In this episode of the LTAD Network Podcast, James is joined by Mick Stierli, founder of Katalyst Performance, to unpack how he’s built a thriving private sector strength & conditioning programme for young athletes. Mick shares the story of growing his operation from sessions in his home garage to a fully equipped performance facility, and what’s actually involved in making that jump sustainable.

Along the way, he discusses how he structures the athlete journey from first contact to long-term membership, key training principles that underpin his programme, and how he navigates the realities of fees, scheduling and parent expectations while still doing what’s best for long-term development. Mick, a Coach of the Year award winner with both the NSCA (USA) and ASCA (Australia), also reflects on lessons from working across professional sport and how these translate to youth settings in the private sector.

Whether you’re thinking about starting your own S&C business or looking to sharpen an existing setup, this conversation is packed with practical ideas for building an athlete-centred, development-focused programme outside of traditional school or academy systems.

To dive deeper into youth athletic development, head to ltadnetwork.com—and get a free month of membership by using the code FREEMONTH at checkout.