EL1 SPORTS
ABOUT US
WHAT WE DO
We provide expert instruction and a full suite of administrative solutions in the service of athletes, teams, organizations, tournaments, and events – primarily in baseball and softball.
Using a unique business model that emphasizes cooperation rather than competition with the youth sports ecosystem, we create numerous pathways to partnership for facility owners, league operators, and team coaches.
Aaron Trolia
Co-Founder
Jameel Cantee
Co-Founder
Where we're from
EL1 Sports was born in 2010 on a tennis court in Tacoma, Washington — with a single belief: that quality instruction, real infrastructure, and meaningful access shouldn’t be reserved for athletes who could already afford it.
Founded by Aaron Trolia — a former Seattle Mariners prospect — and Jameel Cante — a former collegiate football player — EL1 was built by people who understood the game from the inside and saw what was missing from the outside.
What started on that tennis court in Tacoma has grown into one of the largest youth sports platforms in the country — 25+ facilities across six states, 300 instructors nationwide, and a landmark partnership with Major League Baseball that made EL1 the Official Youth Baseball and Softball Training Partner of MLB.
The mission hasn’t changed. The reach has.
ATHLETES IMPACTED
ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED
MLB EVENTS
FACILITIES NATIONWIDE
WHAT WE BELIEVE
For Athletes
Every athlete deserves instruction from someone who's been there. We build the relationships, create the environments, and deliver the instruction that makes real development possible.
For Organizations
We enter markets to support existing operators — not replace them. Teams, leagues, and facilities gain complete infrastructure without giving up what makes them theirs.
For Communities
Through our MLB partnership and access programs, we bring quality instruction and competitive opportunity to the communities that need it most. The game belongs to everyone.
OUR
BRANDS
BRANDS
EL1 operates a family of distinct brands — each with its own identity, audience, and market. Together, they form one of the most comprehensive youth sports platforms in the country.
EL1 Baseball
Baseball
Professional baseball instruction from current and former college and pro players.
Dodgers Training Academy
Baseball
Pirates Training Center
Baseball
Mariners Training Center
Baseball
WHITE SOX TRAINING CENTER
Baseball & Softball
GUARDIANS TRAINING CENTER
Baseball & Softball
Softball University
Softball
RISE Football Academy
Football
FUTURES BASEBALL CLUB
Baseball
Professional instruction, team training, and competitive play at 30-40% less than traditional travel programs.
PREMIER SPORTS TOURNAMENTS
Baseball
QUICKBALL
Introduction to Baseball & Softball
OUR APPROACH:
R.E.I
R.E.I
EL1 SPORTS
Our Approach
THE R.E.I. PHILOSOPHY
Every program, session, and coaching interaction at EL1 is shaped by three principles. They aren’t slogans — they’re the operational standard behind everything your family will experience.
01
RELATIONSHIP
02
ENVIRONMENT
Growth requires the right conditions. We design spaces — physical and emotional — where athletes feel safe to struggle, fail, and improve without judgment. When the environment is right, development follows.
03
