# Elevate Youth Sports — full site content > Elevate Youth Sports runs 2- and 3-day skills clinics for kids ages 5–18 across Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside County — volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, and flag football. Technique-first coaching timed before junior high and high school tryouts. Contact: hello@elevateyouthsports.club. Service area: Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, California. Generated 2026-10-25. ## Clinic formats ### Weekend Clinic (2 days) Two focused days on the fundamentals of one sport, grouped by age band. The core Elevate format. Best for: Any athlete who wants focused, expert instruction without a season-long commitment. When: Scheduled throughout the year, often ahead of a sport's season. - Instruction grouped by age band (and by experience within a band when numbers allow) - Technique stations with a coach at every station - Individual feedback for every athlete, every session - A take-home practice plan with the drills and cues from the weekend ### Tryout Intensive (3 days) The weekend clinic plus a third day of tryout simulation: the drills, evaluations, and game situations athletes are likely to see at junior high and high school tryouts. Best for: Pre-Tryout (12–14) and Varsity Prep (15–18) athletes with a tryout on the calendar. When: Scheduled in the weeks before a sport's typical tryout window. See the tryout calendar. - Everything in the Weekend Clinic - Day 3: tryout-style drills, evaluation stations, and game situations - Tryout habits: warm-up routine, communication, taking a correction - A personal countdown plan for the weeks before tryouts ### School-Break Clinic (3 days) Three days during winter, spring, or summer break. A useful reset between seasons and a natural point to learn a new sport. Best for: Athletes of every age band who want structured, active days during school breaks. When: Winter, spring, and summer breaks, aligned with typical school calendars in each county. - Fundamentals and skill progression over three days - Small-sided games that put new skills to use - Individual feedback for every athlete, every session - A take-home practice plan Registration: Registration opens county by county as clinic dates are confirmed. Join the list and we'll email you when a clinic for your sport and age band opens near you. Pricing, refund, and transfer terms are posted with each event. ## Age bands ### Foundations (ages 5–8) — https://elevateyouthsports.club/age-groups#foundations Movement, ball comfort, and a first taste of correct form. Our youngest athletes learn to move well and enjoy the ball. Coaches use games, short demonstrations, and plenty of encouragement to introduce the right way to pass, throw, catch, kick, and dribble — before any bad habits form. Typical day: 2 hours. Maximum athletes per coach: 6. - Fundamental movement: balance, running form, stopping, changing direction - Catching, tossing, kicking, and dribbling with age-appropriate equipment - One simple technique cue at a time, practiced through games - Listening, taking turns, and being a good teammate ### Builders (ages 9–11) — https://elevateyouthsports.club/age-groups#builders Sport-specific fundamentals with correct mechanics. This is the age when technique sticks. Builders get focused repetition on the core skills of their sport, with a coach close enough to correct form on the spot. We introduce positions and basic team concepts so athletes understand why each skill matters. Typical day: 3 hours. Maximum athletes per coach: 8. - Core mechanics for each sport, taught step by step - High repetition with specific, individual feedback - Positions, rotations, and basic team concepts - Practicing at home: one or two drills to take with them ### Pre-Tryout (ages 12–14) — https://elevateyouthsports.club/age-groups#pre-tryout Tryout-ready skills for junior high and freshman teams. Pre-Tryout clinics are built around the drills and evaluations athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts. Athletes sharpen their fundamentals under pressure, work on their position, and practice the habits coaches notice: effort, communication, and coachability. Typical day: 3 hours. Maximum athletes per coach: 10. - Fundamentals executed at game speed and under pressure - Position work and the drills commonly run at tryouts - Tryout habits: hustle between reps, communication, taking a correction - A personal plan for the weeks before tryouts ### Varsity Prep (ages 15–18) — https://elevateyouthsports.club/age-groups#varsity-prep Refinement, speed, and decisions under pressure. High school athletes come to Varsity Prep to refine the details: faster execution, better decisions, and the position-specific skills that separate a solid player from a reliable one. Sessions lean on game situations and competitive reps. Typical day: 3 hours. Maximum athletes per coach: 10. - Refining mechanics for speed and consistency - Game situations and decision-making - Position-specific detail at a varsity level - Self-correction: knowing your own cues ## Sports ### Volleyball — https://elevateyouthsports.club/sports/volleyball Our volleyball clinics are built around the skills that decide most rallies: a steady pass, a serve that goes in, and footwork that gets an athlete to the ball on time. Athletes get high repetition with specific feedback on platform angle, hand shape for setting, the serving toss, and the timing of an attack approach. Older athletes finish with the drills and game situations they are likely to see at junior high and high school tryouts. Why technique matters: Volleyball is a rebound sport. The ball can’t be held, so every contact is a short, precise redirect. A pass that comes off a well-angled platform (the flat surface your forearms make when you pass) goes where it’s aimed; a pass that comes off swinging arms goes wherever the arms happened to be. Good mechanics are what make a skill repeatable, and repeatable is what holds up when the gym is loud and the score is close. Correct form also matters for the body. Landing from a jump on two feet with bent knees, using a controlled final approach step instead of a broad jump toward the net, and serving with a full, relaxed arm swing all spread the work across the legs, hips, and trunk instead of loading one joint. Poor mechanics put extra, unnecessary stress on shoulders, knees, and backs, so we teach sound habits early, before bad ones have to be retrained. Any question about pain or injury belongs with a licensed health care provider. At tryouts, coaches usually have a short window to see a lot of players. In volleyball they tend to watch for the basics done well: a ready position before the serve, a pass that goes up and toward the target, a serve that lands in the court, and an athlete who moves their feet to the ball instead of reaching for it. Those are teachable skills, and they are what our clinics focus on. Skills taught: - Passing: The forearm pass is the first contact on serve receive and most free balls. A good pass gives the setter options; a poor one ends the play before it starts. Cues: Ready position: feet wider than shoulders, knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet; Build the platform early: wrists together, thumbs parallel and pointing down, elbows straight; “Ball, base, target”: track the ball, beat it to your spot and get stopped, then send it to the setter; Angle the platform with your shoulders and keep the arms quiet; “Shuffle, don’t cross” so the hips stay square to the ball. - Setting: The second contact, made with the fingers above the forehead. Setting is about hand shape, getting to the ball early, and squaring up to the target. Cues: Hands up early in a “window” shape above the forehead; Contact on the finger pads, not the palms; Feet to the ball first, then face the target; Extend arms and legs together toward the target and finish high. - Serving: The one skill a player controls completely. We teach the underhand serve first, then the overhand float serve as athletes are ready. Cues: “The toss is the serve”: low, consistent, and in front of the hitting shoulder; Step toward the target with the foot opposite the hitting arm; Contact the middle of the ball with a firm, open hand; Finish with the hand pointed at the target, then step into the court. - Attacking: Hitting combines approach footwork, timing, and arm swing. We teach each piece on its own, then put them back together. Cues: Approach footwork for right-handers: left, right-left (reversed for lefties); “Slow to fast”: the last two steps are the quickest; Both arms swing back on the approach, then up together on the jump; Draw the hitting elbow back high, like drawing a bow, and contact the ball in front of the hitting shoulder; Land on two feet, balanced, without drifting into the net. - Defense: Digging is playing the ball off an opponent’s attack. Good defense starts before the hitter ever touches the