Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers tailored to parents, trainers, athletes, and advertisers.
Parents
Parents and guardians looking for sports-based activities or training for their children.
Who is Athlete Sitter for?
Athlete Sitter is for any parent who wants their child to be active, confident, and supported in their sport. It works for kids who are just starting out, kids who want fun and energetic sports play, and kids who are training for more competitive goals. Families use Athlete Sitter to find trainers for everything from light, playful sports activities to structured skill development to high-intensity competitive training.
What can I do as a parent?
Parents can create an account, search for local high school athletes by sport, location, etc., filter trainers by their own preferences and training styles, compare profiles and pricing, and privately message trainers directly to ask questions or schedule sessions. Parents stay in full control of all communication and scheduling. Parent accounts can also create athlete accounts for their children over 10 years old, but this is entirely optional. Athlete accounts for children under 13 years of age are gated, and all control (including communication and scheduling) remains under the main parent acccount
Where does Athlete Sitter work?
Athlete Sitter works in communities where high school athletes have signed up to offer training or sports-related activities. You can use it from any phone or computer. As more athletes join, more neighborhoods become available. Parents and trainers determin where and when all training sessions will occur (typically at your home, local park districts, etc). Especially for younger children working with new Athlete Sitter trainers, we suggest parents meet your trainer at the session location, and at least partially monitor their first training sessions to make sure its a good fit.
When should I use Athlete Sitter?
Use Athlete Sitter when your child wants extra practice, when you want fun and active time for a younger kid, when you want affordable and flexible training, when you want a mentor closer to your child's age, or when you want to compare multiple trainers quickly. It works for every level, from playful to competitive.
How does it work for parents?
Athlete Sitter is a free service that connects local families with local high school athletes who offer training or sports-related activities. You log in with your phone number, complete the short onboarding form with your contact and address details, then search for local trainers which meet your filter criteria (location, training style, experience, etc). You can view profiles, photos, experience, and pricing, and message trainers directly to ask questions or set up a session. All communication stays inside Athlete Sitter so everything is organized and parent-controlled. No payments are collected thru Athlete Sitter. Payments are handled directly between the parent and the trainer (similar to babysitting). We do ask that parents leave fair and honest reviews for any trainers you work with. Reviews are collected and displayed on the trainer's profile, and are used to help other families make decisions.
Why would I use Athlete Sitter instead of finding trainers another way?
Athlete Sitter helps you find affordable, sport-specific training from local high school athletes who actually understand what your kids are trying to achieve. You can compare trainers by their experience, training style, and pricing, choose someone from your own community, and set up sessions that match your child's goals and schedule. It's more affordable than traditional private coaching, easy to use, and built around helping your child improve. Also, one of the biggest advantages is getting to work with older athletes who grew up in the exact same sports environment you're in now. Many of them played on the same feeder teams, trained in the same gyms, and already know what your child's future high school coaches expect. They've lived the path you're on — and they can help your child prepare for what's ahead better than anyone else.
How does Athlete Sitter keep families safe?
Safety is a core priority. While Athlete Sitter is not a background-check service, the platform gives parents the transparency and control they need to make informed decisions. Every trainer creates a real profile with their name, school, sport, experience, and training style. Parents can view all of this before ever sending a message, and trainers can be reviewed by families they have worked with. The local aspect of Athlete Sitter helps ensure that trainers are familiar with the community, and are able to provide a safe and supportive environment for your child. Additionally, parents can communicate with trainers through Athlete Sitter, and never have to give out their personal contact information unless they choose to. Finally, we ask that parents leave fair and honest reviews of each trainer they work with which will be displayed on the trainer's profile and used to help other families make safe and informed decisions.
How does Athlete Sitter keep my children safe?
Children under 13 cannot create their own accounts. A parent or legal guardian with an active parent account may register a child aged 10 to 12 as an athlete. When doing so, we collect only the minimum information needed: first name, last name, date of birth, phone number (for login), and address (defaulting to the parent's). Athletes under 13 cannot use messaging or access their own dashboards. Athletes under 13 have full search capabilitites to browse trainers and view their profiles, but all contact goes through the parent. For full details, see our Children's Privacy & Parental Consent page.
Can I communicate safely with trainers?
Yes. All initial contact and communication happens inside Athlete Sitter. This keeps conversations organized, private, and easy for parents to monitor. You never have to give out your phone number or personal contact information unless you choose to.
Do parents stay in control?
