Youth sports facility sees its customer base grow

Originally started at Legends Sports Complex, Tots Sports eventually found its way to a permanent location in the Hanna Business Park in Oak Ridge North in January 2012, growing to more than 70 regular customers.

"It's been very steady, very successful," owner Marc Castillo said.

Tots Sports offers sports development programs for children ages 18 months to 6 years old, Castillo said. He said the Soccer Tots program focus primarily on children ages 18 months to 4 years old, emphasizing movement education and physical literacy above sports knowledge. The classes can accommodate up to eight or nine students and are held once a week for 50 minutes.

"It's like reading," Castillo said. "We start with the ABCs, then you sound things out and blend them together to make words. And then you put words together to make sentences."

Soccer players ages 4-6 can participate in the Footy Junior Soccer School, which focuses on one-on-one play and controlling possession of the ball, Castillo said. The Lil' Sluggers program is a baseball program for ages 18 months to 6 years old, although he said there is not yet a program in place which takes the skills to the next level.

Unlike many other youth sports program, Tots Sports' programs are non-competitive, Castillo said, although he hopes to begin developmental leagues in the future, especially with the planned opening of a new location at Hwy. 249 and Jones Road in April.

"We're taking the stress and the fear out of everything, so that it's just educational," he said of the non-competitive atmosphere.

26797 Hanna Road, Bldg. 4, Ste. 1D, Oak Ridge North, 281-203-7721, www.totssports.com