In the modern parenting landscape, selecting an extracurricular activity is akin to choosing a high-level service provider for your child’s future. You aren’t just looking for a place to burn off energy; you are actively seeking a partner in your child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development. At Ohio Sports Academy (OSA), we view our role through this specific lens. We are more than just a gym with mats; we are a comprehensive service designed to empower, educate, and elevate every student who walks through our doors.

Whether you are a parent of a high-energy toddler looking for a safe outlet or a teenager seeking competitive training, you likely have questions about the “product” we deliver. Is it just flips? Or is it something more? Below, we answer the most pressing questions about our facility, our philosophy, and the tangible product of confidence that we manufacture every single day.

Q: Is Ohio Sports Academy a franchise or a locally owned business?

This is one of our favorite questions because the answer lies at the very heart of our identity and service quality. We are proudly a family-owned and operated local business with deep, tangible roots in the Springboro community. Our history is not one of corporate acquisition, but of personal passion and legacy. The facility has been in operation since 1997, originally serving families under the name Hand 2 Hand Acrobatic Training Center.

The current owners, the Trifiro family, didn’t start as investors—they started as parents, just like you. In 1997, they brought their children to the gym to burn off energy and learn new skills. Their son, David Trifiro, who now serves as our General Manager, began his training here at the age of eight. He literally grew up on these mats, competing on our teams all the way through his high school graduation. When the facility became available for purchase in 2010, the Trifiro family jumped at the chance to preserve the institution that had given their family so much joy. This lineage ensures that when you sign up for a class, you are getting a service backed by genuine care and a “customer-first” mentality that big franchises simply cannot replicate.

Q: My child isn’t interested in competition. Is there a place for them here?

Absolutely. While we are home to high-level competitive athletes, our primary product is “confidence,” not just trophies. We believe that every child deserves to experience the thrill of movement and the satisfaction of mastering a new skill, regardless of their long-term athletic goals. Our curriculum is designed to be inclusive, engaging, and fun, ensuring that there is never a dull moment in the gym.

We offer a wide spectrum of classes that cater to diverse interests and energy levels. For the high-energy child who loves obstacle courses, our Ninja Zone program blends gymnastics, martial arts, and parkour into a fast-paced discipline that improves agility and discipline. For those who want to defy gravity in a different way, our Aerial Arts program uses silks and hammocks to build incredible core strength and spatial awareness. We also host birthday parties, summer camps, and “Ninja Games,” positioning our facility as a hub for joy and recreation rather than just rigorous training. Our goal is to focus on the kids, helping them achieve their maximum potential in a healthy and supportive manner, whether that potential leads to the Olympics or just a really fun Tuesday afternoon.

Q: How does tumbling actually help my child in school?

This is where the science of our service comes into play. Physical movement—specifically the kind found in gymnastics and tumbling—is a powerful catalyst for cognitive development. Research has consistently shown that “bilateral integration,” or the ability to coordinate both sides of the body simultaneously, is crucial for academic skills like reading, writing, and logic.

When a student participates in our specialized gymnastics tumbling classes, they are doing more than learning to flip; they are strengthening the neural pathways between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The intense focus required to execute a back handspring or a round-off translates directly to the classroom environment. Students learn to process multi-step instructions, manage their body in space (proprioception), and develop the “grit” to keep trying when a problem is difficult. By investing in professional tumbling instruction, you are effectively giving your child a cognitive “upgrade” that supports their learning across all subjects.

Q: Safety and cleanliness are my top priorities. How do you handle them?

We take the title of “the cleanest gym around” very seriously. In an era where health and hygiene are paramount, we view our cleaning protocols as a critical feature of the service we provide, much like a hospital or a high-end lab. We have implemented an extensive daily cleaning process that goes far beyond a quick sweep. Our mats, equipment, and common areas are sanitized regularly to ensure a safe environment for everyone, from our 6-week-old visitors to our adult athletes.

Beyond hygiene, physical safety is woven into our teaching philosophy. We utilize a progression-based curriculum that emphasizes mastering the basics before attempting complex skills. This approach minimizes the risk of injury and ensures that students are building a solid foundation of strength and technique. Our coaches are trained to spot safely and encourage students to listen to their bodies, fostering a culture of longevity in the sport rather than burnout.

Q: Do you have programs for children with special needs?

Inclusivity is a core pillar of our mission. We believe that the benefits of gymnastics—strength, balance, and self-esteem—should be accessible to every child, regardless of their physical or cognitive starting point. This belief led to the creation of our “I Can Do It!” Adaptive Gymnastics program.

This specialized service is designed for children who may face physical, developmental, or sensory challenges. By adapting our equipment and teaching methods, we create a supportive environment where these students can thrive. We focus on sensory integration and gross motor skills, helping children improve their coordination and confidence at their own pace. Seeing a child achieve a milestone they once thought impossible is the greatest reward for our staff, and it reinforces our commitment to being a welcoming space for the entire community.

Q: Why should I choose Ohio Sports Academy over other options?

Ultimately, the difference lies in the feeling you get when you walk through our doors. We are not a faceless franchise; we are a community hub where staff members know your child’s name and celebrate their specific achievements. As Amber L., a “Customer for Life,” stated in her review, our coaches and staff work wonderfully with the kids and have amazing customer service. They want to see the kids succeed just as much as the parents do.

When you join Ohio Sports Academy, you are investing in a product that has been refined over decades of experience. You are joining a family that cares deeply about the physical and emotional well-being of your child. From the cleanliness of our facility to the expertise of our coaching staff, every aspect of our business is designed to provide the highest quality service possible. We invite you to take a virtual tour or stop by to see the difference for yourself.