track with hurdles and blocks for developing proper running form and optimizing specific skills in sprinting, hurdling and jumping.

Dieter’s Close Quarters Defense®(CQD®), a personal protection and empowerment training program, is an exclusive offering of Sports Academy. CQD® is the only validated and continuously used self-defense skills utilized by U.S. Navy SEAL teams for 25-plus years. Sports Academy’s CQD® is led by retired Navy SEAL and State Department CQD® lead instructor Angel Naves. CQD® training will teach personal protection defense skills, decision-making under duress and stress management, resulting in empowerment and self-confidence. Specialized programs are adaptable for all ages and organizations.

Sports Academy’s dynamic Learning Center led by Dr. Kellye McKinna offers individualized tutoring, specialized services for those with learning differences, test prep for PSAT, SAT, ACT and aptitude testing for professional athletes and home schoolers. Committed staff can guide students through the college application process and a dedicated recruiting coordinator assists families with athletes being recruited for college athletics.

A Courtside Café run by Farm & Flame offers organic farm fresh selections to complement its legendary Texas barbecue prepared in a custom 5,000-lb. smoker.

Faulkner added, “We’ll study the athlete’s body, see how he moves and even what he puts into his body and work on improving every aspect.”

From athletics to nutrition, Sports Academy offers a true Full Circle experience.

Sports Academy, 1011 Rancho Conejo Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, +1 (844) 518-7246

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