Meet the Mini Athletics Raleigh Team

✦ OUR STORY ✦
We're parents first. We built this because our own kids needed it.

When our youngest was 2, we went looking for something simple: a program that would help him move better, build confidence, and fall in love with being active. Not soccer. Not gymnastics. Just... movement.

We couldn't find it. Everything was sport-specific — great for older kids, but missing the point for toddlers and preschoolers. The research was clear: ages 1 to 7 are the single most critical window for developing the movement foundations children carry for life. And nothing in the Triangle was addressing it.

Then we found Mini Athletics — a proven, globally trusted children's movement program born in the UK and now operating in multiple countries. Built on play-based physical literacy and grounded in track and field fundamentals, it was exactly what we'd been searching for.

We didn't just enroll. We brought it home.

Mini Athletics Raleigh is the Triangle's only licensed Mini Athletics franchise — locally owned, globally backed.

✦ MEET PRIYA ✦
Co-Founder & Lead Coach

Competitive Swimmer · College & State Basketball · Marathon Runner · Child Development Advocate

Priya is the heart of every Mini Athletics session — the coach your child will know, trust, and light up for when they walk through the door.

As a competitive swimmer, college and state-level basketball player, and finisher of multiple marathons, she knows what it takes to build an athlete from the ground up. Not with pressure — with patience, energy, and the kind of encouragement that makes a child believe they can do anything.

She grew up in a family with over 50 years in education and physical development. Physical literacy wasn't something she studied — it was something she lived. That foundation shaped how she moves through the world, and it's exactly what she brings to every class.

As a PTA board member and volunteer at both elementary and middle school level — leading Sports Days, supporting STEM activities, and championing child development programs — she's seen what happens when children get the right foundation early. It changes everything.

Whether she's coaching your toddler through their first forward roll or leading a session at your child's daycare, Priya brings the same thing every time: genuine joy, elite-level knowledge, and an unwavering belief that every child deserves to move with confidence.

✦ MEET VIKRAM ✦
Co-Founder & Program Lead

Franchise Owner · Program Lead · Community Builder

VIKRAM is the one making sure everything behind the scenes runs exactly the way it should — so that what happens on the field is nothing short of exceptional.

He grew up on sports fields — the kind of unstructured, joyful sport that teaches teamwork, resilience, and how to get back up. That love for movement never left.

As the franchise owner and operator, he built Mini Athletics Raleigh from the ground up — securing venues, hiring and training coaches, building partnerships with daycares and recreation centers across the Triangle, and ensuring every session meets the global Mini Athletics standard. When a new venue opens, a coach is onboarded, or a partnership launches — that's Vikram.

He's also the person you'll hear from when you have a question, need to sort out scheduling, or want to understand what your child is learning and why. He takes that personally — because this program exists for his own kids too.

For Vikram, this isn't a work. It's a mission: give every child in this community the foundation to move freely, grow strong, and love being active for life.

✦ OUR FAMILY — OUR WHY ✦
We have two boys — a 4-year-old who runs, jumps, and copies everything his big brother does with infectious joy, and a 11-year-old deeply involved in soccer and swim. Our younger son is exactly the age this program is built for. He's our daily reminder of why this matters.

As a family, we love being outdoors, staying active, and building experiences that create confidence and connection. That's exactly what we want Mini Athletics to be for yours.

✦ WHY FAMILIES TRUST US ✦
Globally Proven. Mini Athletics operates worldwide. Our curriculum isn't experimental — it's tested, refined, and loved by thousands of families across the globe.

Research-Backed Curriculum. Every session follows a progressive physical literacy program built on imaginative, narrative-driven movement. Not drills. Not pressure. Play with purpose.

Certified & Background-Checked Coaches. Every one of our coaches is trained in the Mini Athletics method, fully background-checked, and SafeSport certified. Your child's safety is non-negotiable.

Fully Insured. Comprehensive liability insurance is in place at every venue we operate.

Locally Owned. We live here, raise our kids here, and are invested in this community for the long haul.

Movement builds confidence. Early foundations last a lifetime. Play is powerful learning. Strong communities raise strong kids.

— Priyaa, Vikram & Family