Always. Parents manage all messaging with trainers, session planning, and logistics. Athlete Sitter users cannot contact your child directly without you being involved. All communication flows through the parent account. If you choose to create seperate athlete accounts for your children (optional), these accounts are completely gated from all communication and scheduling. All control remains under the parent account until the child turns 13. Note - Individual athlete accounts for children over 13 years of age do have full communication and scheduling capabilities.
What if my child is very young?
Athlete Sitter is designed to support younger kids safely and appropriately. Parents can choose trainers who specialize in Fun and Beginner-Friendly sessions, light sports play, confidence-building activities, and sports-related babysitter-style sessions. Parents always choose the style, intensity, and structure of the session.
How do I know which trainers are right for my child?
Parents can filter trainers by Training Style (Fun and Beginner-Friendly, Skills-Focused and Structured, or Competitive and High-Intensity), as well as by sport, location, reviews, and experience. This makes it easy to find the right fit for your child's age, personality, and goals. Especially for younger children working with new Athlete Sitter trainers, we suggest parents meet your trainer, and at least partially monitor their first training sessions to make sure its a good fit.
What if something doesn't feel right?
Parents can stop communication at any time, block a trainer, or report concerns directly through the platform. All reports are taken seriously and reviewed promptly.
Is Athlete Sitter a replacement for professional coaching?
No. Athlete Sitter is built around local high school athletes who offer affordable sessions, flexible scheduling, age-appropriate mentorship, and a relatable, positive role model. It is a way for kids to get more reps, more confidence, and more fun in their sport, and can complement—but not replace—professional coaching when that is needed.
Can my children use the app without my supervision?
That depends on your childs age. No children under 10 years old can use Athlete Sitter. For children between the ages of 10 and 13, parents can choose to create individual athlete accounts for your chilren (optional), but these accounts are gated to allow search features only. No commincation or scheduling for children under 13 can occur from anywhere other than the parent's account. Athletes over 13 years of age can create their own accounts, and have full communication and scheduling capabilities.
What restrictions apply to athletes under 13?
Athletes under 13 cannot send or receive messages, and they cannot access the thier athlete dashboard to make any account changes. These accounts are controlled entirely via the parent account dashboard. These accounts are only used for searching and finding available trainers, but all communication goeg through you as the parent. These restrictions are enforced automatically based on the child's date of birth and apply until the child turns 13.
Can I remove my child's athlete registration?
Yes. Any athlete account created by a parent can be edited or removed entirely by a parent via the Parent Dashboard. Note that individual athlete accounts created via our standard registration procedure cannot be deleted without contacting Athlete Sitter support.
Trainers
Middle school and high school athletes offering sports-based activities or training to local families.
Who is Athlete Sitter for?
Athlete Sitter is for middle school and high school athletes who want to earn money by helping younger kids in their community. Whether you enjoy playing with beginners, teaching fundamentals, or running more competitive training sessions, Athlete Sitter helps local families discover you. Trainer accounts are available to athletes who are at least 13 years old, including responsible 7th and 8th graders, as well as high school students.
What can I do as a trainer?
Trainers can create a public profile that highlights who they are and what they offer. You can add a headline, bio, school affiliation, sports you train, training styles, age and experience preferences, photos, and your suggested hourly rate. Your profile appears in search results for local families, and you can privately message parents who contact you through Athlete Sitter.
What Training Styles can I offer?
Athlete Sitter supports three training styles so you can show families what type of sessions you enjoy running: (1) Fun and Beginner-Friendly – great for younger kids or beginners; focused on light skill play, games, and confidence-building. (2) Skills-Focused and Structured – for athletes who want to improve fundamentals through organized drills and repetition. (3) Competitive and High-Intensity – for players preparing for tryouts, travel teams, or higher-level competition. You can choose one or more styles based on what you are comfortable offering.
Where does my trainer profile appear?
Your profile appears in search results for families looking in your area and on your dedicated trainer page. Families can open your profile from search results or from links inside the app.
When should I create a trainer account?
Create a trainer account when you are at least 13 years old and ready to accept training inquiries from local families. This includes older middle school athletes (7th and 8th graders) as well as high school students. Keep your profile up to date with accurate school info, sports, photos, training styles, and pricing so families know what to expect.
How does it work for trainers?
Athlete Sitter is a free service that helps local families discover local middle school and high school athletes who want to offer training or sports-related activities. You log in with your phone number, complete your basic user information, then fill out your trainer profile. Once your profile is complete, it becomes discoverable in search results based on your location, sports, and training styles. Parents can message you directly through Athlete Sitter, and you can view and reply to conversations in your Messages area.
Why should I use Athlete Sitter as a trainer?