ball. Cues: Be stopped, low, and balanced before the attacker makes contact; Read the hitter’s approach angle and hitting shoulder; Keep the ball in front of you and dig it up toward the middle of the court; Present the platform to the ball instead of swinging at it. - Footwork and communication: Every skill depends on getting to the ball on time and letting teammates know who has it. Cues: Shuffle for short distances; turn and run only when the ball is far away; Call the ball early and loudly: “mine” or “me”; Return to your base position after every contact; Know your rotation spot before every serve. By age band: - Foundations (5–8): Ball familiarity, catching and tossing, simple movement games, and a first look at the passing platform and underhand serve with age-appropriate balls. The goal is comfort with the ball and a lot of fun. - Builders (9–11): Correct forearm passing, overhead setting, and serving mechanics, with plenty of repetition and feedback. Athletes also learn basic rotations and what each position does. - Pre-Tryout (12–14): Tryout-ready serve receive, consistent overhand serving, approach footwork, and position work. We run the passing, serving, and hitting lines athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts. - Varsity Prep (15–18): Refinement and speed: passing tougher serves, setting off a moving pass, attacking with a full approach, and reading the other side of the net. Athletes work on decisions under pressure and the details varsity-level coaches watch for. Common habits and fixes: - Swinging the arms to pass: We keep the platform still and let the legs and shoulder angle direct the ball. Cue: “quiet arms, angle to target.” - Crossing the feet to reach the ball: For short distances we teach a shuffle step that keeps the hips and platform facing the ball. Cue: “shuffle, don’t cross.” - An inconsistent serving toss: Most serving errors start with the toss, so we practice a low, repeatable toss before adding the arm swing. Cue: “the toss is the serve.” - Setting with the palms: We shape the hands into a window above the forehead and contact the ball on the finger pads so it comes off clean. Cue: “hands up early, look through the window.” - Broad-jumping into the net: We teach a final approach step that plants and turns forward speed into a vertical jump. Cue: “slow to fast, then up, not out.” Tryout timing: high school season Fall (girls) · Spring (boys); typical tryouts Girls: typically late July – mid-August (some programs hold summer evaluations earlier) · Boys: typically January – February. We schedule volleyball tryout intensives in the 2–6 weeks before typical tryouts, which usually means June and July for girls and around winter break for boys. Middle school volleyball timing varies by district and school, so check the school website or ask the athletic office as soon as the school-year calendar is posted. This reflects the typical CIF Southern Section calendar; LA City Section schools and individual programs vary, so confirm dates with your school’s athletic department. What to bring: Kneepads; Court shoes with non-marking soles; Comfortable athletic clothes; Water bottle, labeled with your athlete’s name; A healthy snack for breaks; Hair ties, and jewelry left at home. FAQ: - Q: Does my child need club volleyball experience? A: No. Many athletes come to us from rec leagues, school PE, or no organized volleyball at all. Athletes are grouped by age band, and coaches teach fundamentals from the ground up, so a first-timer and a club player can both get useful reps. Club volleyball is a good fit for families who want a year-round commitment; a clinic is a shorter, focused block of instruction. - Q: My child is a complete beginner. Is that okay? A: Yes. Foundations and Builders sessions assume very little experience, and coaches adjust drills to each athlete’s level. Beginners usually start with the underhand serve and simple partner passing before moving on. What matters most is a willingness to try and to listen for the cues. - Q: Will my child work on a specific position? A: Everyone works on passing, serving, and basic setting first, because every position needs them. In the Pre-Tryout and Varsity Prep bands, we add position-specific reps for setters, hitters, and liberos (the defensive specialist who wears a different-colored jersey and focuses on passing and digging). If your athlete is aiming for a particular position at tryouts, let the coaches know on the first day so they can point them to the right stations. - Q: Is this the same as a tryout? A: No. A clinic is instruction, not an evaluation for a team, and Elevate does not field teams. The tryout intensive includes a tryout-style day so athletes know what to expect, but no clinic can promise a roster spot. Our goal is that your athlete walks into tryouts prepared and confident. ### Soccer — https://elevateyouthsports.club/sports/soccer Our soccer clinics focus on the technical skills every position relies on: a clean pass, a first touch that sets up the next action, and the habit of scanning the field before the ball arrives. Athletes get a lot of touches in small groups, with coaches correcting the details that matter, like ankle position, body shape, and where the first touch goes. Older players add the 1v1 situations, small-sided games, and evaluation-style drills common at high school tryouts. Why technique matters: Soccer is played at speed, usually with a defender close by. A pass struck with a locked ankle and the inside of the foot goes where it’s meant to, at the pace it’s meant to; a pass struck with a loose ankle or the toe is a coin flip. When technique is solid, a player can stop thinking about the ball and start thinking about the game. First touch is where this shows up most. A good first touch moves the ball away from pressure and into space, buying time for the next pass or dribble. A poor one gives the ball back or forces a rushed decision. That moment repeats all game long, and it’s a big part of the difference between players who look comfortable on the ball and players who look hurried. Sound mechanics also matter for the body. Planting the support foot correctly, changing direction with bent knees, and striking the ball without overreaching help an athlete play with less unnecessary strain; questions about pain or injury always belong with a licensed health care provider. At tryouts, coaches typically watch for these same basics: composure on the ball, the quality of passing, how a player receives under pressure, and whether they look up before they play. Those are learnable skills, and we teach them directly. Skills taught: - Passing: The inside-of-the-foot pass is the foundation of the game. We teach it for accuracy first, then pace, then on the move. Cues: Plant foot beside the ball, toes pointed at the target; Lock the ankle: toe up, heel down, foot turned out; Strike through the middle of the ball, not under it; Follow through toward the target; Pass to the teammate’s foot that is away from pressure. - First touch: How a player receives the ball decides how much time they have next. We teach players to receive with a purpose, not just stop the ball. Cues: Open your body to the field so you can see more options; Receive across your body with the back foot (the one farther from the passer) when you can; Touch the ball away from pressure and into space; Cushion the ball by giving slightly with the foot at contact. - Scanning: Scanning means looking over your shoulder to see teammates, opponents, and open space before the ball arrives. Cues: “Check your shoulder” before the pass is played to you; Scan again while the ball is traveling; Know your next pass before your first touch; Use simple calls like “man on” (a defender is close) and “time” (you have space). - Dribbling and ball control: Close control lets a player keep the ball, beat a defender, or hold it while teammates get open. Cues: Small, frequent touches with the inside, outside, and sole of the foot; Keep the ball close in traffic; push it farther into open space; Head up between touches; Change speed and direction to beat a defender; Shield: keep your body between the defender and the ball. - Finishing: Scoring is about a clean strike and good placement more than raw power. Cues: Plant foot beside the ball, pointed at the target; Strike with the laces, toe pointed down, ankle locked; Knee over the ball to keep the shot low; Pick a corner before you shoot; Land on the shooting foot as you follow through. - 1v1 defending: Good defending is patient and positional. It is not a lunge at the ball. Cues: Close the space quickly, then slow down with short steps as you arrive; Stay side-on, knees bent, on the balls of your feet; Steer the attacker toward the sideline or their weaker foot; Stay on your feet and win the ball when it comes loose. By age band: - Foundations (5–8): Lots of touches on the ball, dribbling games, first passes with the inside of the foot, and