Mini Athletics and Me

In this episode of the Mini Athletics & Me podcast, Ben Russell and Hannah Danby interview Sarah Cole, a franchisee who transitioned from being a neonatal nurse practitioner to running Mini Athletics classes in Norwich.

Sarah shares her journey, the challenges she faced, and how the change has positively impacted her family life.

In this conversation, Sarah shares her journey of launching Mini Athletics in Norwich, discussing pivotal moments, the importance of community, and the skills needed for success.

The discussion emphasizes the significance of trust in the process, bravery in decision-making, and the support available for franchisees.

Takeaways

• Career transitions are possible
• Family time is invaluable Trust the process
• Bravery is essential

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Mini Athletics Podcast
• 02:24 Sarah's Transition from Nursing to Mini Athletics
• 08:36 The Impact of Mini Athletics on Family Life
• 12:41 Balancing Work and Family Responsibilities
• 17:24 Overcoming Fears of Career Change
• 21:25 Building a Community Through Mini Athletics
• 26:07 The Importance of Process and Trust
• 30:46 Bravery and Resilience in Business
• 33:24 Advice for Aspiring Franchisees
• 35:24 Reflections and Future Aspirations

Interested in Mini Athletics Franchising?

UK: https://miniathletics-franchise.subscribepage.io

USA: https://miniathletics-franchise-usa.subscribepage.io/

In this episode of Mini Athletics & Me, we chat with Frances, who runs Mini Athletics Central Scotland and is our second franchisee in Scotland.

Frances spent nearly 20 years at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, travelling between Scotland and London. As she turned 40, she decided it was time for a complete change. She’d always dreamed of working with kids and sport, and after a chat with her life coach and a quick search online, she found Mini Athletics. Six months after her first class, she’s calling it “the best job in the world”.

In this episode:

• Why Frances left a corporate career after 20 years, and how she found Mini Athletics
• Going from “just the mum and the auntie” to coach, and why the training and support never really stop
• Starting with two or three children per class and her coach’s advice to “just keep turning up”
• Why she chose to launch in less affluent areas, with lower prices to give back to the community
• How word of mouth built a real community, including parents stopping her in the street
• Getting past the awkward early days and the imposter syndrome
• Bringing her own kids into the business (her 11-year-old is already asking for a job!)

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome Frances
00:29 Life before Mini Athletics: the Foreign Office
01:18 Finding Mini Athletics
03:54 Running her own business, but never alone
05:26 Training and her first classes
07:42 How local families have responded
12:23 The biggest challenge so far
15:08 Advice for anyone thinking of joining
16:10 Making it a family affair
17:57 What’s next for Central Scotland

Thinking about running your own Mini Athletics franchise? Download our brochure and find out more at https://miniathletics-franchise.subscribepage.io

The podcast discusses the upcoming Charity Week for Mini Athletics, highlighting its history, themes, and the impact it has on children and families. Hosts Clare and Hannah share their excitement about the new theme, Baby GoG!o, and the importance of raising funds for charities that support children in need. This years charity partner is Imagine This is the UK and St Giles in the USA.

Takeaways

• Charity Week fosters community spirit
• Children learn empathy through fundraising

Chapters

• 00:00 The Excitement of Charity Week
• 01:16 History and Impact of Charity Week
• 03:19 Themes That Bring Joy
• 06:39 The Role of Imagination in Learning
• 07:24 Supporting Children in Need
• 09:09 Building a Network of Support
• 11:50 Looking Forward to Charity Week

The podcast episode features a conversation with Shelbi Jackson, a Mini Athletics franchisee in Central Texas, USA. Shelbi shares her sports background, the growth of track in Central Texas, the importance of fundamental athletic skills, and the role of Mini Athletics in sports development. She also discusses her experience in business, transferable skills, and the comprehensive nature of the Mini Athletics program. The episode concludes with a discussion about future plans and the potential for a follow-up interview.

Takeaways

• Importance of fundamental athletic skills
• Mini Athletics program offers comprehensive learning experiences

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Shelbi Jackson
• 01:10 Shelbi's Sports Background
• 03:07 The Growth of Track in Central Texas
• 05:14 The Importance of Fundamental Athletic Skills
• 08:31 Mini Athletics and Its Role in Sports Development
• 17:16 Mini Athletics Business and Challenges
• 24:21 Transferable Skills and Mini Athletics Program
• 28:01 The Comprehensive Nature of Mini Athletics
• 30:17 Conclusion and Future Plans

If you want to find out more about franchising visit our franchising page and if you have any questions why not book a call with a member of our team. What do you have to lose?

Katie Howard, Originally from Pennsylvania in the USA shares how she went from local authority work in Portsmouth the to becoming a Mini Athletics franchisee in and why the move felt like the right fit for her energy, values, and family life. Clare Bowyer and Hannah Danby also reflect on Katie’s training, early coaching strengths, and the rapid progress she has made in just three months.

In this episode, we discuss the leap into business ownership, the support behind the Mini Athletics franchise model, and the importance of relationships, resilience, and keeping children engaged through play. Katie also explains how her sporty upbringing and family life shaped the way she coaches and leads.

• Katie shares how a background in local authority work led her toward a more child-focused, family-centred role with Mini Athletics.
• How she discovered Mini Athletics through friends in London and realised there was no class in her area.
• Katie’s training journey, including her first live session and weekend with other new franchisees.
• How her energy, theatrical personality, and experience working with children shaped her coaching style.
• The business side of franchise ownership, including finances, forecasting, and managing responsibility.
• The emotional reality of working alone and why the franchisee network is so important.
• A standout proud moment helping a nervous child grow in confidence.
• Katie’s sporty background in cheerleading, dance, hockey, and an active family culture.
• How sport has shaped resilience, confidence, teamwork, and community.
• Katie’s advice for future franchisees: take the risk, trust the process, and avoid putting too much pressure on yourself.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clare Bowyer and Hannah Danby speak with Sarah Loat, franchisee of Mini Athletics Armagh, Banbridge, about building a thriving local program, coaching children through structured play, and balancing franchise life with family and school holidays. Sarah shares how her teaching background shaped her coaching style, why Mini Athletics stood out from other children's activity businesses, and what it takes to grow a business with high standards and community support.