Athlete Sitter gives you a simple way to earn money doing something you already love. It helps families find you, understand what you offer, and contact you safely. You get: (1) a public profile that highlights your sports, experience, and training styles; (2) a way to be discovered by local families without advertising or posting online; (3) a private messaging system to manage all communication in one place; (4) reviews from families that help build your reputation; and (5) full control over your pricing, schedule, and the types of sessions you offer.
How does Athlete Sitter keep trainers safe?
Safety is a core priority. While Athlete Sitter is not a background-check service, the platform gives trainers the transparency and control they need to make informed decisions. Athlete Sitter uses a double-blind search system: families cannot see your exact address or personal contact information. Search results only show your general location, sports, training styles, and profile details. All communication stays inside Athlete Sitter until both sides choose to share more. Finally, we ask that trainers leave fair and honest reviews of each family they work with which will be displayed on the parent/athlete's profile and used to help other trainers make safe and informed decisions.
Can I communicate safely with parents and other users?
Yes. All initial communication happens inside Athlete Sitter. You never have to give out your phone number or personal contact information unless you choose to. Keeping communication inside the app helps protect both you and the families you work with.
Do trainers stay in control?
Always. You choose your pricing, schedule, the sports you train, the ages you prefer to work with, the genders you prefer to work with, the training styles you offer, the locations where you are comfortable running sessions (parks, gyms, driveways, community centers, etc.), and which families you respond to. You can also write a full bio describing your skills, experience, sports background, and personality. These preferences help families understand exactly what you offer and help match you with families whose goals and needs align with yours. You are never required to accept a session or continue working with a family if it does not feel like a good fit. Trainers must be at least 13 years old, including eligible middle school athletes.
Where should sessions take place?
We recommend that your first session with any family take place in a public location such as a park, community center, or school facility. This helps everyone feel comfortable. After that, you and the family can decide what works best. You should always tell your own parents or guardians where you will be, who you are meeting, and when the session will take place, especially the first few times you work with a new family.
How do payments work?
Athlete Sitter does not process payments. This works just like babysitting: you set your own rate, families pay you directly, and there are no platform fees. If a family loves working with you, they can continue booking you directly. We simply ask that both parties leave fair and honest reviews of each other so that other families & trainers can make safe and informed decisions.
How do I build a strong reputation?
Families can leave reviews after working with you. The best way to build a great reputation is to show up on time, communicate clearly, be positive and encouraging, run sessions that match your training style, and treat every athlete with respect. Good reviews help more families discover you and lead to more training opportunities. Additionally, you can leave reviews for parents and other athletes as well.
Athletes
Young athletes looking for real, sport-focused training from older players in your own community.
Who is Athlete Sitter for?
Athlete Sitter is for athletes of all ages who want extra practice, more confidence, or additional help in their sport. Younger athletes can use Athlete Sitter with a parent's account, but athletes who are 13 or older can create their own Athlete Sitter accounts. It works for players learning the basics, athletes who want structured skill work, and athletes preparing for competitive goals like tryouts, travel teams, or higher-level play. You can use Athlete Sitter to find older, more experienced trainers from your own community who understand your sport and can help you improve.
What can I do as an athlete?
Athletes aged 13 or older can create their own account, search for local trainers, filter trainers by training style and preferences, compare profiles, and message trainers directly to ask questions or schedule sessions. Athletes aged 10 to 12 can be registered by their parent or guardian. Under-13 athletes can log in with their phone number, but messaging and dashboard features are restricted until they turn 13. All communication for under-13 athletes goes through the parent's account.
What Training Styles are available?
Athlete Sitter supports three training styles so you can find the right kind of training for your goals: (1) Fun and Beginner-Friendly – great for learning the basics, building confidence, and getting comfortable with the sport. (2) Skills-Focused and Structured – for improving fundamentals through organized drills, footwork, technique work, and repetition. (3) Competitive and High-Intensity – for athletes preparing for tryouts, travel teams, or higher-level competition with advanced drills and competitive scenarios. You can choose trainers who match the style you want.
Where does Athlete Sitter work?
Athlete Sitter works in communities where local middle school and high school athletes have signed up to offer training. You can use it from any phone or computer. As more trainers join, more neighborhoods become available.
When should I use Athlete Sitter?
Use Athlete Sitter when you want extra reps outside of team practices, help learning new skills or improving fundamentals, a trainer who understands your sport and your goals, focused training to prepare for tryouts or competitive play, or a mentor who has been where you are and knows what it takes. It works for every level, from beginner to competitive.
Why would I use Athlete Sitter instead of finding trainers another way?
