For young athletes, the opportunity to train in the off-season can be a game-changer. And now, the Gryphon Performance Academy at the University of Guelph is helping those athletes meet their maximum potential.
Mac James, the Gryphon’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, says the academy is not just a training camp — he leads a team that’s committed to guiding youth along each step of their athletic journey, focusing on the science and philosophy behind a body’s development.
“We call it an academy because we’re in an educational space,” James says. “We pride ourselves in not just improving athletic ability, but in giving our athletes the tools to be more confident, educated, and healthy individuals.”
At its core, Gryphon Performance Academy (GPA) is a facility – coupled with experienced trainers – for youth athletes and minor sports teams in the Guelph area.
But you’ll notice something different about the Academy: James and his team offer a holistic approach to training, with athletes working alongside Gryphon strength and conditioning staff in the university’s high-performance environment.
It’s here at the GPA they learn essential methods in athletic preparation, from conditioning and nutrition to injury prevention. While the academy emphasizes high-level performance, its programs are also deeply rooted in personal development and physical literacy, empowering young athletes with lifelong skills.
“We want to make sure that we’re tying in the ‘whys’ behind it,” James says. “We don’t just want to bark orders. We kind of want to tie it back to the sport but also why it’s important for everyday life and the big picture of physical development.”
Blending Fun and Fundamentals
For athletes as young as age 11, Gryphon Performance Academy applies a curriculum that combines fun with fitness.
It’s been a good recipe, so far.
“It has to be enjoyable,” James says. “Kids are more receptive to movement when it’s presented as a game. Although it’s important to teach them about anatomy, they’re more excited to move like an animal or explode like a rocket than to think about which muscles they’re engaging.”
The Academy’s program incorporates activities that teach movement, coordination, and balance, laying the groundwork for high-performance sport without the pressures of traditional workouts.
“It’s more about movement exploration and expression, without thinking about it,” James says. “Just get them out of the seated desk, computer, phone, or tablet positions, and get them to kind of explore what the human body can do. Similar to my elders saying, when they were kids they used to climb trees, perform manual labour jobs, and play in the dirt. We want to give kids structured opportunities to challenge movement so that they are more likely to continue training through their lifespan.”
Not only are the Academy’s trainers bringing their enthusiasm and creativity to the programs, but James says the approach is informed by the Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) model, a strategy focused on creating a foundation of fitness at different stages of a young athlete's growth.
As kids progress through growth spurts and developmental milestones, the program adjusts and adapts – ensuring they can safely increase the demands of training, such as strength and power development.
Top-Notch Training Facilities and Cutting-Edge Equipment
One of the academy’s features is the access it provides to the university’s high-performance equipment, including open spaces and specialized gear typically reserved for collegiate athletes.
“With magnetic resisted sprints, gymnastics rings, and top-notch testing equipment, they can challenge themselves in new ways and even compete with each other for best outputs, which keeps things exciting and engaging,” James says.
For those looking to maximize their speed and power, James and his team introduce progressive techniques, allowing athletes to safely build technique and efficiency without compromising their developing bodies.
“We have everything they need to push their limits in a safe, structured way.”
A Parent’s Perspective: Building Skills for Life
For Puslinch’s Chris Scott, enrolling his two children, Mia and Marcus, in the Gryphon Performance Academy during the summer off-season was an investment in both their athletic and personal growth.
“I knew that introducing my kids to strength work would help them in the long run,” Scott says. “Having a strong foundation in training, understanding the correct form, and knowing which muscles they’re working — it's essential for their future, whether they continue in sports or not.”
Scott, himself a former high school and collegiate athlete, says he was impressed by how well James and the Academy’s trainers integrated physical literacy into each session, honing the kids’ skills and developing a knowledge base that went beyond the gym.
“For young athletes, being educated about why they're doing an exercise and which muscle group it targets is so important,” Scott says. “Mac really checked all the boxes, not just building strength but also giving them the knowledge they need.”
As for results, Scott says the Academy’s impact was quickly apparent. His daughter Mia – who plays basketball for an Oakville prep school – was able to ramp up several aspects of her game on the court.
“When I asked Mia why her defence improved so much, she said, ‘It’s the Mac training.’” Scott says. “That confidence boost alone, knowing the strength work was paying off on the court, was worth every session.”
And he doesn’t hesitate to recommend the Academy to other parents, especially after the grind of the season is complete.
“There's more to improving as an athlete than just being on field, on the court or at the rink,” Scott says. “The introduction to strength work, to the conditioning piece is extremely important.”
“And with the Academy, I know that I'm investing in my kids being taught the right way.”
Supporting Athletes Year-Round
James is quick to emphasize and advocate for the value of keeping in training mode, especially during the off-season.
That’s why the Gryphon Performance Academy encourages teams to join during these key developmental periods. It’s a “real opportunity for change,” James says, a period of time that allows athletes to improve physically and mentally without the strain of in-season demands.
“For athletes, the opportunity to train in the off-season can be a game-changer,” James says. “They’re not exhausted from games or practices, so they can focus fully on learning and building their physical capacity to do more quality work.”
An Investment in Guelph’s Athletic Future
But James also reminds people that the Gryphon Performance Academy’s mission goes beyond sports – he aims to help develop well-rounded individuals.
“It’s about ensuring that when these young athletes move on — whether in sports, school, or life — they leave with a better sense of self and the confidence to face challenges.”
For more information about the Gryphon Performance Academy, visit their home page by clicking on this link.