learning to stop the ball under control. Everything is game-based and built to keep kids moving and having fun. - Builders (9–11): Correct passing and receiving mechanics with both feet, first-touch habits, basic shooting technique, and an introduction to positions and spacing. Small-sided games give every player plenty of touches. - Pre-Tryout (12–14): Tryout-ready passing and first touch under pressure, scanning, 1v1 attacking and defending, and position-specific work. We include the passing patterns, small-sided games, and evaluation drills athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts. - Varsity Prep (15–18): Speed of play: receiving and playing forward quickly, combination passing, finishing under pressure, and defending as a unit. We focus on decision-making and the details varsity-level coaches tend to evaluate. Common habits and fixes: - Passing with the toe: A toe poke is hard to aim and hard to repeat. We teach the inside-of-the-foot pass with a locked ankle and a plant foot pointed at the target. Cue: “lock it and aim it.” - Stopping the ball dead under your feet: A first touch that stops the ball at your feet invites pressure. We teach players to touch it a step away from the defender and into space. Cue: “touch away from pressure.” - Watching only the ball: Players who never look up don’t see their options until it’s too late. We build scanning into passing drills until checking the shoulder becomes a habit. Cue: “check your shoulder before it gets to you.” - Diving in on defense: Lunging at the ball lets the attacker go right past. We teach defenders to close quickly, then break down with short steps and stay on their feet. Cue: “close fast, arrive slow.” - Leaning back on shots: Leaning back sends the ball over the goal. We teach players to keep the knee over the ball and strike with the laces, toe down. Cue: “knee over, toe down.” Tryout timing: high school season Winter; typical tryouts Typically November, with some programs starting in late October. We schedule soccer tryout intensives in the 2–6 weeks before typical November tryouts, which usually means late September and October. Middle school soccer timing varies by district and school, so check the school website or ask the athletic office early in the school year. This reflects the typical CIF Southern Section calendar; LA City Section schools and individual programs vary, so confirm dates with your school’s athletic department. What to bring: Shin guards, with socks that cover them; Soccer cleats or turf shoes; A soccer ball in your child’s size, labeled, if you have one; Water bottle, labeled with your athlete’s name; Sunscreen and a hat; A healthy snack for breaks. FAQ: - Q: What if my child is a beginner? A: That’s fine. Foundations and Builders sessions are designed for players who are new to the game or still learning the basics, and coaches adjust each drill to the athlete in front of them. Beginners spend a lot of time with the ball at their feet, which is exactly what they need. Nobody is expected to arrive already knowing the cues. - Q: How is a clinic different from club or rec soccer? A: Rec soccer is built around participation and team play, usually with volunteer coaches, and club soccer is a year-round, tryout-based commitment that often involves travel. Both are good choices for the right family. A clinic is neither: it’s a short, focused block of technical instruction with no team and no standings. Many of our athletes play rec or club and use a clinic to sharpen specific skills. - Q: My child plays goalkeeper. Is this still useful? A: Yes. Goalkeepers play with their feet constantly, receiving back passes, distributing, and starting attacks, so passing and first-touch work carries over directly. Our clinics are built around field-player fundamentals. Check the event details to see what each clinic covers. - Q: Is this the same as a tryout? A: No. Elevate does not field teams, so a clinic is never an evaluation for a roster. The tryout intensive includes a tryout-style day so athletes know what to expect, but no clinic can promise a spot on a team. Our aim is that your athlete arrives at tryouts prepared, with clean technique and a clear sense of what coaches will ask them to do. ### Basketball — https://elevateyouthsports.club/sports/basketball Our basketball clinics focus on the fundamentals that show up in every possession: shooting with repeatable form, handling the ball with eyes up, and footwork that keeps a player balanced and out of traveling calls. On defense, athletes learn a real stance, how to slide, and how to close out under control. Older athletes finish with the drills, competitive reps, and scrimmage situations common at junior high and high school tryouts. Why technique matters: A basketball shot is a repeated motion, and a repeated motion is only as good as its mechanics. When the elbow is under the ball, the eyes are on the target, and the legs supply the power, the shot looks the same every time, which is what makes it go in more often. A shot built on a push from the chest or a thumb flick from the guide hand might work in the driveway, but it tends to break down against a closeout or late in a game when the legs are tired. Footwork matters just as much. A jump stop (landing on both feet at the same time) lets a player use either foot as the pivot, which keeps them balanced and avoids traveling. A low, wide defensive stance lets a defender move side to side without crossing their feet. These habits also help athletes land, cut, and stop in good body position, which is part of training safely. Any question about pain or injury belongs with a licensed health care provider. At tryouts, coaches often see a lot of players in a short time, and they notice the fundamentals right away: a player who catches in triple threat, dribbles with their head up, finishes with either hand, gets in a stance, and boxes out. Those are coachable skills, and they’re exactly what we spend clinic time on. Skills taught: - Shooting form: We build the shot from the ground up and from close to the rim outward, so the form is right before the range grows. Cues: BEEF: Balance, Eyes, Elbow, Follow-through; Feet about shoulder-width apart, shooting-side foot slightly ahead; Elbow under the ball; the guide hand sits on the side and doesn’t push; Power comes from the legs; the shot starts in the knees; Hold the follow-through: relaxed wrist, fingers pointing at the rim; Start with one-hand form shooting close to the basket. - Ball handling: Handling the ball with either hand and eyes up lets a player see the floor and protect the ball. Cues: Dribble with the finger pads, not the palm; Eyes up: see the rim, teammates, and the defense; Low dribble in traffic, higher dribble in open space; Protect the ball with your body and your free arm, without pushing off; Train both hands equally. - Footwork: Good footwork keeps a player balanced, legal, and ready to score or pass. Cues: Triple threat: ball at the hip, knees bent, ready to shoot, pass, or drive; Jump stop: land on both feet at once so either can be the pivot; Pivot on the ball of the foot without lifting or dragging it; Get into your stance as you catch, not after. - Finishing: Making layups with either hand, off the correct foot, is one of the most valuable skills in the game. Cues: Right side: jump off the left foot, lift the right knee, shoot with the right hand; Left side: jump off the right foot, lift the left knee, shoot with the left hand; Use the backboard: aim for the top corner of the square; Keep two hands on the ball until the last moment. - Passing and catching: Good passing moves the defense and creates open shots, and good catching makes the next move possible. Cues: Chest pass: step toward the target and finish with thumbs down; Bounce pass: bounce it about two-thirds of the way to your teammate; Pass away from the defender, to your teammate’s target hand; Show a target hand and catch with two hands. - Defense and rebounding: Defense is effort plus technique. A good stance and good footwork make the effort count. Cues: Stance: feet wider than shoulders, hips low, back flat, hands active; Slide by pushing off the trail foot, without crossing or clicking the feet together; Stay between your player and the basket; Closeouts: sprint, then short, choppy steps with a high hand; Box out: find your player, make contact, then go get the ball. By age band: - Foundations (5–8): Dribbling with both hands, catching and passing, stopping under control, and first shooting form close to the basket. Movement games keep it active and fun. - Builders (9–11): Correct shooting form using BEEF, two-handed ball handling, layups off the correct foot, jump stops and pivots, and a real defensive stance, with lots of repetition and feedback. - Pre-Tryout (12–14): Tryout-ready skills: shooting off the catch and the dribble, finishing with either hand, handling under pressure, closeouts, and boxing out. We run