Sportball, a leader in sports-based programs for children 16 months to 12 years, is planning its homecoming to Kingston as it looks to expand operations across North America under the leadership of Queen’s alumni.
Exemplifying the values of the United Nations’ International Day of Sport for Development and Peace which was recently marked on April 6, CEO Quinten Griffiths, Sc’09, and his company, GoodCapital, purchased Sportball in 2023 from the original founders, aiming to scale the 30-year-old company and expand its impact.
“A lot has changed since Sportball was founded,” explains Laura Peever, Com’09, head of marketing for Sportball. “But the foundation on which Sportball was built – to get kids active and make sports fun and inclusive, is still very much the ethos of the company today. We’re on a mission to help kids fall in love with moving their bodies, and use sport as a vehicle to build foundational skills so activity can become a central part of their lives.”
Griffiths credits his active lifestyle as one of the main reasons he was attracted to Sportball as a business. “I’ve benefited immensely in my life from being physically literate – from close friendships to many sport-based adventures – and I really wanted to share this experience with more kids, including my own.”
The core of Sportball’s programming is weekly classes delivered directly by Sportball or through partnerships with local community centres and schools. Storytelling, certified coaches, and a multi-sport approach are just some of the secrets to keeping even the youngest children engaged. Over the course of a session, children can play up to eight different ball sports – from soccer to golf.
“Everything we do in class is based on research and designed to match a child’s age-based capabilities,” Peever says. “While our little kids are learning to launch rocket ships into space [Sportball speak for ‘a big soccer kick’], our older kids are learning how to work together in teams.”
The company, which has franchises in cities across Canada, the U.S., and in Singapore, serves more than 50,000 families a year through its programs.
“We had to close our Kingston operations during COVID, but are looking at returning to the city soon,” Peever says, adding that she and Griffiths have fond memories of their time at Queen’s and are keen to bring Sportball back to the place where they got their professional start.
