50 Questions Parents Ask About Mighty Oak Athletic

Straight answers, no sales pitch. If your question isn't here, email coach@mightyoakathletic.com

GETTING STARTED

  1. How do I try Mighty Oak Athletic before committing?
    Book a free first session at https://calendly.com/mightyoakathletic/youth-strength. Your kid gets a 60-minute coached session, a training shirt to keep, and you get a parent debrief at the end. No sales pressure and no obligation.

  2. What happens during the free session?
    Your child trains with the regular group under a CSCS coach. They try a barbell block, a kettlebell block, and a bodyweight block, scaled to their level. Afterward, Coach Mike walks you through what he saw.

  3. Does my kid need any experience?
    No. Most kids walk in having never touched a barbell. Every athlete starts at Level 1 regardless of age or sport.

  4. What should my kid bring?
    Athletic clothes and a water bottle. Shoes and phones go in the cubby before training. Everything else is provided.

  5. Can I stay and watch?
    Yes. Parents are welcome to watch any session. Parents of current members can also train alongside their kids with the $49/month Parent Add-On.

  6. How do I sign up after the free session?
    Join online at mightyoakathletic.com/programs. Membership is month-to-month and starts immediately.

  7. Do I have to sign a contract?
    No. There are no contracts and no enrollment fees. Cancel anytime.

AGES AND FIT

  1. What ages do you train?
    Ages 6 through 18.

  2. Is 6 too young for strength training?
    No. Six-year-olds train with bodyweight, light kettlebells, and technique-only barbell work, matched to their ability to follow instructions and control basic movements. The National Strength and Conditioning Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics both support supervised strength training for children.

  3. My kid doesn't play a sport. Is this for them?
    Yes. About half the kids at MOA don't play on a team. They come to move, get strong, make friends, and put the phone down.

  4. My kid plays a sport. Will this help?
    Yes. MOA athletes play hockey, baseball, softball, football, flag football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, wrestling, dance, gymnastics, cheer, and track. Strong, fast, durable kids perform better in all of them.

  5. Do you train girls?
    Yes. Girls and boys train together in the same sessions, with the same coaching and the same level system. Roughly half of MOA athletes are girls.

  6. Is this good for a shy or nervous kid?
    Yes. Your child doesn't need to be strong, experienced, or outgoing to start. Sessions are capped at 12, there's no tryout and no bench, and every kid starts at Level 1 with clear steps forward.

  7. Can a teenager who already lifts join?
    Yes. Experienced teens still learn the MOA standards starting at Level 1, with exercises and weights matched to their ability, so it won't be too easy.

  8. Do you train adults?
    Yes. See mightyoakathletic.com/strength-training-for-adults. Parents of current members can add themselves for $49/month.

COST

  1. How much does it cost?
    The core Youth Strength & Agility membership is $199 per month for unlimited sessions.

  2. Is there a family discount?
    Yes. Two family members train for $299 per month, three for $349, four for $399. A parent of a current member can add on for $49 per month.

  3. Are there any hidden fees?
    No. No enrollment fee, no shirt fee, no contract. The price is the price.

  4. How do I cancel?
    Anytime, in your online account or by emailing coach@mightyoakathletic.com and we'll do it for you. No cancellation fee.

  5. How do I pay?
    Online, by card, billed monthly.

SCHEDULE

  1. What are your hours?
    School year: Monday through Thursday 3:30–7:30 PM, Friday 3:30–6:30 PM, Saturday 9:30 AM–12:30 PM. Closed Sunday.

  2. What about summer?
    Memorial Day to Labor Day: Monday and Wednesday 3:30–7:30 PM, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 9:30 AM–12:30 PM, Friday 3:30–6:30 PM.

  3. How long is a session?
    60 minutes.

  4. How often should my kid come?
    Most kids train two or three days a week. Membership is unlimited, and we help families pick a schedule that leaves room for sports, school, and recovery.

  5. Do I need to book sessions?
    Yes. Every session is booked through Calendly so we can keep groups small. It takes about 30 seconds.

  6. What if my kid has practice most nights?
    We fit strength training around practices and games. Two sessions a week is a practical starting point, and Saturday morning works for most teams.

