With a strong belief that children thrive and learn lifelong lessons by playing sports, Founder and President of Just Play Sports Larry Wilkins’ goal was to establish a safe space for kids to build confidence while learning to be part of a team. By Erika Ortega
With a strong belief that children thrive and learn lifelong lessons by playing sports, Founder and President of Just Play Sports Larry Wilkins’ goal was to establish a safe space for kids to build confidence while learning to be part of a team.
“I worked with other organizations prior to starting Just Play Sports in 1996. They did summer camps only,” said Wilkins.
Seeing a need for year-round athletic programs for kids, he decided to start a membership-based organization that caters to the diverse needs of children ages 5 to 18.
Just Play Sports offers various membership plans, including access to skill classes, shooting cages, dribbling stations, camps and clinics, private lessons and tournament teams. By providing members with the flexibility to customize their schedules and access to talented coaches and support staff, the brand offers a fun, safe environment that supports wellness, social connections, skills development and lesson learning.
“It is important for us to be able to serve a wide range of people,” said Wilkins. “One of the big programs we offer is access to tournament teams.”
Members have the opportunity to play locally or travel to competitions in different states. Team collaboration and a healthy dose of competition provide space to develop both athletic and social skills.
“The kids are our future, and sometimes we overlook everything that impacts kids’ lives,” said Wilkins. “We are able to give kids a space to put aside daily challenges and do something they enjoy. We try to make it a fun environment.”
The brand’s programs are designed to enhance individual athleticism, but coaches also focus on making the experience fun and enjoyable.
Camps and clinics are also popular at Just Play Sports. Players at various skill levels go to camps that focus on the basics of passing, shooting, dribbling and teamwork, while also sharpening ball-handling, footwork, shooting and in-game movement.
Giving back to the community is also a priority for Just Play Sports.
“We offer scholarships for folks who cannot afford our services,” said Wilkins. “Thousands of dollars in services are gifted to members of the community every year.”
Just Play Sports started in California and eventually grew to 22 locations, partnering with community centers and schools to use their facilities.
“When we moved to Texas, we shifted focus, energy and efforts to establish our first brick-and-mortar concept in 2018,” explained Wilkins. “It allowed us to offer better programming and more consistent services to our members.”
The facility is 17,000 sq ft and includes two courts. The new space allowed the brand to have a competitive advantage.
With a mission to continue to grow and expand access to their programs, Just Play Sports opened a second 22,000 sq ft facility in Katy, Texas. As an emerging franchise brand, Wilkins is excited to continue to expand through franchising.
“We look forward to continuing to benefit communities and make an impact on children’s lives,” Wilkins said.
Erika Ortega