• In this episode, Sarah Loat explains how she moved from teaching into Mini Athletics after taking her eldest son to classes and seeing the opportunity to bring the program to Northern Ireland.
• Sarah shares why the structure of Mini Athletics mattered to her as a former teacher, especially the lesson plans, physical literacy focus, teamwork, and age-appropriate progression.
• She talks about the joy of seeing children stay with the program for years, moving from teenies to minis, and building confidence through repeated weekly sessions.
• Sarah describes the impact the classes have had on children with additional needs, including children supported by occupational therapists who have improved core strength, coordination, jumping, and throwing.
• Clare and Hannah highlight the role Mini Athletics plays as both a local community and a franchise network, giving Sarah support when she needs advice or reassurance.
• Sarah is candid about her biggest challenge being recruitment, particularly finding coaches who meet her standards while still bringing the right energy and approach.
• She explains how she has adapted her coaching style by training new coaches more quickly and more directly, drawing on her teaching experience with trainee teachers.
• Sarah admits promotion and self-marketing remain harder than coaching, especially doing lives, putting herself on camera, and promoting the business publicly.
• She reflects on the pride she feels when parents praise the classes, children return after breaks, and local sports groups such as Kilcoo GAA and camogie sessions recognise the value of fundamental movement skills.
• Sarah closes by sharing plans to expand delivery into nurseries and after-school clubs with a new coach, Joshua, starting training and helping the business reach more children in the area.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how Rich Man transitioned from a career in football coaching and driving trucks to become an enthusiastic franchisee with Mini Athletics. Hear about his journey, challenges, and how he’s building a thriving business in Canterbury.

• Rich’s background in sports, coaching, and customer service
• The emotional moment that sparked his decision to join Mini Athletics
• Building confidence and overcoming initial business challenges
• The importance of foundations and community connections
• Growth strategies: scaling up nurseries, schools, and holiday camps
• The role of franchise support and community in success
• The impact of positive mindset and learning from mistakes

00:00 - Introduction to Rich Man and his Mini Athletics journey

00:24 - Rich’s background in football, coaching, and sports at Butlins

01:07 - Transition into the car industry and driving trucks

02:12 - Joining Mini Athletics and the joy of coaching children

02:48 - The moment that inspired Rich to become a franchisee

03:20 - The nickname “Rocket Man Rich” and its significance

04:21 - The community feel within Mini Athletics franchise

06:19 - Life changes and new freedoms since starting the franchise

07:02 - Overcoming perfectionism and learning on the go

08:01 - Building confidence and embracing mistakes

09:21 - Achievements in six months and the importance of patience

10:16 - Focusing on fundamentals and foundation building

11:09 - The support network and franchise community

12:37 - Future plans: summer camps, nurseries, and expansion

15:23 - The value of small steps and consistent effort

16:06 - Next steps: holiday clubs and regional growth

18:47 - The impact of community, family, and shared mission

20:22 - Why franchising is a great opportunity and community support

22:49 - Sharing ideas, helping peers, and the franchise network

23:24 - Final encouragement for prospective franchisees

• Mini Athletics Official Website
• Mini Athletics Franchise Opportunities

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how Michael Pope transitioned from teaching to running a thriving Mini Athletics franchise in Bath. Learn about his challenges, successes, and tips for building a community-focused business centered on children's movement and development.

Key Topics:

• Michael’s transition from teaching to franchise ownership
• Building a community presence and local marketing strategies
• Overcoming the challenges of setting up a new business post-initial phase
• The importance of social skills and physical literacy in early childhood
• Developing a team: plans for future coaching support
• Balancing family life with entrepreneurial pursuits
• Celebrating small wins and steady growth in a new business

Find out more about Mini Athletics franchising in both the UK and USA

UK - www.miniathleticsfranchising.co.uk

USA - www.miniathleticsfranchising.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lara from Mini Athletics Beckenham and West Wickham shares her inspiring transition from a corporate advertising career to building a thriving community-focused children’s activity business through Mini Athletics. She discusses the challenges and rewards of launching her franchise, balancing family life, and growing her business sustainably.

• Key topics:Lara’s career change during COVID and her journey into franchising
• Transitioning from coach to business owner: challenges and opportunities
• Building a community presence through local networking and family engagement
• Managing multiple hats: marketing, accounting, operations
• Growing responsibly: focusing on core classes before expansion
• The importance of word-of-mouth and reputation in franchise growth
• Benefits of franchising flexibility to fit personal lifestyle
• Supporting network: collaborations with other franchisees and women in business
• Key advice for aspiring franchisees: start small, get your classes established, and grow strategically
• Celebrating milestones: awards, community recognition, family involvement

Want to find out more? visit www.miniathleticsfranchising.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Walker was the first to raise the flag for Mini Athletics in Scotland. Turning his hand to many careers Anthony has now settled in a career as Mini Athletics business owner. He talks to hosts Clare Bowyer & Hannah Danby about his journey.

From being enthusiastic about dressing in costumes matching the themes Mini Athletics rolls out to being a champion fundraiser Anthony really does embody the ethos of Mini Athletics.

If you have questions about franchising with Mini Athletics email: [email protected] or visit www.miniathleticsfranchising.co.uk

Be sure to follow us on social media @miniathletics and watch full episodes on Youtube.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.