Stay Active with the Whole Family this Fall

In the past year everyone had to adjust to a new way of life; whether that be taking online classes, working from home, socially distancing, or self-quarantining. With big life changes like these it is common to let our schedules fall apart with all the added stress on our mental health. As we move into back-to-school season it’s important to remember the importance of incorporating fitness for the whole family into your routine. Staying active throughout these times will lower stress levels, boost energy, and put you in a better mood helping with your mental health. These are some ways to get your kid active while at home.

Involve the kids - Include your chidlren in the process of deciding what kind of exercise they want to do. Give them a few options and let them choose the activity. This can also be done around the house by giving them small chores and responsibilities. 

Safe outdoor activities - Encourage kids to go outside when social distancing is possible. This can include playing catch, walking the dog, riding bikes around and so much more. Another great option for children to be outdoors are Skyhawks Sports programs, which keep them social and active while also following safety protocols. 

Change it up - Make sure to change things up so your child doesn’t get bored doing the same activities. This can be as simple as playing a new game, hiking on a different trail, or even going to a new park.

Family activities - If you make physical activity part of your family’s routine the children will be more likely to participate. Some examples include taking family hikes, playing active games together, and walking the dog.

Set an example - Children are much more likely to engage in and enjoy physical activity if they see that you’re active as well. (You will also benefit from the exercise!)

Dealing with a new schedule and surroundings can be hard on your mental health, which is why being able to stay active is such a big deal. The benefits of being active can help maintain a balanced lifestyle and provide kids with a much needed energy release after so much time spent indoors this past year. Check out our Family Resources page for more ways to stay active at home including free lesson plans and class videos! 

Skyhawks Sports Academy has acquired the exclusive rights to Nimbus Esports Academy programming and curriculum. This partnership will see Skyhawks introduce Esports enrichment programming to kids around the world!

 “We are thrilled to see our team's vision to add Esports to the Skyhawks offering come to life through our partnership with Nimbus Esports Academy,” says Jason Frazier, President of Skyhawks Sports Academy. “Our combined effort brings a whole new dynamic to the Esports world by focusing on the positives of gaming while also teaching life lessons through sports and physical activity. Together we provide a safe, fun way for kids to practice teamwork and social skills while also learning to think strategically.”

 Nimbus Esports Academy’s program centers around the smash-hit title, Rocket League, with plans to integrate other age-appropriate Esports titles along the way. Much like a Skyhawks soccer or basketball program, participants work on coordination, focus, and the ability to problem-solve in dynamic environments through game-based drills and play. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to join efforts with the historic Skyhawks Sports Academy brand,” said Cody Dragon, Nimbus Founder, and former Co-Founder and Esports Director at Ghost Gaming. “Esports and video gaming are on the rise, and we plan to meet children where they are at. Our holistic program is custom-tailored to promote critical thinking, teamwork, and sportsmanship all within the exciting world of video games."

 Virtual Esports + Play camps are now open for registration and will be running through June 29th - August 15th in conjunction with VOIP partner, Kast. Players of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to sign up and participate in the inaugural launch of the Skyhawks/Nimbus Esports partnership. For more information and/or to register visit www.skyhawks.com/esports.

In-person camps, classes, and after-school program offerings will reopen in accordance with state guidelines for reopening post-COVID-19 and will follow strict CDC directed health and safety guidelines.  Please click here to learn more about our Summer 2020 Protocols and Policies in Response to COVID-19.

Bordering on becoming the 5th season, smoky days from wildfires in July, August, and even into September have become an unfortunate new norm. Your child’s health is Skyhawks’ top concern and we have a number of steps in place to evaluate smoky days and to keep your child safe. 

On smoky days, Skyhawks uses the AQI (Air Quality Index) and the EPA’s AirNow Air Quality Index (AQI) conditions as a reference for determining the need to relocate, reschedule, or cancel camps. According to the EPA, there are six air quality categories that range from Good to Unhealthy and Hazardous. When the “Unhealthy” range is reached, Skyhawks works with our partner organizations to try and find an indoor location if possible and avoid cancellations. Generally speaking, moving to an indoor location will provide a healthy enough environment for our campers when the AQI is in the “Unhealthy” range. However, ordinances in some areas require the cancellation of outdoor activities for youth once the AQI reaches the “Unhealthy” level. No matter what, when the AQI passes into the “Hazardous” range even moving inside won’t provide a healthy enough environment, and that’s when we start canceling camps for the day.

If you have a child in a program that needs to be relocated or canceled, Skyhawks customer service will be in contact with you via email or phone. We’ll let you know as soon as is possible so you can plan accordingly. 

If you have any concerns about your child’s upcoming camp(s), please give us a call at 800.804-3509 and one of our customer service representatives will be happy to answer any questions.

In 1979, Skyhawks Sports Academy was founded in the Pacific Northwest with the purpose of teaching life skills through sports to all children, no matter the skill level. Today, our purpose still stands true, and we are proud of the life lessons and valuable experiences we have provided for children over the past 40 years.

Before Skyhawks came into the picture, not all children had the opportunity to take part in sports if they weren’t of a specific skill level. Skyhawks saw this problem and made sure to give every child a chance to experience the joy and benefits of sports while learning important life skills in a safe environment.

In our 40 years of existence, Skyhawks has grown from a regional soccer program in Spokane, Washington into a nationwide youth sports program with more than 10 different sports for children to choose from. Growth began to take off in the late 1980s with expansion into Western Washington and Oregon, and since then we haven’t stopped expanding. With thousands of programs in over 20 states, Skyhawks continues to be America’s leading youth sports organization.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our 40th anniversary as an organization this year,” said Jason Frazier, President of Skyhawks. “Growing from a small soccer program into the nation’s top youth sports program is a huge accomplishment, and we will continue to expand while teaching kids life lessons through our sports camps along the way.”