the drills and competitive reps athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts. - Varsity Prep (15–18): Speed of execution and decision-making: shooting off movement, reading screens (a teammate blocking a defender’s path), attacking closeouts, and team defensive rotations. We focus on the details varsity-level coaches tend to evaluate. Common habits and fixes: - Shooting with the guide hand: When the non-shooting hand pushes or flicks the ball, the shot drifts sideways. We teach the guide hand to sit on the side of the ball and come off cleanly. Cue: “one hand shoots, one hand guides.” - Dribbling with eyes on the ball: A player watching the ball can’t see open teammates or help defense coming. We run handling drills with eyes up, often calling out numbers or colors a coach holds up. Cue: “eyes up, see the rim.” - Traveling on the catch: Catching on the run and shuffling the feet is a common travel. We teach the jump stop so either foot can become the pivot. Cue: “two feet, land balanced.” - Standing up on defense: A tall defender is slow to react and easy to drive past. We train a low, wide stance and slides without crossing the feet. Cue: “sit in the chair, slide, don’t cross.” - Watching the shot instead of boxing out: Players who watch the ball give up rebounds. We practice a box-out on every shot in rebounding drills. Cue: “find, hit, get.” Tryout timing: high school season Winter; typical tryouts Typically late October – November. We schedule basketball tryout intensives in the 2–6 weeks before typical fall tryouts, which usually means September and October. Middle school basketball timing varies widely by district and school, so check the school website or ask the athletic office early in the school year. This reflects the typical CIF Southern Section calendar; LA City Section schools and individual programs vary, so confirm dates with your school’s athletic department. What to bring: Basketball or court shoes with non-marking soles; Comfortable athletic clothes; A basketball in your child’s size, labeled, if you have one; Water bottle, labeled with your athlete’s name; A healthy snack for breaks; Hair ties, and jewelry left at home. FAQ: - Q: Does my child need club or travel basketball experience? A: No. Many athletes come to us from rec leagues, school teams, or no organized basketball at all. Club and travel teams (often called AAU) are a good fit for families who want a year-round, competitive schedule; a clinic is a short, focused block of fundamentals. Athletes are grouped by age band, and coaches adjust drills to each player’s level. - Q: My child is one of the smaller players. Is this a good fit? A: Yes. Handling with both hands, footwork, passing, shooting form, and a good defensive stance are skills every player needs at every size. Kids grow at very different rates, and a player who builds sound fundamentals now is ready to use them as they grow. We coach to skill and effort, never to size. - Q: What if my child is a beginner? A: That’s fine. Foundations and Builders sessions start with the basics, and coaches adjust each drill to the athlete in front of them. Beginners spend a lot of time with a ball in their hands, which is exactly what they need. All we ask is effort and a willingness to try the cues. - Q: Is this the same as a tryout? A: No. Elevate does not field teams, so a clinic is instruction, not an evaluation for a roster. The tryout intensive includes a tryout-style day so athletes know what to expect, but no clinic can promise a spot. Our goal is that your athlete arrives prepared and confident in the fundamentals coaches will be watching. ### Softball — https://elevateyouthsports.club/sports/softball Our softball clinics teach the fundamentals every position depends on: a sound throwing motion, fielding ground balls with the glove out front, and a swing built on a balanced load, stride, and turn. We also introduce windmill pitching (the underhand, full-circle motion used in fastpitch softball) at a fundamentals level. Older athletes finish with the infield, outfield, and hitting evaluations common at junior high and high school tryouts. Why technique matters: Softball is a game of short, quick actions that have to be done the same way every time: a clean exchange from glove to throwing hand, a throw that arrives chest-high at the base, a swing that finds the ball. Good mechanics are what make those actions repeatable. A player with a sound throwing motion and solid fielding footwork makes routine plays look routine, and routine plays are most of the game. Mechanics also matter for the arm. Throwing with the whole body, with the feet, hips, and shoulders working in order, spreads the work out instead of loading it all onto the shoulder and elbow. Windmill pitching is underhand, but it is still a lot of repetitive work for the arm, so rest, a gradual build-up, sound mechanics, and following league pitching rules all matter. Arm pain is never something to play through; it’s a question for a licensed health care provider. At tryouts, coaches typically run athletes through ground balls, fly balls, throws across the infield, and hitting off front toss (short, soft underhand pitches from behind a screen) or live pitching. They tend to watch for the basics: glove out front, a quick and accurate throw, a balanced swing, and hustle down the line. Those are teachable skills, and they are the core of our clinics. Skills taught: - Throwing: A good throw starts with the grip and the feet. We teach a full-body overhand throw before anything else. Cues: Grip across the seams with the fingertips, not deep in the palm; Turn sideways and point the glove side at the target; Throwing elbow at or above shoulder height; Step toward the target, turn the hips, then the shoulders; Follow through across the body. - Fielding ground balls: Fielding is about getting the body in front of the ball and the glove out front, where you can see the ball into it. Cues: Ready position before every pitch, weight on the balls of the feet; Feet wider than shoulders, glove out front, forming a triangle with the feet; Glove on the ground and open to the ball; it’s easier to come up than to go down; Two hands: throwing hand above the glove like an alligator’s jaw; Funnel the ball to the belly, then step and throw. - Catching fly balls: Outfield play starts with a good first step and getting under the ball early. Cues: On a ball hit over your head, drop step and run; don’t backpedal; Run on the balls of your feet so your eyes stay steady; Catch above the throwing shoulder with two hands; Call it loudly, “I got it,” and keep calling until you make the catch. - Hitting: A good swing is balanced, short to the ball, and powered by the hips. We build it in stages: stance, load, stride, and swing. Cues: Athletic stance with the middle knuckles of both hands lined up on the bat; Load: hands move back as weight shifts slightly onto the back leg; Short, soft stride, with the front toes still pointed toward home plate; Hips turn first and the hands stay inside the ball; Contact out front, head still, eyes on the ball, full finish. - Windmill pitching basics: We introduce fastpitch pitching at a fundamentals level: the arm circle, the leg drive, and the release. It’s a starting point, not a full pitching program. Cues: Start with wrist snaps and partial arm circles before the full motion; Keep the arm circle close to the body, like a wheel turning; Brush the forearm past the hip at release; Drive off the pitching rubber and stride along the power line (an imaginary line from the rubber to home plate); Finish balanced and ready to field. - Baserunning: Smart baserunning puts pressure on the defense and keeps runners out of easy outs. Cues: Run hard through first base; don’t slow down or leap at the bag; Pick up the base coach when the play is behind you; Round bases in a slight arc so you can take a direct line to the next one; Leave the base on the pitcher’s release, where league rules allow. By age band: - Foundations (5–8): Throwing and catching with correct basic form, fielding rolled balls, hitting off a tee, and running the bases the right way. Short, active games keep it fun. - Builders (9–11): Full throwing mechanics, ground-ball and fly-ball fundamentals, a swing built on load, stride, and turn, and an introduction to windmill pitching basics for interested athletes, with lots of repetition and feedback. - Pre-Tryout (12–14): Tryout-ready infield and outfield work, throwing accuracy across the diamond, hitting off the tee and front toss, and position work. We run the drills athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts. - Varsity Prep (15–18): Refinement and speed: quicker exchanges and throws, reading the ball off the bat, situational hitting, and defensive decisions. We focus on game-situation thinking and the details varsity-level coaches tend to evaluate. Common habits and fixes: - Fielding with the glove under the body: When