5 Star Sports Academy

What 5 Star Sports Academy does

5 Star Sports Academy Inc. is a private youth sports instruction company founded by three coaches and operating in the greater Chicago area (with one site at Pleasant Prairie RecPlex in Wisconsin). The company delivers multi-sport programming — including T-ball, baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, pickleball, flag football, hockey, nerf combat, speed and agility training, and strength and conditioning — primarily through partnerships with eight local park districts (Barrington, Gurnee, Lake Bluff, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, RecPlex, McHenry, Zion), with registration managed via park district systems.

The core product portfolio is organized around age-banded classes and leagues for children ages 2 through 14, plus private lessons, group strength and conditioning, and sports-themed birthday parties. The company extends its basketball funnel through the Gladiator Basketball AAU sub-brand, which operates a separate website (gladiatorbasketball.net) for competitive travel-team information and registration. There is no proprietary technology platform; the business is coach-delivered and runs on a standard website with PayPal payment processing and Google reCAPTCHA-protected forms. Marketing is community-led, relying on park district referrals, organic Facebook and Instagram presence, and email newsletter sign-ups.

Revenue is generated through per-session and per-seasonal class fees billed through partner park districts, tiered hourly birthday party bookings ($125–$275), private coaching sessions, and small-group or 1-on-1 strength and conditioning training. Customer segments include children and youth (primary), parents/families, student athletes seeking competitive development, and adult recreational players in pickleball. The company is privately held, domiciled in Illinois, USA, and had a stated headcount of 12 employees.

Name

5 Star Sports Academy

Legal name

5 Star Sports Academy Inc.

Website

https://5starsports.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

5 Star Sports Academy is a private, Chicago-area youth sports instruction company that delivers multi-sport programs (baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, pickleball, strength and conditioning) through eight park district partnerships and direct-to-consumer channels for children ages 2-14 and adult recreational players.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Instruction

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB), Elite Performance Training Centers (High-Performance/Pro Prep) (MPAKAJAC)

Keywords

• Youth sports instruction
• Sports coaching services
• Park district programs
• Athletic training programs
• Birthday party services

Headquarters

HQ city

Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Youth Sports Classes and Programs: Revenue generated from youth sports instruction programs including T-ball, baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf conducted through park district partnerships. Programs are offered on a per-session or seasonal basis.
2. Birthday Party Services: Hourly-rate party services where 5 Star Sports coaches organize and run sports-themed birthday parties at facilities arranged by customers.
3. Private Lessons: One-on-one coaching sessions with experienced coaches who specialize in particular sports. Contact-based scheduling with payment per session.
4. Strength and Conditioning Programs: Training services including 1-on-1 training, small group training (5-10 participants), and summer boot camps. Payment for larger events via online portal; 1-on-1 and small group on single session basis.
5. Gladiator Basketball AAU Program: AAU basketball team program for players looking to develop skills and compete at higher levels. Registration through park district websites.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

5 Star Sports Academy is a youth sports instruction company that delivers age-appropriate coaching in T-ball, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, pickleball, flag football, hockey, nerf combat, and speed and agility training to children ages 2 through 14+ across eight Chicago-area park districts. The company also runs strength and conditioning services (1-on-1, small group, summer boot camps), private lessons, sports-themed birthday parties, and the Gladiator Basketball AAU travel team program.