The past 10 years have been significant for us. We began selling franchises in 2012, which has been critical in the rapid growth of Skyhawks across the nation. In 2014, we acquired SuperTots Sports Academy in order to give children ages 18 months to five and a half years old an opportunity to develop motor skills and have fun. With these accomplishments, Skyhawks has grown into one of the best fitness franchises in the world, earning the #177 spot on Entrepreneur’s 40th annual Franchise 500®.

We couldn’t have gotten to where we are today without our wonderful coaches, partners and staff members throughout the country. Everybody who is a part of the Skyhawks’ organization makes sure to go the extra mile to provide children with a beneficial and fun experience that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

Thank you to the people who have supported us throughout the past four decades. We are excited about the growth Skyhawks has had up to this point, and we’re excited to see what the next 40 years have in store for us!

If you are interested in signing up your child for a Skyhawks sports camp, please visit https://skyhawks.com/search/ to find a program. For becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://skyhawks.com/franchise/franchise/skyhawks-franchise-group/ for more information.

Skyhawks Sports Academy is proud to announce that we have partnered up with ShortGolf®, an innovative learning system designed to make golf easier and more fun to play. ShortGolf was created in 2010 by golf professionals trying to find the best way to play, learn and teach golf, and it has grown into the nation’s preferred entry-level training system for the sport.

An officially licensed product of the PGA Tour, ShortGolf is used by some of the best golf organizations across the country, such as The First Tee, the LPGA Foundation and PGA Sections. Perfectly tailored for children, Skyhawks’ participants will love using ShortGolf’s colorful and exciting equipment. In addition, ShortGolf can be played on any surface with minimal space required, making it the simple choice for teaching children golf indoors or outdoors.

ShortGolf is a perfect fit for Skyhawks programs because it will teach children how to play golf in an encouraging environment where they will learn important life skills, such as interacting with others. Through working with ShortGolf, Skyhawks will properly teach the fundamentals of putting, pitching, chipping and full shot quickly and effectively in a fun and safe way.

“Skyhawks is excited for the opportunity to work with ShortGolf. An important aspect of delivering our quality programming is finding a system that provides the right size of equipment. ShortGolf’s colorful, modified equipment complements our golf program perfectly, that is to foster proper development and create fun environments that are progressively challenging,” says Jason Frazier, President of Skyhawks. “We want golf to be available for every child enrolled in our programs so they can learn the basics, develop important life skills, and hopefully take up the sport for a lifetime.”

To learn more about ShortGolf®, visit out Short-Golf.com.

In the 2nd annual Fastest-Growing Franchises ranking, Skyhawks Franchise Group has been named the top youth sports franchise and #117 overall of the top 150 companies who are “leveraging their ability to scale fast.” After increasing 107 places on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® ranking and having substantial growth in 2018, it makes sense that Skyhawks would place as one of the fastest-growing franchises in the world.

The Fastest-Growing Franchises ranking is based on the number of new franchise units added in the United States and Canada from July 2017 to July 2018, as verified by Entrepreneur, with ties broken based on percentage growth. The ranking is created to give potential franchisees a starting point on which fast-growing franchises to consider. Earning a spot on the ranking shows how much Skyhawks has grown over the past couple years into a well-built franchise system.

“We are very excited to make Entrepreneur’s Fastest-Growing Franchises ranking for the first time in our organization’s history,” says Jason Frazier, President of Skyhawks. “Many people believe in our mission of teaching life skills through sports, which is one of the reasons we have grown at such a quick rate.”

Skyhawks wants to exceed expectations and offer an outstanding experience for all participants in our sports programs. Our franchisees are passionate about the Skyhawks brand and they understand what it means to the children. We are proud of our Skyhawks family around the nation, and we can’t wait to see how much more Skyhawks grows in the future.

If you are interested in becoming a Skyhawks or SuperTots franchise owner, please visit Skyhawks.com/franchise or SuperTotSports.com/us-franchise for more information.

Share the Love! Enter for Your Chance to Win a $200 Skyhawks Gift Certificate!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and we’ll admit it - we love sports! (Shocking, we know). But if there’s one thing we love more, it’s seeing your child at a Skyhawks program nailing a jumper, scoring a goal, or just running around with a huge smile on their face!

Since we’re feeling the love this Valentine’s Day season, we’re giving away a $200 Skyhawks gift certificate! Entering is easier than opening up a box of chocolates - just post a photo of your child at a Skyhawks program, tag us, and share it with all of your friends!

Here’s how to enter:

Instagram - Share your photo with Skyhawks Sports Academy (@SkyhawksSports) tagged and the hashtag #Skyhawkslove.

Facebook - Either tag Skyhawks Sports Academy in your photo in a personal post (make sure the privacy is set to public) or share your photo in a post on the official Skyhawks Facebook page (fb.com/SkyhawksSportsAcademy).

Twitter - Tweet your photo with Skyhawks Sports Academy (@SkyhawksSports) tagged and the hashtag #Skyhawkslove.

Enter as many times as you like, just make sure you’re sharing each photo only once and tagging Skyhawks in each one!

The winner of the contest will be announced on Valentine’s Day.

 WE'VE EXTENDED THE GIVEAWAY! We've gotten a ton of great entries and we want to see more! You now have until Tuesday, February 19th the enter you photos via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook! Let's see those #SkyhawksLove pics!

For complete rules and terms, Click here