  7. Are you open on school holidays?
    Usually, with special camps over longer breaks like the Thanksgiving Week Strength & Agility Camp (closed Thanksgiving Day). Holiday schedules vary, so check the booking calendar.

TRAINING

  1. What does a session look like?
    A warm-up, movement practice, strength training, and conditioning. Athletes follow their written program using barbells, kettlebells, and bodyweight exercises matched to their level. No machines, no screens.

  2. What do kids actually lift?
    Barbell: squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, rows, and Olympic lifts as they advance. Kettlebell: goblet squats, swings, presses, carries, get-ups. Bodyweight: chin-ups, push-ups, air squats, box jumps.

  3. How much weight will my child lift?
    Whatever lets them complete every rep with good, controlled technique. Age is the wrong variable; technique decides the load.

  4. How does the Level Up shirt system work?
    Nine levels, white through black: White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Red, Black. Kids earn the next shirt by completing their six-week program and demonstrating the technique and strength standards for that level. It's earned, never given by birthday.

  5. What are the five movement patterns?
    Squat, hinge, push, pull, and carry. Every level trains all five; what changes is the complexity of the tools.

  6. How big are the groups?
    Maximum 12 athletes per session.

  7. Who coaches?
    Michael Ockrim, CSCS, USA Weightlifting Level 1, coaching youth since 2013. Every session is coached by a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

  8. How will I know my child is making progress?
    Every athlete trains from a one-page MOA Training Journal, a six-week program they fill in by hand at each session, so you can see every lift go up. Finishing the program earns the next shirt level, and we send you the level-up photo.

  9. Is there a phone policy?
    Phones go in the cubby. Sessions are screen-free.

  10. Can siblings of different ages train at the same time?
    Yes. Kids of different ages and levels train in the same session, each on their own program. Family tiers cover two, three, or four members.

SAFETY

  1. Is strength training safe for kids?
    Yes, when coached properly. The NSCA and American Academy of Pediatrics both endorse supervised youth strength training. Every MOA session is CSCS-coached.

  2. Will lifting stunt my child's growth?
    No. Properly designed and supervised strength training has not been shown to stunt a child's growth. Appropriate exercises, controlled technique, and qualified supervision are what matter.

  3. How do you reduce the risk of injury?
    We teach technique first, choose weights each athlete can control, and increase difficulty gradually. Properly designed strength training helps reduce the risk of sports injuries, though no physical activity is completely risk-free.

  4. Is there a waiver?
    Yes. Parents sign a standard waiver before the first session.

PROGRAMS

  1. Do you run summer camp?
    Yes. The Summer Strength & Agility Camp is $199 per month, with registration for Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Benet, Montini, and Westmont athletes.

  2. Do you train teams?
    Yes. Team strength and agility training is $10 per athlete per session with a 10-athlete minimum, at MOA or at your facility. Six weekly sessions are $60 per athlete; twelve are $120.

  3. Do you have a homeschool class?
    Yes. Homeschool PE & Fitness is $199 per month, with morning times available by arrangement.

  4. Do you offer nutrition coaching?
    Yes. Sports Nutrition Coaching for Student Athletes is $199 and includes the printed MOA Nutrition journal and four weekly coaching calls. It's free for current members.

  5. Do you prep kids for military academies or ROTC?
    Yes. USMC candidate, ROTC PFA, and Military Academy CFA prep are included in the $199/month membership, with training adjusted to the candidate's assessment. Army H2F unit training is a separate program.

  6. Do you teach self-defense?
    Yes. The Girls' Self-Defense Class is $249 for a one-hour class for up to 12 participants, $15 per additional participant.

LOCATION

  1. Where are you?
    6424 S. Cass Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, in the back of the brown building just north of Belle Tire. Parking is right outside the entrance.

  2. What towns do families come from?
    Westmont, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, Oak Brook, Lisle, La Grange, Woodridge, and Naperville.

  3. How do I get in touch?
    Email coach@mightyoakathletic.com or call 630-464-9498. Or skip the email and just book a free session: https://calendly.com/mightyoakathletic/youth-strength

Last updated: October 1, 2026