In the rainy Northwest where fastpitch, baseball and soccer practices are often held in the wet and cold, Chris and Lori Braniff wanted to do something more than provide a dry and warm indoor facility for athletes to practice and stay sharp.
They also wanted to give the parents who bring their kids to their facility something to do while they wait.
That’s what makes Sports Perfected Training Center so unique.
It’s where athletes perfect their skills and parents can relax, read a book, watch TV or work on their computers through the open Wi-Fi. They are planning on offering an affordable menu so parents can avoid fast food. “The idea is to use the time constructively,” Lori said. “Chris’ concept; parents invest a lot of time and money into their athletes training and this part of it should be an “Experience” and not a chore.
In November, their ideas became reality when the doors opened to their nearly 30,000 square-foot facility that has four batting/pitching cages and three 3,750 square-foot multi-purpose turfed and netted fields.
Chris is considering putting in a driving range area for golf on an unused 3,000-square foot area.
With the rainy weather (Olympia averaged 52 inches of rain a year), getting in a good practice can be hard. All that hard work is lost, an indoor facility can solve that.
“The concept for this is so we can have a place to go to keep them fresh, sharp and strong,” Lori said.
There are batting cages, pitching machines and three turfed fields to practice scooping grounders and making the throw. To be better, athletes need to be willing to work harder. Chris and Lori want to help athletes realize their dreams.
“At each level the competition becomes keener,” Chris said. “Some people have skills, some motivation. We hope to provide a place that develops both.” Whether that’s striving to earn a scholarship or to play professionally or simply to be the best high school athlete they can be.
“What we’re doing here hopefully brings something that they can use,” Chris said. “Because we have the weather (rain) we do, this is a place they can go to keep those skills up.
Chris and Lori aren’t motivated just to make better pitchers, hitters and fielders. They aren’t motivated just to make the parents happy. They also want to add something to the community, making it a little bit better.
“It’s not just the kids or the parents,” Chris said. “It’s a community. If we can raise the level of standards in sports training and touch one or two people and they touch one or two. That’s how you improve your community.”
Lori is also organizing a soccer program for children ages 5 and up: Keller’s Kickers 10, 45 minute sessions on Saturday’s. And a Mommy & Me program 2 days a week 45min a session ages 3 -6.
Besides nurturing better athletes, Chris and Lori also want to ensure that the hundreds of athletes who come through their doors aren’t just excelling in their sport. Chris and Lori also want to encourage them to be good students. To help; their indoor facility will have a place for kids to study.
“We’re going to have an area where they can sit while waiting for their time on the field to do their homework,” Chris said. “If you’re going to play sports, you’re going to do well in school and be educated.”
The Sports Perfected Training Center is already the home indoor facility for a number of teams and leagues. The five-team fast pitch organization – the Capitol Lady Outlaws – works out in the facility. Chris and Lori are part of the board of directors, with Chris as the president and Lori as the General Manager. Their daughter is one of the players in the organization.
There are also quite a few baseball programs using the facility.
“South Sound Fastpitch is coming here in January for clinic time,” Chris said. “Sports Unlimited NW is here. Capitol Little League will be doing there try-outs in January.”
“To keep your doors open you have to think outside the box” Chris said, they have a full kitchen with a huge area for banquets, end of year parties, fund raisers, anything you want!
Chris retired from the Navy in 2001 after serving 20 years. He then worked for a small company on a Navy contract until 2006 when Boeing hired him brought him back to Washington. Lori has held numerous management positions and was working for the McChord Air Force Base.
“I want these kids to have a safe indoor environment,” Lori said. “I want them to become better athletes. I’m all about that;, but my passion is the girls. I want them believing in themselves.”
Sports Perfected Training Center
Phone – 360-704-8933
address – 2500 Mottman Road Suite A, Tumwater (just across South Puget Sound Community College)
email – gyp-c@comcast.net
