MINT HILL, N.C. – The generation of our youth makes up our future leaders will be, star athletes will, CEOs of the next fortune 500 Companies, owners of our local businesses, parents of our next generation – who will be the influences on what our world will look and feel like and so much more. The impact that is made on our youth today will influence their paths in life for their and our futures. The building blocks set in their foundation will bring together our next generations of leaders and what type of leaders they will be.

One local athletic training group is on a mission to make a positive impact on the youth in our community. They take pride in the program they are able to provide for children ages 5 years old to 13 years old. At I Got Next Youth Sports, Inc. they are working to overcome the current obstacles that our youth are facing. There are so many challenges our youth face, including obesity, character, mental and educational insufficiencies, and through athletics, they want to help hurdle those obstacles. Since 2014, I Got Next Youth Sports, Inc. has had the opportunity and pleasure of training over 1,000 young people from Mint Hill and the surrounding areas in football, basketball, and cheer. Not only are they using athletics to help build our youth; they also provide mental health awareness support and tutoring services. They are going above and beyond to service our youth through not only something that they love to do but a love that they can share and give back through.

One of the most impressive characteristics of the program is that it is their staff is 100% volunteer-based. That allows them to be able to directly distribute all funds to the youth and their needs. The founder of I Got Next Youth Sports, Inc. is Coach D. He is one of the most impressive, inspirational, and dedicated people that you will ever meet. He has created a place for kids to learn, grow, and be the best that they can be through a philosophy that he has created called LIFE. He inspires the kids through this philosophy by using L to Listen, I to Inquire, F to Finish, and E to Encourage. The bases of this idea are to bring children together and create a “pack” between them. It is not about raising the bar; it is about learning and practicing at levels of the bars that can not be raised. Coach D along with his team has developed a code of standards that other programs are trying to set. When you are able to train with the best, be surrounded by the best, and be taught to believe in yourself that you are the best, you become the best – the best in leadership and in athletes last. Athletics is a tool in the program that is utilized to focus on discipline, attitude, and teamwork. The goal is to become a part of a pack, a family – the wolfpack that will guide life into success through the fundamentals learned through the philosophy.

“If you stay ready, you will always be ready, because Champions have no off-seasons” is an inspirational quote that Coach D uses throughout his program. As a graduate with a degree in Business and a dedicated athlete, Coach has used the discipline that he learned through sports and the knowledge that he obtained in the classroom to create a program that inspires kids to become leaders in life.

I Got Next Youth Sports, Inc. is a program that is available at Rocky River High School. The location is used as their practice facility. Coach D and Rocky River High School and I Got Next Youth Sports, Inc has teamed up through their booster program and an athletic program to make this program come to life since 2014. The trust in coaches, the trust in the process, and mistakes that are made on and off the field help children learn the fundamentals of being an athlete. The lessons are not only in sports but will turn into life lessons. For more information on the program that I Got Next Youth Sports, Inc. has to offer please visit www.igotnextyouthsports.com or call Coach D at (336) 340-4234. To follow what is going on at I Got Next Youth Sports, Inc; like and follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/igotnextyouthsports and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/igotnextyouthsports/.