the glove is under the body, the ball is hard to see and easy to miss. We teach fielders to reach the glove out front, open to the ball, so the eyes can follow it in. Cue: “glove out front, see it in.” - Throwing with only the arm: An arm-only throw loses accuracy and puts the work on the shoulder. We teach the glove side to point at the target and the feet and hips to start the throw. Cue: “point, step, throw.” - Over-striding at the plate: A long stride drops the head and pulls the hands along with it. We teach a short, soft stride so the hitter stays balanced and sees the ball. Cue: “small step, quiet head.” - Casting the bat: Casting means the hands drift away from the body early, making the swing long and slow. We teach the knob of the bat to lead toward the ball with the hands staying inside it. Cue: “knob to the ball, hands inside.” - A wide, loose pitching arm circle: A circle that swings away from the body is hard to control. We keep the circle close and finish with the forearm brushing the hip. Cue: “tight circle, brush the hip.” Tryout timing: high school season Spring; typical tryouts Typically January – February. We schedule softball tryout intensives in the 2–6 weeks before typical January – February tryouts, which often includes winter break. Middle school softball timing varies by district and school, so check the school website or ask the athletic office during the fall semester. This reflects the typical CIF Southern Section calendar; LA City Section schools and individual programs vary, so confirm dates with your school’s athletic department. What to bring: Glove; Bat (optional; bring your own if you have one); Batting helmet with face guard (bring your own if you have one); Molded cleats or athletic shoes; Water bottle, labeled with your athlete’s name; Sunscreen and a hat; A healthy snack for breaks. FAQ: - Q: Do you teach pitching? A: We introduce windmill pitching at a fundamentals level, covering the arm circle, the leg drive, and the release, for athletes who are interested. Pitching reps in a clinic are kept to a limited volume with rest built in. Athletes who want to develop as pitchers often work with a dedicated pitching instructor over time, and our basics are meant to support that work, not replace it. Any arm pain should be checked by a licensed health care provider. - Q: Does my child need travel ball experience? A: No. Many athletes come to us from rec leagues, school teams, or no organized softball at all. Travel ball (club softball) is a good fit for families who want a year-round, competitive schedule; a clinic is a short, focused block of fundamentals. Athletes are grouped by age band, and coaches adjust each drill to the player’s level. - Q: What if my child is a beginner? A: That’s fine. Foundations and Builders sessions start with how to throw, catch, and swing correctly, and coaches adjust each drill to the athlete in front of them. Beginners often hit off a tee and field softly hit balls before moving to faster reps. What matters most is effort and a willingness to try the cues. - Q: Is this the same as a tryout? A: No. Elevate does not field teams, so a clinic is instruction, not an evaluation for a roster. The tryout intensive includes a tryout-style day so athletes know what the stations and game situations will feel like. No clinic can promise a spot on a team; our goal is that your athlete arrives at tryouts prepared and confident. ### Baseball — https://elevateyouthsports.club/sports/baseball Our baseball clinics are built around fundamentals that carry to every position: a sound, repeatable throwing motion, fielding with the glove out front, a balanced swing, and smart baserunning. Throwing follows a gradual progression with arm care in mind, and we keep throwing volume controlled. Older athletes finish with the infield, outfield, hitting, and baserunning evaluations common at junior high and high school tryouts. Why technique matters: Baseball rewards the routine play made routinely. A throw that comes from a consistent arm path and a step toward the target arrives where the first baseman can catch it; a ground ball fielded out front with two hands turns into an out instead of an error. Mechanics are what make those plays repeatable, especially when the ball is hit hard or the game is close. Throwing mechanics are also a big part of arm care. A motion that uses the legs, hips, and trunk spreads the work across the body instead of asking the arm to do it alone. We pair sound mechanics with the habits widely recommended for young throwers: a proper warm-up, a gradual build-up in distance and effort, real rest, and following the pitch-count and rest guidelines from USA Baseball and MLB Pitch Smart. Arm pain is never something to throw through; it’s a question for a licensed health care provider. At tryouts, coaches typically watch athletes throw, field ground balls and fly balls, hit, and run. They tend to look for a clean throwing motion, soft hands and good footwork, a balanced swing, and an athlete who runs hard and knows where to go. Those are coachable skills, and they are the heart of our clinics. Skills taught: - Throwing and arm care: Every position starts with a good throw. We teach the motion as a progression and build arm care into every throwing session. Cues: Four-seam grip: fingers across the wide seams, ball in the fingertips; Throwing progression: wrist flicks, one knee, feet set, then full throws; Glove side points at the target, then tucks to the chest; Step toward the target and let the hips lead the shoulders; Warm up before throwing, build distance gradually, and rest; Follow USA Baseball and MLB Pitch Smart guidance for pitch counts and rest days. - Infield fielding: Fielding ground balls is about footwork and glove position as much as hands. Cues: Take a prep step (a small, balanced hop) as the pitch crosses the plate; Approach under control and field the ball out front, in a triangle with the feet; Two hands: glove open on the ground, throwing hand above it; Funnel the ball to the belly, then move the feet toward the target before throwing. - Outfield play: Outfielders need a good first step, efficient routes to the ball, and throws to the right base. Cues: Drop step and turn on balls hit over your head; don’t backpedal; Run on the balls of your feet to keep your eyes steady; Catch above the throwing shoulder with two hands; Hit the cutoff (the infielder lined up to relay your throw). - Hitting: A good swing is balanced, short to the ball, and long through it. We teach it in stages: stance, load, stride, and swing. Cues: Balanced stance, middle knuckles lined up, hands near the back shoulder; Load: hands back as weight shifts slightly onto the back leg; Short, soft stride with the front foot landing closed (toes pointed toward the plate); Hips lead and the hands stay inside the ball; “Short to it, long through it”: a compact path to the ball and full extension after contact. - Baserunning: Good baserunning takes extra bases and avoids easy outs. Cues: Run hard through first base on a ground ball; don’t leap at the bag; Take a banana turn (a slight arc) on balls hit to the outfield; Pick up the base coach when the play is behind you; Know the outs and where the ball is before every pitch; Tag up on fly balls with fewer than two outs. By age band: - Foundations (5–8): Throwing and catching with correct basic form, fielding rolled balls, hitting off a tee, and running the bases correctly. Short, active games keep it fun. - Builders (9–11): Full throwing mechanics through the throwing progression, ground-ball and fly-ball fundamentals, a swing built on load, stride, and turn, and baserunning basics. This is where arm care habits start. - Pre-Tryout (12–14): Tryout-ready infield and outfield work, throwing accuracy and footwork, hitting off the tee and front toss (short, soft pitches from behind a screen), and position work. We run the drills athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts. - Varsity Prep (15–18): Refinement and speed: quicker transfers (moving the ball from glove to throwing hand), throws on the move, situational hitting, and baserunning reads. We focus on game-situation decisions and the details varsity-level coaches tend to evaluate. Common habits and fixes: - Throwing hard without warming up: Cold arms shouldn’t throw at full effort. Every throwing session starts with a warm-up and builds distance and effort gradually. Cue: “start close, build out.” - Fielding with the glove under the body: A ball fielded under the body is hard to see into the glove. We teach fielders to field it out front with two hands. Cue: “out front, two hands.” - Throwing without stepping to the target: Throwing flat-footed or across the body puts the work on the arm and sends the ball off line. We teach the glove side to point and the front foot to step at the target. Cue: “point, step, throw.” - Pulling the head off the ball: When the head pulls out, the eyes leave the