Athlete Sitter helps you get real, sport-focused training from trainers who actually understand what you're trying to achieve. You can compare trainers by their experience, training style, and pricing, choose someone local, and set up sessions that match your goals and schedule. It's more affordable than traditional private coaching, easy to use, and built around helping you improve. Also, one of the biggest advantages is getting to work with older athletes who grew up in the exact same sports environment you're in now. Many of them played on the same feeder teams, trained in the same gyms, and already know what your future high school coaches expect. They've lived the path you're on — and they can help you prepare for what's ahead better than anyone else.
How does it work for athletes?
Athlete Sitter is a free service that connects you with local middle school and high school trainers. If you are 13 or older, you can create your own athlete account. If you are between 10 and 12, your parent must create and manage the account for you. You log in with your phone number, complete your basic information, then search for trainers based on your sport, location, and training style. You can view trainer profiles, photos, experience, and pricing. When you find someone you like, you can message them directly to ask questions or set up a session. All communication stays inside Athlete Sitter.
How does Athlete Sitter keep athletes safe?
Safety is a core priority. Athlete Sitter uses a double-blind search system: trainers cannot see any of your personal contact information, and athletes only see a trainer's general location, sports, and training styles. All communication stays inside Athlete Sitter until both sides choose to share more. You never have to give out your phone number or personal contact information. Keeping communication inside the app helps protect both you and the trainer.
What if something doesn't feel right?
Tell your parent immediately. You can stop communication at any time, block a trainer, or report concerns through the platform. All reports are taken seriously and reviewed promptly.
Where should training sessions take place?
We recommend that your first session with any trainer take place in a public location such as a park, community center, or school facility. This helps everyone feel comfortable. After that, you and your parents can decide what works best.
How do payments work?
Athlete Sitter does not process payments. This works just like babysitting: trainers set their own rate, your family pays the trainer directly, and there are no platform fees. If you love your trainer, you can continue working with them directly. We simply ask that you leave your trainer a review so other athletes know they are a reliable and trustworthy option.
Is Athlete Sitter a replacement for professional coaching?
No. Athlete Sitter is built around local middle school and high school athletes who offer affordable sessions, flexible scheduling, and relatable mentorship. It is a great way to get more reps, build confidence, and improve your skills, and it can complement professional coaching when needed.
Advertisers
Businesses that want to promote their services to local families and athletes.
Who is Athlete Sitter for?
Athlete Sitter offers advertiser accounts for businesses that want to reach local families and athletes through highly targeted ad placements inside the product. Advertisers can promote services, programs, or businesses that are relevant to the Athlete Sitter community.
What can I do as an advertiser?
Advertisers can create an account, complete a business profile with their name, website, and details, and build targeted ad campaigns directly inside the advertiser dashboard. You can create ads, choose your targeting (such as sport and location), and manage your campaigns from one place.
Where do my ads appear?
Your ads appear in designated banner placements inside the Athlete Sitter app. When a parent or athlete enters their search criteria, they will see both the matching trainers for their search and a banner ad from advertisers whose targeting matches that search. Ads appear only inside Athlete Sitter and are not part of any third-party ad network. Clicking a banner takes users directly to your website.
When should I create an advertiser account?
Create an advertiser account when you are ready to promote your business to local families and athletes through targeted placements inside Athlete Sitter. If your business serves specific sports, age groups, or neighborhoods, you can tailor your ads to reach exactly those users.
How does it work for advertisers?
You log in with your phone number, complete your advertiser profile, and access the advertiser dashboard. From there you can create ads, choose targeting (sport, location, etc.), set up and manage campaigns, control which ads are active, and update your business information. All ads are reviewed by the Athlete Sitter team before they go live. Any payments, pricing, and terms for advertising are defined and agreed to outside of the Athlete Sitter website. Once an ad is approved, it will automatically display to users whose search criteria match your targeting. Advertisers do not use in-app messaging and cannot directly contact families or trainers.
Why should I use Athlete Sitter as an advertiser?
Athlete Sitter gives you a direct way to reach families and athletes who are already thinking about training, sports, and youth development. Instead of broad, unfocused advertising, you can run laser-targeted campaigns that appear only to the exact users you care about—based on their sport, location, and search behavior. For sports-related businesses, this is especially powerful. You're reaching young families and motivated athletes who are actively looking to improve their skills and who typically have a long runway in youth sports. These are the customers who join programs, attend camps, buy gear, and stay engaged season after season. Athlete Sitter puts your business in front of them at the exact moment they're thinking about their sport.