AOC Program: What We Do

We enjoy helping children have fun and stay physically active. We believe this is essential to promoting healthy habits that last a lifetime. When you can make physical activity fun, kids are more likely to participate.

That's where Active Obstacle Challenge courses come in. We have teamed up with twenty of the best sports and agility equipment companies to bring you active obstacle challenge courses. With over 100 fun and challenging courses for kids, they will never be bored with their fitness or our challenging, fun courses.

With Over 30 years youth training experience we come to your school, organization or kids party, and set up a fun and challenging obstacle course outdoors or inside the gym. We will be using some of the best agility,  and youth development equipment during the obstacle courses.

All courses are directed by certified coaches with advanced knowledge in youth development and working with young kids, or students, and athletes.

Schools and other youth organizations will definitely benefit from our challenging, fun, and interactive obstacle courses. Active obstacle courses make exercise, fitness fun for kids, schools, organizations and families.

Read on to learn how active obstacle challenge courses and childhood development go hand in hand and how time spent on an obstacle course can help children avoid future obstacles to good health.

1. Strength and Balance

When children encounter obstructions in an obstacle course, they develop and enhance strength and balance. Active Obstacle Challenge courses are an excellent way for kids to get a full-body workout. It makes them stronger and enhances their sense of balance at a young age.

Strength and balance skills refined on our Active Obstacle Challenge course transfer effectively to other sports like soccer or gymnastics.

2. Memory and Problem Solving

In life and school, kids need to be able to remember lots of information. They also need to learn how to solve problems based on sequencing information and actions. By running an Active Obstacle Challenge course, youngsters evolve and enhance these skills.

Active Obstacle Challenge courses help children solve problems as they learn how to maneuver up, over, around or through obstacles. They also learn how to adjust to changing conditions and strategize the fastest way to progress through the course. These skills will help them throughout their life.

3. Sensory Processing

Active Obstacle Challenge courses help children learn and experience various sensory inputs. Active Obstacle Challenge courses are also a perfect opportunity for children to enhance sensory processing skills.

For example, kids experience deep pressure sensory input (also known as proprioception), as they navigate our balance challenges. They also encounter linear (up-down), sagittal (side-to-side), and rotary (spinning) forces as they weave through the obstacle course. Becoming aware of these senses and learning how to adjust to obstacles helps them develop motor, coordination and adaptation skills.

4. Motor Skills

Fine and gross motor skill development is essential during childhood activity. Fine motor skills help children hold a pencil or grip small objects. Gross motor skills allow children to walk, run, jump, pull and climb. Active Obstacle Challenge courses are the perfect environment for children to learn and enhance skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.

5. Bilateral Coordination

Children struggle with this com[plex skill at an early age. Bilateral coordination involves moving separate body parts at the same time to complete a task. Think about the many muscle groups and body parts required to jump over hurdles, weave through an agility obstacle or toss a medicine ball.

Our Active Obstacle Challenge course provides unlimited opportunities for children to develop complex bilateral coordination. Developing these coordination skills while having fun improves overall health and fitness, while helping kids for years to come.

AOC Programing Prepares Coaches

AOC trained profesionals and staff:

• provide instruction for coaches how to set appropriate time goals for every athlete or youngster in each obstacle activity so participants learn to push themselves to improve.

• teach coaches how to effectively pay attention — to be aware of providing positive feedback, demonstrate course challenges, and ensure the participant's experience is engaging and inspiring.

• teach coaches how to give sincere positive feedback — youngsters rely heavily on feedback from adults and role models, so make it count.

AOC trained profesionals and staff:

• teach coaches how to praise the process and times — not just the results.

• teach coaches how to "keep it fresh" by modifying and adapting sessions depending on the ages and abilities of participants.

• teach coaches to not keep repeating the same sessions each week. With 30+ training and obstacle challenges, more provided all the time, the active obstacle challenges will never be boring.

• teach coaches how to use real life scenarios and community role models to motivate youngsters effectively during the obstacle course challenges.

• teach coaches how make it fun — youngsters play sports and engage in active challenges for fun.

• teach coaches how to create a supportive educational environment where youngsters can learn and enjoy measuring their progress and success.

• teach coaches how to lead by example — and when coaching, how to be be a leader and apply effective strategies that inspire young athletes and participants.

• teach coaches how to use the Active Obstacle Challenge courses to help youngsters develop confidence to make their own decisions and problem-solve on their own, while also having fun.

Lucius Floyd Program Director
Certified Sports Performance Coach
NFHS Level 3 Coach
Challenging and keeping kids active while having fun