ball and the swing follows. We teach a quiet head and contact out front. Cue: “see it, stay on it.” - Slowing down before first base: Runners who ease up or leap at the bag lose time. We teach running hard through the front edge of the base and breaking down after. Cue: “run through it, not to it.” Tryout timing: high school season Spring; typical tryouts Typically January – February. We schedule baseball tryout intensives in the 2–6 weeks before typical January – February tryouts, which often includes winter break, with throwing volume built up gradually. Middle school baseball timing varies by district and school, so check the school website or ask the athletic office during the fall semester. This reflects the typical CIF Southern Section calendar; LA City Section schools and individual programs vary, so confirm dates with your school’s athletic department. What to bring: Glove; Bat (optional; bring your own if you have one); Batting helmet (bring your own if you have one); Baseball cleats or athletic shoes; Athletic cup (recommended); Water bottle and a healthy snack, labeled with your athlete’s name; Sunscreen and a hat. FAQ: - Q: Do you teach pitching? A: We teach pitching fundamentals, including balance, direction toward the plate, and a repeatable delivery, to athletes who are interested, and we keep pitching volume limited with rest built in. We use USA Baseball and MLB Pitch Smart guidance as our reference, and we encourage families to track pitch counts and rest days across every team their athlete plays on. Pitchers who want ongoing development often work with a dedicated pitching instructor, and our clinic work is meant to support that, not replace it. Any arm pain should be checked by a licensed health care provider. - Q: My child has only played rec baseball. Is that enough? A: Yes. Rec leagues do a great job introducing the game, and many of our athletes come straight from them. What a rec season often doesn’t have time for is individual, detailed technique work, and that’s what a clinic adds. Athletes are grouped by age band, and coaches adjust each drill to the player’s level. - Q: Will my child get reps at a specific position? A: Everyone works on throwing, fielding, hitting, and baserunning, because every position needs them. In the Pre-Tryout and Varsity Prep bands, we add position-group work for infielders and outfielders, plus pitching fundamentals for interested athletes. If your athlete is aiming for a particular position at tryouts, let the coaches know on the first day so they can point them to the right reps. - Q: Is this the same as a tryout? A: No. Elevate does not field teams, so a clinic is instruction, not an evaluation for a roster. The tryout intensive includes a tryout-style day so athletes know what the stations will look like. No clinic can promise a spot on a team; our goal is that your athlete arrives prepared, with a healthy arm and confidence in the fundamentals. ### Flag Football — https://elevateyouthsports.club/sports/flag-football Flag football is a fast, non-contact game, and our clinics teach the skills it rewards: pulling flags with good body position, running sharp routes, catching with the hands, and quarterback footwork and throwing mechanics. Flag football will be part of the LA 2028 Olympic Games, and it is now a CIF-sanctioned high school sport for girls in California. Athletes of every experience level learn the fundamentals in small groups, and older athletes finish with tryout-style drills and game situations. Why technique matters: Flag football looks simple, but it is a game of small details done at full speed. A defender who watches the hips and breaks down before the ball carrier arrives pulls the flag; one who lunges at the jersey misses, and grabbing a jersey is a penalty. A receiver who plants on the outside foot and snaps their head around at the break gets open; one who curves through the cut lets the defender stay close. Technique is what turns speed and effort into plays. Because the game is non-contact, good technique is also part of playing safely. Breaking down under control before a flag pull, changing direction with bent knees and a balanced base, and keeping hands, arms, and the ball away from your own flags (flag guarding is a penalty) all help prevent collisions and awkward falls. Any question about pain or injury belongs with a licensed health care provider. Quarterback and center skills follow the same logic. A consistent snap, a proper grip with the fingers on the laces, and footwork that lets the quarterback step toward the target make every play start cleanly. At tryouts, coaches tend to watch for these exact things: clean flag pulls, sharp routes, reliable hands, accurate throws, and players who know the rules well enough to play without penalties. Skills taught: - Flag pulling: The defensive skill that ends every play. Good flag pulling is about body position and timing, not speed alone. Cues: Eyes on the hips, not the ball or the jersey; Break down with short, choppy steps and a low base as you approach; Stay square to the ball carrier and mirror their movement; Grab the flag cleanly and hold it up so the official sees the play is over; Never grab the jersey or the body; that’s a penalty. - Route running: Receivers get open with precise routes, not just speed. Cues: Explode off the line and sell every route as deep until the break; Sink your hips at the break and plant on the outside foot; Snap the head and eyes back to the quarterback out of the cut; Run to the exact depth the play calls for. - Catching: Reliable hands make the offense work. We teach catching with the hands, away from the body. Cues: Thumbs together in a diamond for balls at or above the chest; Pinkies together for balls below the waist; Look the ball all the way into the hands; Tuck it away right after the catch. - Quarterback mechanics: Quarterbacks need a consistent grip, balanced footwork, and an accurate, repeatable throwing motion. Cues: Grip: fingers on the laces, with a small gap between the palm and the ball; Ready position: ball high and tight at the chest, two hands on it; Step toward the target with the front foot as you throw; Elbow up, release over the top, and follow through toward the target; Know where the ball is going before the snap and get it out on time. - Center snap: Every play starts with a clean exchange between the center and the quarterback, so they practice it until it is automatic. Cues: Center: firm grip and the same snap to the same spot every time; Quarterback: give a clear target and receive the snap with two hands; Practice the snap count and timing as a pair; Center gets out into a route after the snap when the rules allow. - Ball carrying and the rules: After the catch, the goal is to gain yards without contact and without breaking the flag rules. Cues: Carry the ball high and away from your flags; Use changes of speed and direction instead of contact; Never use a hand, arm, or the ball to block a flag pull (flag guarding); Make one move, then get upfield. By age band: - Foundations (5–8): Running, changing direction, catching soft passes, pulling flags in tag-style games, and learning the basic rules. The focus is movement, confidence with the ball, and fun. - Builders (9–11): Flag-pulling technique, basic routes, catching with the hands, and quarterback grip and footwork, with lots of repetition and feedback. Athletes learn the core rules, including why flag guarding is a penalty. - Pre-Tryout (12–14): Tryout-ready route running, flag pulling in open space, quarterback and center fundamentals, and position work on offense and defense. We run the drills athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts, including for high school girls flag football programs. - Varsity Prep (15–18): Speed and reading the defense: route timing with the quarterback, reading coverage (how the defense is set up to guard receivers), rushing the passer within the rules, and game-situation decisions. We focus on the details varsity-level coaches tend to evaluate. Common habits and fixes: - Reaching for the jersey instead of the flag: Aiming high leads to missed pulls and penalties. We teach defenders to watch the hips, break down, and pull the flag cleanly. Cue: “eyes on the hips.” - Overrunning the ball carrier: Defenders who arrive at full speed fly past the play. We teach short, choppy steps and a low base in the last few yards. Cue: “break down, then pull.” - Rounding off routes: A route that curves at the break lets the defender stay close. We teach sinking the hips, planting on the outside foot, and snapping the head around. Cue: “plant, snap, eyes back.” - Catching with the body: Letting the ball hit the chest leads to drops. We teach catching with the hands, using a diamond above the chest and pinkies together below the waist. Cue: “hands out, look it in.” - Throwing off the back foot: A quarterback who doesn’t step toward the target loses accuracy. We teach