Ages 6+ Football River Forest, IL Summer 2026

Real football training.
Two ways to train.

Peak Performance Academy is back this summer with two distinct programs — one built for younger athletes, one built for serious high school players. Pick the one that fits your athlete.

Summer 2026 at a glance
ProgramsTwo
WeeksSix
CoachesFive
LocationPriory Field
Camp beginsJune 22

Two ways to train.

Same coaches, same commitment to real football development — built for two different audiences. Pick the program that fits your athlete's age and ambition.

PPA Youth Camp

The summer day camp.

Ages 6–12

Five days a week of real football training for younger athletes. Each week builds a different skill — fundamentals, throwing & catching, defense, running game, football IQ, and a final week of 7-on-7 play. Each week stands alone, so kids can drop in any week and follow the progression.

ScheduleMon–Fri · 9 AM–12 PM
Duration6 weeks · 30 sessions
DatesJune 22 – Aug 3, 2026
Capacity30 athletes
IncludesSnack + hydration · noon pickup
  • Real curriculum, not a station-rotation drop-off camp
  • 5 coaches on the field, ages grouped by skill level
  • 10% sibling discount with code SIBLING10
$350 / week
or $1,500 all 6 weeks
Save $600 by paying the full program upfront.
Reserve a Spot
PPA Elite Training

The development program.

Ages 13+

A premium development program for serious high school athletes. 18 sessions over six weeks: fundamentals, position-specific work, speed and agility, football IQ. Bi-weekly Saturday guest speakers — former athletes and coaches sharing what it actually takes at the next level.

ScheduleM/W 6–7:30 PM · Sat 10–11:30 AM
Duration6 weeks · 18 sessions
DatesJune 22 – Aug 3, 2026
Capacity20 athletes
FeaturedBi-weekly guest speakers
  • Built for working families — train after work or after school
  • D1-led coaching, premium positioning, limited spots
  • Drop-in option available for individual sessions
$90 / week
or $35 / session drop-in
Weekly saves $15 vs. paying per session.
Reserve a Spot

Built by someone who played the game.

"The Chicago youth football market is full of drop-off camps and station rotations. We built something different — real coaching from coaches who actually played, with a curriculum that builds."

Peak Performance Academy was founded by Aaron Garland, a Division I football player who spent the years since developing athletes at every level — from college to the pros. The conviction behind the academy is simple: the years between ages 6 and 18 are when athletes decide how far they can go, and they deserve coaching that matches that stake.

The Youth Camp is built around the same standards as the Elite Training: real fundamentals, position-specific work, athletic evaluation, and coaches who know what real development looks like. The two programs differ in intensity and audience — but not in commitment to the craft.

D1
Founder, Division I
5
Coaches on Staff
50
Total Spots, Combined

Which one for your athlete?

Both programs run the same six weeks, but they're built for very different audiences. Here's how to tell.

Youth Camp is right if your athlete…

  • Is between 6 and 12 years old
  • Is new to football, or has played a season or two
  • Benefits from a structured M–F morning routine
  • Will be home from school and you want real development, not babysitting
  • Loves the energy of training with a group of peers

Elite Training is right if your athlete…

  • Is 13 or older — middle school into high school
  • Plays organized football and wants to get serious
  • Can train in the evening after school or work
  • Wants D1-level coaching and a small-group setting
  • Will benefit from hearing what it takes from former athletes and coaches

Five coaches. One standard.

Every session is led by coaches with playing experience and proven results developing athletes. No interns. No volunteers.

Aaron Garland

Founder · Head Coach

Played Division I football. Has developed athletes who went on to D1 programs and the professional level. Built Peak Performance Academy on the conviction that real coaching, applied early, changes trajectories.

Cam

Coach

Played Division I football at the University of Connecticut and was an all-state track athlete in high school. Cam brings elite-level speed and agility training to the program, helping young athletes build the explosiveness and footwork that translate directly to the field.

Jelani

Coach

Played football at Concordia University, where he also earned his master's in exercise science. Jelani pairs real playing experience with a deep understanding of how young bodies develop, building training that grows strength, speed, and skill safely and effectively.

What parents need to know.

/ 01
My kid has never played organized football. Is the Youth Camp the right fit?
Yes. The Youth Camp curriculum starts with fundamentals — stance, footwork, ball handling, conditioning — and progresses from there. No experience required, just willingness to work.
/ 02
My athlete is 12 but wants to do the Elite Training. Can we?
Email contact@masteryourcraft.org and we'll talk. The age cutoffs are a guideline, not a wall — for advanced 12-year-olds or 13-year-olds who'd prefer the morning structure, we make judgment calls case-by-case.
/ 03
Can my Youth Camp athlete attend just some weeks?
Yes. Each week stands alone with its own focus (fundamentals → throwing/catching → defense → run game → IQ → 7-on-7). Drop in any week at $350. Or save $600 by paying $1,500 upfront for all six weeks.
/ 04
What does my child need to bring?
Cleats, athletic clothes, a refillable water bottle. We provide a snack each day during morning camp. Elite Training athletes should also bring a notebook for Saturday guest speaker sessions.
/ 05
Is the camp contact football?
No. Both programs are non-contact skill development. Athletes train hard, but the goal is to build skill, IQ, and physical preparation — not to scrimmage.
/ 06
What's the refund policy?
Full refund up to 7 days before camp begins. Partial refund after that point. Once camp has started, tuition is non-refundable.

Six weeks.
Pick yours.

Two programs, 50 total spots, camp opens June 22. Register your athlete while spots are still open.

Reserve a Spot