Product overview

5 Star Sports Academy is a sports instruction company founded by three coaches, providing youth sports programs across multiple park districts in the greater Chicago area (Barrington, Gurnee, Lake Bluff, Lindenhurst, Rec Plex/Pleasant Prairie, McHenry, Zion, Long Grove). The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of youth sports programs including T-Ball, Soccer, Basketball, Strength and Conditioning, Private Lessons, Birthday Parties, Tennis, Golf, Pickleball, and Speed & Agility Training. The core offerings are organized around youth developmental sports instruction with the Gladiator Basketball sub-brand serving as an AAU basketball team program with its own dedicated registration platform. Programs are structured as age-appropriate classes, leagues, and private instruction designed to build sports skills and confidence in children ages 2-14+. The company partners with local park districts to deliver programming at various community facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• T-Ball Programs T-Ball instruction and league play for children ages 3-9 covering fundamentals of hitting, throwing, fielding, and base running. Offered as skills clinics and league play with teams, playoffs, and trophies through local park districts.
• Soccer Programs Youth soccer instruction covering dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork. Multiple levels include PeeWee Soccer, Soccer Stars, Soccer Skills & Drills, and Adult Tot Soccer for ages 2 through adult.
• Basketball Programs Basketball instruction including Lil' Dribblers (ages 4-6), Beginners Basketball, Basketball Skills (ages 7-10), and the Gladiator Basketball AAU team program (ages 10-14). Programs cover dribbling, passing, shooting, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
• Gladiator Basketball AAU Program AAU basketball team brand under 5 Star Sports Academy focused on developing players to take their game to the next level. Includes individualized skill work, scrimmages, tournaments, and team play with a separate website for team information and registration.
• Strength and Conditioning Programs Sport-specific training with emphasis on performance enhancement and skill acquisition. Services include Summer Boot Camp (large group high-intensity training), 1-on-1 Private Training, and Small Group Training (5-10 participants, year-round sessions).
• Private Lessons One-on-one coaching with experienced coaches specializing in particular sports, designed for athletes seeking to reach the next level. Covers basics through advanced skills with contact-based scheduling.
• Birthday Parties Sports-themed birthday party organization and facilitation. Children choose sport(s) and 5 Star Sports organizes activities; facility not included. Hourly pricing tiers: $125 (1 coach, under 10 kids), $175 (2 coaches, 10-25 kids), $275 (3 coaches, 26-35 kids).
• Tennis Programs Youth tennis instruction using age-appropriate games and drills on smaller courts with lower-compression balls. Develops agility, balance, coordination, and basic strokes including forehand, backhand, volleys, and serves.
• Golf Programs Youth golf instruction covering grip, stance, swing fundamentals, safety, and on-course experience. Offerings include Beginner Golf, Experienced Golf, and Links Golf for ages 5-12.
• Pickleball Programs Pickleball instruction including Beginner Clinics (court etiquette, equipment, scoring, fundamental strokes) and Intermediate Skills & Drills (advanced dinking, third-shot drops, transition play, shot placement), offered for adult participants.
• Speed and Agility Training Athletic performance training for ages 6-13 focusing on coordination, balance, and quickness through fun drills. Includes sprinting, jumping, changing direction, and confidence-building activities.
• Flag Football, Hockey, and Nerf Combat Programs Additional youth sports offerings listed under the company's sport portfolio: flag football, hockey, and nerf combat programs delivered through park district partnerships.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gladiator BasketballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAU basketball program operating under 5 Star Sports Academy umbrella. Has separate website (gladiatorbasketball.net) for 2025 team information. Works with players to develop confidence and skills.
• Barrington Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPark district partner hosting T-ball leagues, soccer, basketball, golf, and other youth sports programs. Registration managed through barringtonparkdistrict.org.
• Pleasant Prairie RecPlexcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecreation facility partner hosting soccer, tennis, golf, basketball, and T-ball/baseball programs. Registration through recplexonline.com.
• Lindenhurst Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPark district partner hosting soccer, T-ball, pickleball, tennis, basketball, and speed/agility training programs.
• Lake Bluff Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPark district partner hosting soccer, T-ball/baseball, and basketball programs. Registration through lakebluffparks.org.
• Gurnee Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPark district partner hosting T-ball/baseball, soccer, and basketball programs. Registration through gurneeparkdistrict.com.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Soccer Shots: Youth soccer instruction franchise serving children ages 2–8 through partnerships with childcare centers, schools, and park districts. Comparable in target age band and channel-based delivery, though single-sport focused.
• My Gym Children's Fitness Center: Franchised early-childhood motor-skill and sports programs for ages 0–10, often including birthday party services. Highly comparable to 5 Star's younger-child segment (ages 2–9) and its birthday party revenue stream.
• First Tee: National youth golf instruction nonprofit offering beginner-to-advanced programs through partner facilities. Direct overlap with 5 Star's youth golf program (Beginner/Experienced/Links Golf for ages 5–12).
• i9 Sports: National franchise offering youth sports leagues, camps, and clinics (soccer, basketball, flag football, baseball) for ages 3–14. Directly comparable to 5 Star's multi-sport youth instruction model, though i9 Sports is franchise-driven and broader in geographic reach.
• Lil' Kickers: Child-development-focused youth soccer program for ages 18 months to 9 years, delivered through partner facilities. Comparable in developmental positioning and beginner-friendly curriculum, but soccer-only.
• Skyhawks Sports Academy: Operates youth sports camps and clinics (soccer, basketball, baseball, flag football, tennis) for ages 4–14 through park district and community partnerships nationwide. Closest direct peer in terms of park-district-channel delivery model.
• Parisi Speed School: Franchised youth athletic performance training (speed, agility, strength) for ages 7–18. Comparable to 5 Star's Strength & Conditioning and Speed & Agility offerings; both serve developing athletes via structured coaching.

Broad incumbents

• US Sports Camps / Nike Sports Camps: National multi-sport camp operator including Nike-branded programs in soccer, basketball, tennis, golf and more. Broader and more nationally distributed than 5 Star, but overlapping on multi-sport youth instruction.
• YMCA Youth Sports: Community-based youth sports leagues, swim, basketball and soccer programs offered at YMCA branches across the country. Overlaps with 5 Star's park-district-delivered youth sports model and competes for the same suburban family audience.

Regional players

• Chicago Fire Juniors (Youth Soccer): Elite youth soccer club network serving the greater Chicago area, comparable to 5 Star's youth soccer programs. Competes for the same suburban soccer families in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/5StarSportsinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/5starsportsacademyinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5-star-sports-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 5 Star Sports Academy