a short step with the front foot pointed at the target. Cue: “step to the target.” Tryout timing: high school season Fall (girls); typical tryouts Typically late July – mid-August, though timing for this newer sport is still settling and varies by school. We schedule flag football tryout intensives in the 2–6 weeks before typical fall tryouts, which usually means June and July. Middle school flag football is offered at some schools and not others, and timing varies by district, so check the school website or ask the athletic office. This reflects the typical CIF Southern Section calendar for a newly sanctioned sport; LA City Section schools and individual programs vary, so confirm dates with your school’s athletic department. What to bring: Molded cleats (no metal spikes) or athletic shoes; Athletic shorts or pants without pockets, since most flag rules don’t allow them; Mouthguard, if your athlete uses one; A football in your child’s size, labeled, if you have one; Water bottle, labeled with your athlete’s name; Sunscreen and a hat; A healthy snack for breaks. FAQ: - Q: Is there any contact in flag football? A: Flag football is a non-contact sport: there is no tackling, and a play ends when a defender pulls the ball carrier’s flag. We teach defenders to break down and pull the flag cleanly, and ball carriers to avoid flag guarding (using a hand, arm, or the ball to protect their flags). Like any running sport, players can still bump into each other or fall, so we teach body control and change of direction from the first day. Any question about an injury belongs with a licensed health care provider. - Q: My child has never played football. Is that okay? A: Yes. Many athletes come to flag football from other sports, and skills like running, catching, and changing direction carry over. Foundations and Builders sessions start with the basics, and coaches adjust each drill to the athlete’s level. Nobody needs to know the rules or the positions before the first day. - Q: Will my child get to play quarterback? A: Every athlete works on catching, route running, and flag pulling, because every position needs them. Athletes interested in quarterback or center get reps on grip, footwork, and the snap, and coaches rotate players through positions so everyone learns the whole game. If your athlete is aiming for a specific position at tryouts, let the coaches know on the first day. - Q: Is this the same as a tryout? A: No. Elevate does not field teams, so a clinic is instruction, not an evaluation for a roster. Because girls flag football is new at many high schools, plenty of athletes want to know what a tryout will look like, and the tryout intensive includes a tryout-style day for that reason. No clinic can promise a spot on a team; our goal is that your athlete arrives prepared and confident. ## Locations ### Orange County — https://elevateyouthsports.club/locations/orange-county Orange County has deep youth sports roots — busy rec leagues, strong club programs, and high school athletic departments with long traditions. It also has plenty of kids who play for fun, love it, and have never had a coach take the time to fix their passing platform or their throwing motion. Our Orange County clinics rotate between sites so families across the county can reach one. The exact venue is announced with each event, and the registration form asks for your city so we can plan sites near the families who sign up. Communities served include: Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Tustin, Yorba Linda. - Most Orange County high schools compete in the CIF Southern Section. Tryout timing on our tryout calendar follows that section's typical calendar. - Coastal and inland temperatures differ a lot in late summer. Our heat plan applies at every site regardless. - Q: Where in Orange County are clinics held? A: Clinic sites rotate across the county and the venue is announced with each event. We use indoor gyms for volleyball and basketball, turf or grass fields for soccer and flag football, and diamonds for softball and baseball. Tell us your city on the registration form and we will use it to plan sites near you. - Q: Do Orange County clinics follow local tryout timing? A: Yes. We schedule tryout intensives in the weeks before each sport's typical CIF Southern Section tryout window. Individual schools set their own dates, so always confirm with your school's athletic department. - Q: Can my child attend a clinic in another county? A: Yes. Any athlete can register for any Elevate clinic in Orange, Los Angeles, or Riverside County, as long as the clinic includes their sport and age band. ### Los Angeles County — https://elevateyouthsports.club/locations/los-angeles-county Los Angeles County is the largest youth sports market in the country, and it is spread out. A family in Long Beach and a family in Santa Clarita can both be "in LA" and be an hour and a half apart in traffic. That is one reason short, scheduled clinics make sense here: a focused weekend is easier to plan around than a year-round commitment with a long drive to every practice. We rotate LA County clinics across regions, and the venue is announced with each event. The registration form asks for your city so we can plan sites close to the families who want them. Communities served include: Burbank, Cerritos, Claremont, Diamond Bar, Downey, Glendale, Lakewood, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palmdale, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Santa Clarita, Torrance, West Covina, Whittier. - Los Angeles County high schools are split between the CIF Southern Section and the CIF Los Angeles City Section, and their calendars can differ. Check which section your school competes in and confirm tryout dates with its athletic department. - Flag football will be part of the LA 2028 Olympic Games, and interest in the sport is growing locally — including the newly sanctioned girls flag football at the high school level. - Q: Where in Los Angeles County are clinics held? A: Clinic sites rotate across the county's regions, and each event lists its venue when registration opens. We match the venue to the sport: indoor gyms for volleyball and basketball, fields for soccer and flag football, and diamonds for softball and baseball. Your city on the registration form helps us decide where to schedule next. - Q: My child's school is in the LA City Section. Does your tryout calendar apply? A: Our tryout calendar reflects typical CIF Southern Section timing, and LA City Section schools can run on a different schedule. The calendar is still a useful guide to the season each sport is played in. Confirm exact tryout dates with your school's athletic department and pick the clinic that lands a few weeks before them. - Q: Is the drive worth it for a two-day clinic? A: Families tell us the appeal of a clinic is that it is a contained commitment — two or three days, then a practice plan to take home. Many choose the closest site to them and plan around one weekend instead of a season of weeknight drives. If no site is near you yet, join the list and tell us your city. ### Riverside County — https://elevateyouthsports.club/locations/riverside-county Riverside County is home to a large and growing population of young families, and its youth sports community has grown with it. Club options can mean long drives toward the coast, which makes focused local instruction especially valuable here. Summers in inland Riverside County are hot, and our heat plan matters most here: more water breaks, shade and indoor options where possible, and earlier sessions in the warmest months. The venue for each clinic is announced with the event, and your city on the registration form helps us decide where to schedule. Communities served include: Beaumont, Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Perris, Riverside, Temecula, Wildomar. - Most Riverside County high schools compete in the CIF Southern Section. Our tryout calendar follows that section's typical timing. - Late-summer heat is a real factor for fall-sport tryout preparation. Expect earlier start times and extra rest breaks for summer clinics. - Q: Where in Riverside County are clinics held? A: Clinic sites rotate across the county and each event lists its venue when registration opens. We use indoor gyms for volleyball and basketball, fields for soccer and flag football, and diamonds for softball and baseball. Tell us your city on the registration form so we can plan sites near you. - Q: How do you handle summer heat? A: Every session has scheduled water breaks, and on hot days we add more, move work into shade or indoors where we can, and lower the intensity. Summer clinics in inland areas generally start earlier in the day. Coaches are trained to recognize the signs of heat illness and to pull an athlete for rest at the first sign of trouble. - Q: Do you offer clinics for all six sports in Riverside County? A: Our goal is to offer all six sports