Assists win games and build better players.
Private lessons for youth athletes, with coaches who've been where your kid wants to go.
For athletes
Find a coach
- 1
Tell us about your athlete
A two-minute form.
- 2
We hand-pick a coach
Elliott calls you and finds the right fit.
- 3
Start training
Lessons at a park, court, or field near you.
For coaches
Become a coach
- 1
Apply
A five-minute application.
- 2
Interview with Elliott
Two short interviews and a coach reference.
- 3
Start coaching
We bring the families and handle scheduling and payments.
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Football
- Baseball
- Beach volleyball
- Track & field
- More on request
Rather talk first? Text Elliott at 707-339-1385 or email elliottzuidema@assistcoaches.com
For athletes
Find the right coach for your athlete.
We match your athlete with a coach who plays the same sport at a high level, then help them get better one lesson at a time.
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Football
- Baseball
- Beach volleyball
- Track & field
- More on request
How it works
From sign-up to first lesson in three steps.
Getting started is simple. Tell us about your athlete and we'll handle the rest.
- 1
Tell us about your athlete
A two-minute form covering sport, goals, and when they're free.
- 2
We hand-pick a coach
Elliott texts you, sets up a quick call, and matches your athlete with a coach who fits.
- 3
Start training
Lessons at a park, court, or field near you.
Why Assist
Coaching from athletes who are living it.
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Young people teaching young people
Our coaches are a few steps ahead of your athlete on the same path. Kids connect with someone they look up to, and coaches give back to the sport that shaped them.
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Coaching beyond the skills
Your coach knows what it's like to be an athlete in your area, from local high school programs to college. Families and kids get a real look at the path ahead, and can ask anything along the way.
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One coach who grows with your athlete
Your athlete works with the same coach week to week. As the coach learns their skill and endurance, lessons push them further.
How we choose coaches
Only quality coaches make the cut.
First interview
Who they are, why they want to coach, and how they communicate with kids and parents.
Technical interview
A second round to make sure they can actually teach their sport, not just play it.
Coach reference
We talk to one of their own coaches before they work with a family.
Not the right fit? We'll find you another coach.
What a lesson looks like
Built around your athlete.
- 45–90 min
- Lesson length depends on your athlete's age, sport, and goals.
- First lesson
- Built around what you and your athlete tell us they want to work on.
Questions
Good to know.
Anything else? Text Elliott at 707-339-1385 or email elliottzuidema@assistcoaches.com.
Where do lessons happen?
Mostly at public parks, courts, and fields near you. Some coaches may be able to use their own team's facilities if their program allows it.
What areas do you serve?
We're starting in Napa and the surrounding area, including Sonoma, Fairfield, Vacaville, Benicia, Vallejo, and American Canyon. More cities are on the way.
Who are the coaches?
High school, junior college, and college athletes, plus recent college grads. Every coach goes through two interviews with Elliott and a reference check with one of their own coaches.
What ages do you coach?
Any age. Start whenever your kid is ready to put real time into their sport, through high school and beyond. A junior college athlete who wants to train with a former D1 player? We can set that up.
Can my athlete train with a sibling, a friend, or me?
Yes. Mention it on the form and we'll plan around it. Parents are welcome to join a lesson if you both want to learn the sport. Pricing may change depending on how the lesson is set up.
How much does a lesson cost?
You pay per lesson, and the rate depends on the sport, the coach, and the lesson setup. We'll go over it on our call before you commit to anything. Filling out the form is free.
What if the coach isn't the right fit?
Tell us and we'll find you another coach.
Ready when your athlete is.
Two minutes to sign up, or text Elliott at 707-339-1385.
About Assist
Athletes rise to the level of the people around them.
Assist connects young players with athletes who are a few steps ahead of them, so they can train harder, learn faster, and see what the next level really takes.
Cleve Borman Field in Napa, where I grew up playing
Why Assist exists
I grew up in Napa and played baseball, basketball, and cross country for Napa High. I'm also a recent UC Davis graduate, and I played on the Davis club baseball team because I just love the sport so much.
As a young athlete, one of the best decisions I ever made was training at a local facility alongside older kids who were further along in their athletic careers. They pushed me to train harder and work to reach their level. I never made it to the pros, but I believe I can help other kids get closer to that same dream.
“That's why I started Assist: to give kids the chance to learn from talented young athletes who know what the next level looks and feels like, and what kind of training and mindset it takes to get there.”
I've coached for local baseball organizations, running large camps and one-on-one lessons, and I've worked with hundreds of kids at UC Davis basketball camps. I love competing, and I love sports. I founded Assist to share that same love with as many young athletes as possible.
ElliottFounder, Assist
Our mission
Better players, in every part of the game.
Assist helps young players improve in every part of their sport, not just their skills. Training with an athlete who's already at the next level gives players and parents a real look at what that step looks like in their own area. Families get to ask questions that are hard to answer anywhere else:
- What are local junior college coaches looking for?
- What's the best path to playing D1?
- What does it actually feel like to be a college athlete?
Hearing those answers from someone living it right now makes all the difference.
Ready to get started?
Questions first? Text Elliott at 707-339-1385.
Become a coach
Give back to the game that built you.
Coach young athletes in your community and get paid for every lesson. We find the families, set up the schedule, and handle payments, so all you have to do is show up and coach.
What you get
You coach. We handle everything else.
- We handle scheduling and paymentsNo chasing families for times or money. We book the lessons, collect payment, and pay you.
- We bring the familiesElliott finds the families and matches you with athletes who fit your sport and your style.
- Be a mentorBe the coach you wish you'd had growing up.
- Build your coaching résuméReal coaching hours and references for whatever comes next.
- Get paid per lessonYour rate is set with you before your first session.
- Coach on your scheduleLessons fit around school, your season, and breaks home.
How it works
Three steps to your first lesson.
- 1
Apply
A five-minute application about your sport, your experience, and when you're free.
- 2
Interview with Elliott
Two short interviews, the second about how you'd teach your sport, plus a reference from one of your coaches.
- 3
Start coaching
We send you matched families with lessons already scheduled. You coach and get paid.
Who can coach?
High school, junior college, and college athletes, plus recent college grads. Coaching experience helps, but it isn't required.
Where will I coach?
Mostly at public parks, courts, and fields. If your program allows it, you may be able to use your team's facilities, so check with your coaches first. Either way, we'll figure out the best spot together.
What areas are you in?
Napa, Sonoma, Fairfield, Vacaville, Benicia, Vallejo, American Canyon, and nearby towns. If you play at a local junior college, we'd love to hear from you.
What's expected at a lesson?
Lessons run 45 to 90 minutes. Arrive 15 minutes early to set up, and your pay covers that time. Plan a warm-up, skill work, and speed and agility work, built around what the family wants.
How much will I make?
You're paid per lesson. We agree on your rate together before your first session.
Ready to coach?
The application takes about five minutes.