Between club fees, equipment, travel and camps, sports are already expensive. So when a parent asks whether sports performance training is worth adding to the list, it is a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer instead of a sales pitch. The short version: it can be one of the best investments a serious athlete makes, but only if the program is good and the athlete is ready to show up. Here is how to think it through.
What sports performance training actually is
Sport practice teaches the skills and tactics of a game. Sports performance training builds the athlete who plays it. That means speed, agility, strength, power, mobility and conditioning, developed in a planned way instead of left to chance. A good performance coach looks at how an athlete moves, finds what is holding them back, and builds a program around fixing it.
It is not the same as a general gym membership, and it is not the same as extra skill lessons. It fills the gap between the two.
What it can do
- Improve the physical tools every sport uses. Acceleration, change of direction, jumping, and the strength to hold position against an opponent.
- Teach movement that protects the body. Learning to land, stop and cut with control is a big part of staying on the field.
- Build habits. Showing up, being coached, tracking progress. Those carry well beyond sports.
- Give an honest measuring stick. Numbers do not care about politics or playing time. An athlete can see themselves getting better.
What it cannot do
This part matters just as much.
- It cannot guarantee a starting spot, a scholarship, or a college offer. Nobody can honestly promise that.
- It cannot replace sport skill. A faster athlete still has to be able to play.
- It cannot work without consistency. A few scattered sessions will not change much.
- It cannot out-train poor sleep and poor nutrition.
Be careful with any program that leads with promises about offers and rankings. The honest pitch is simpler: we will help your athlete become a better mover, stronger and faster than they are today, and we will do it safely.
Who gets the most out of it
- Athletes who want it themselves, not just parents who want it for them
- Athletes with a clear gap: fast but weak, strong but slow, skilled but always hurt
- Multi-sport athletes who never get a true off-season and need structured strength work
- Underclassmen who want to be physically ready when varsity opportunities come
How to tell if a program is worth the money
- It starts with an evaluation. Without one, the plan is generic.
- Coaches actually coach. Watch a session. Are athletes getting feedback on positions and technique, or just being counted through reps?
- Athletes are grouped sensibly. Newer athletes should be refining form, not thrown in at the pace of a college player.
- There is a plan for the season. Training should change when games start.
- You can try it first. A facility that is confident in its coaching will let you see it.
How we approach it at Dragons Den
Dragons Den Sports Performance was founded by Coach Davion, who played college football at Southwestern College and professionally in the Arena Football League. Our approach treats every athlete as an individual, not a number in a class. Our Advanced Athlete Performance Program is built for high school and collegiate athletes at every stage: newer athletes focus on technique and form, and coaches raise the pace and intensity as athletes progress. We also offer one-on-one training and team training for local programs.
We train out of two facilities, 1000 S Kirk Rd in Geneva and 721 Martin Dr in South Elgin, a short drive for families in St. Charles, Batavia, Elgin and the rest of the Fox Valley. Athletes who have trained with our team have gone on to play at a higher level, and you can see some of them on our home page.
The easiest way to decide if it is worth it for your athlete is to see it. Look over the programs and membership options, book a single drop-in class, or talk to a coach.