in every county, scheduled around each sport's season. Which sports run first depends on venue availability and interest. Join the list for the sports you want and we will let you know when a clinic opens near you. ## Safety standards - Every adult is screened: Every coach and staff member completes a background check before working a clinic, along with mandated-reporter training as required by California law for youth service organizations. - First aid, CPR, and AED certified: Every coach and staff member holds current CPR, First Aid, and AED certification. An AED and a stocked first-aid kit are on site at every clinic. - When in doubt, sit them out: Coaches complete concussion-recognition training. An athlete with a suspected head injury is removed from activity for the rest of the day, parents are notified right away, and the athlete needs written clearance from a licensed health care provider before returning to an Elevate clinic. - A heat plan for Southern California: Water breaks are built into every session. On hot days we add breaks, move work into shade or indoors where possible, and adjust intensity. Coaches are trained to recognize the signs of heat illness. - Secure check-in and check-out: Athletes are checked in by a parent or guardian and released only to a parent, guardian, or an adult on the authorized pick-up list. - Clear conduct rules for adults: Coaches communicate with athletes in groups and in view of other adults. One-on-one private messaging with athletes is not permitted. Parents are welcome to watch. ## Coaches - Experienced in the sport: Our coaches have coached or played the sport at a competitive level — high school, club, or college — and can demonstrate the skills they teach. - Experienced with kids: Knowing a sport is not the same as teaching it to a nine-year-old. We hire coaches who have worked with young athletes and know how to explain one thing at a time. - Screened and certified: Background check, mandated-reporter training, CPR / First Aid / AED certification, and concussion-recognition training — before a coach works a single clinic. - Trained in the Elevate method: Every coach learns our station format, our cue library for each sport, and how we give feedback, so an athlete hears a consistent message from every coach they work with. - Method — Show, try, correct, repeat: A short demonstration, then reps right away. The coach watches, corrects one thing, and the athlete goes again. Long lectures don't build skills; feedback on real reps does. - Method — One cue at a time: Young athletes can hold on to one idea at a time. We use short, memorable cues — "ball, base, target", "shuffle, don't cross" — that athletes can repeat to themselves when we're not there. - Method — Small groups, every athlete seen: Groups are sized so a coach can watch every rep. Every athlete gets individual feedback in every session — not just the most confident ones. - Method — Specific, honest, encouraging: "Good job" doesn't teach anything. Our coaches name what went right and what to fix, in a tone that keeps kids wanting to try again. - Method — Skills before scrimmages: Games are part of every clinic, but they come after the teaching — so athletes get to use the new skill at speed instead of falling back on old habits. ## Frequently asked questions ### Registration and cost - Q: How do I register? A: Registration opens county by county as clinic dates are confirmed. Join the list on the registration page with your sport, your athlete's age band, and your city, and we'll email you as soon as a clinic that fits opens near you. - Q: How much does a clinic cost? A: Pricing is posted with each event, along with its refund and transfer terms. A clinic is a contained, short commitment — two or three days — rather than a season of fees, travel, and uniforms. - Q: Do I have to commit to a season? A: No. Each clinic stands on its own. Some families come once before a tryout; others come back each season for a different sport or the next age band. - Q: What information do you collect about my child? A: To join the list we only ask for a parent's contact details, the sport, the age band, and your city. At registration we collect what we need to run a safe clinic — your athlete's name and age, emergency contacts, authorized pick-up adults, and any medical notes you choose to share. See our privacy policy for details. ### On clinic day - Q: What should my athlete bring? A: Athletic clothes, the right shoes for the surface, a full water bottle, a snack, and sunscreen for outdoor sports. Each sport page lists sport-specific gear such as kneepads, shin guards, or a glove. Bring your own equipment if you have it. - Q: Can parents stay and watch? A: Yes. Parents are welcome to watch from the designated spectator area. We ask that coaching come from the coaches during the session, so athletes hear one consistent message. - Q: How does drop-off and pick-up work? A: A parent or guardian checks the athlete in with a staff member. At the end of the day, athletes are released only to a parent, guardian, or an adult you have listed as an authorized pick-up. - Q: How long is each day? A: Session length depends on age band — shorter for our youngest athletes, longer for older ones. The age groups page lists the typical length for each band, and each event lists its exact times. ### Ages and experience - Q: What ages do you coach? A: Ages 5 to 18, in four age bands: Foundations (5–8), Builders (9–11), Pre-Tryout (12–14), and Varsity Prep (15–18). Athletes train with their age band. - Q: My child is a complete beginner. Is that okay? A: Yes. Many of our athletes have only played rec ball or have never played the sport at all. Clinics start with fundamentals, and coaches group athletes by experience within an age band when numbers allow. - Q: My child already plays club. Is a clinic still useful? A: It can be. Club athletes come to clinics to work on a specific skill, to learn a second sport, or to get focused technical work before a school tryout. A clinic complements a club season; it doesn't replace one. ### Tryouts and outcomes - Q: Will a clinic get my child on the team? A: No program can promise that, and we won't. What a clinic does is help an athlete arrive at tryouts prepared: cleaner fundamentals, a sense of what to expect, and confidence. The decision belongs to the school's coaches. - Q: When should we come before a tryout? A: Ideally a few weeks before, so there's time to practice what they learned before the tryout itself. Our tryout calendar shows typical tryout windows for each sport, and tryout intensives are scheduled in the weeks before them. Always confirm exact dates with your school's athletic department. - Q: Is the clinic itself a tryout or an evaluation for a team? A: No. Elevate doesn't field teams. The third day of a tryout intensive simulates the drills athletes are likely to see at a school tryout, but nobody is being selected for anything — it's practice. ### Safety - Q: Are your coaches background-checked? A: Yes. Every coach and staff member completes a background check, mandated-reporter training, CPR / First Aid / AED certification, and concussion-recognition training before working a clinic. - Q: What happens if my child gets hurt? A: Our on-site safety lead and certified staff provide first aid and contact you right away. For a suspected head injury, the athlete sits out for the rest of the day and needs written clearance from a licensed health care provider before returning to an Elevate clinic. - Q: What do you do on very hot days? A: We add water breaks, move work into shade or indoors where possible, lower the intensity, and schedule summer sessions earlier in the day at inland sites. Coaches are trained to recognize the signs of heat illness. ## Blog posts - [More Reps of the Wrong Movement Build a Habit, Not a Skill](https://elevateyouthsports.club/blog/more-reps-of-the-wrong-movement-build-a-habit-not-a-skill) (2026-10-05; Technique, Athlete Development, Injury Prevention): Technique before volume: why quality reps with feedback beat sheer repetition, how sound mechanics connect to arm care in throwing sports, and what that looks like from ages 5 to 18. - [The Weeks Before a Tryout Matter More Than the Day Itself](https://elevateyouthsports.club/blog/the-weeks-before-a-tryout-matter-more-than-the-day-itself) (2026-10-04; Tryout Prep, Mindset): A practical countdown for junior high and high school tryouts: what coaches commonly look for, how to use the weeks beforehand, what to do on the day, and how to handle any result. - [The Gap Between Rec and Club Shows Up at Tryouts](https://elevateyouthsports.club/blog/the-gap-between-rec-and-club-shows-up-at-tryouts) (2026-10-03; The Club Gap, Tryout Prep, Athlete Development): Rec leagues are built for participation, and club ball asks for a year-round commitment. Many kids train somewhere in between, and junior high and high school tryouts are where that gap shows.