YOUTH

DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAM

 
 

When it comes to our youth program [ 16 and under ] we take it very serious indeed. We stride to accept a limited amount of youth athletes each year by design. Making it clear that our mission continues to enfranchise the importance of proper development in sport and self improvement. Attention to detail is critical at this age along with time and commitment we all take so that we can insure the quality and success of each youth athlete. Sport is merely the vessel we use to build foundational habits so each and every athlete has the opportunity to develop skills that become interwoven in both life and sport. As much as 1 on 1 Performance training or group training can help develop skills we also provide of the field habits that help in each athletes day to day life.

  • Open communication is key in every relationship our athletes have so each month we schedule a disengaged time to check in on grades, habits, goals, and any training & development challenges they may have for the coaches.

  • We also provide the the athletes with journals which we encourage them to write down any goals, successes, defeats, that help give them the transparency they need with themselves so they may be even more valuable in there training sessions each week and month.

  • All youth athletes are also encouraged to follow a weekly training program which helps them prepare for the next phases of strength and conditioning. Seeing that 14/15 is the ages athletes start wanting to use wights having the proper understanding of Form, balance, core strength, breathing, all comes in handy for the next stages.

 

The 305ERS Experience

The 305ERS Experience was created to give youth athletes and families a clear, honest understanding of what it means to be part of a structured, values driven team environment shaped by the philosophy of HTFT Mental Health & Performance. While flag football serves as the competitive platform, the 305ERS are not a traditional flag football program. This is an integrated developmental team intentionally designed to support athletes mentally, emotionally, and physically within one unified environment. The 305ERS represent one specific expression of the broader HTFT performance model.

Led on the field by Head Coach Joey Topel, the 305ERS program reflects the same developmental principles used across HTFT’s work with athletes, professionals, and high-performing individuals. Within a defined four-month season, athletes experience a structured version of this approach through coordinated work between Head Coach Joey Topel and Performance Specialist Brett Carroll, who oversees physical preparation, movement development, and game-readiness standards to ensure athletes are properly prepared for both practice and competition. The program integrates core principles from Youth Performance, Performance Therapy, Sport Performance, and Mental Performance Coaching, creating a balanced development model that supports athletic growth, confidence, discipline, and a deeper understanding of the game. This integrated approach allows athletes to develop physically, mentally, and as teammates, while learning how preparation, reflection, and execution work together within a high-performing environment.

This multidisciplinary structure mirrors the type of integrated support systems typically found within high level collegiate and professional environments. The intention is to bring that level of preparation and developmental opportunity into a youth setting, allowing young athletes to experience the standards, structure, and growth opportunities often reserved for elite performance pathways. While athletic success may be a goal for some athletes, it is not the sole focus of the program. If sport and high level performance become part of an athlete’s path, the 305ERS staff provides the structure, preparation, and developmental support needed to help guide that journey responsibly. However, the mission extends beyond any single outcome. The emphasis is on development itself, learning how to problem solve, navigate failure, take responsibility, communicate through adversity, and build independence rather than reliance. Athletes are encouraged to develop the skills needed to support themselves, think critically, and carry ownership over their growth both on and off the field.

We believe in meeting athletes at the exact developmental stages they are in, providing guidance that prepares them not just for the next season, but for the next phases of life. Whether that journey leads toward collegiate athletics, professional sport, leadership roles, entrepreneurship, or other professional paths, the intention is for the 305ERS experience to serve as a launching point for well-rounded personal development. Success is defined not by recognition or external reward, but by self-respect, accountability, meaningful relationships, and a strong sense of identity. From that foundation, athletes gain the confidence to pursue whatever path ultimately aligns with who they are becoming. Football becomes the vessel through which athletes and families engage with the structure, accountability, and intentionality that define HTFT.

What began as an idea rooted in confidence, connection, and opportunity has evolved into a four-month developmental season that blends athletic training, leadership development, mentorship, and mental performance support. The goal is not simply competition, but the development of disciplined, coachable, and emotionally intelligent young athletes prepared to carry these lessons beyond sport. The team is built on accountability, teamwork, and emotional awareness. Sport serves as the vessel, but the mission extends into school, relationships, and everyday life. The 305ERS Experience is designed to help youth athletes build habits, identity, and leadership skills that last well beyond the season.

Program Structure

The 305ERS season is structured as a four month developmental experience followed by one end of season tournament. The program integrates football instruction, athletic performance development, and mental performance training into one unified system designed to develop confident athletes, intelligent players, and strong teammates.

This structure allows athletes to learn the game, develop physically, and strengthen their mental approach to competition, while building trust within the team and understanding their role within the system.

Preseason (Months 1–2)

Athletes participate in six structured practices per month.

• Practices are led by Head Coach Joey Topel and Assistant Coach Ben Yogev, with development support from Performance Specialist Coach Brett Carroll and Coach Martyra

• Focus areas include team structure, play installation, football IQ, positioning work, communication, leadership development, and the establishment of strong team culture

• Athletic performance development is fully integrated within practices, emphasizing speed, movement quality, balance, coordination, and position-specific skill development while athletes are learning team systems and techniques

• Mental Performance & Leadership Sessions led by Trevor Barlow take place four times per month following practice. These sessions include guided discussion and structured journaling designed to help athletes develop emotional awareness, reflect on their experiences, understand their behaviors and responses, and strengthen their identity as teammates and competitors

Through this process, athletes begin developing the mental habits necessary to trust the system, communicate effectively with teammates, and build confidence through preparation, understanding, and competition.

Regular Season (Months 3–4)

The program continues with six practices per month, with the focus shifting toward execution and tournament preparation.

• Practices continue to be led by Coach Joey Topel and Coach Ben Yogev, with continued involvement from the broader leadership staff including Coach Brett Carroll and Trevor Barlow

• Emphasis is placed on team cohesion, situational awareness, decision-making, and disciplined execution within the team system

• Mental Performance & Leadership Sessions with Trevor Barlow continue four times per month following practice, reinforcing reflection, composure under pressure, accountability to teammates, and confidence during competition

• During portions of these sessions, Coach Joey Topel will also join Trevor to review plays, formations, calls, and positional responsibilities, allowing athletes to ask questions, deepen their understanding of the system, and connect mental performance principles directly to the game of football

These sessions help athletes become more confident competitors, stronger teammates, and disciplined students of the game, strengthening trust within the team and improving their ability to perform with clarity and composure.

Practice Environment

Practices are intentionally designed to balance athletic development with personal growth and mental performance. Each session is 90 minutes in length and structured into three integrated phases to ensure athletes are fully prepared, physically, technically, and mentally.

Phase One: Athletic Preparation & Dynamic Warm Up

Each practice begins with a structured athletic development warm up led by Coach Brett Carroll. This dynamic preparation protocol is designed to properly activate and prepare athletes for training and competition through movement based drills used at high level high school, collegiate, and professional environments. The focus is on mobility, coordination, injury prevention, and readiness, ensuring athletes are physically prepared before entering performance based work.

Phase Two: Team Development & Competitive Training

The second phase of practice is led by Coach Joey alongside assistant coaching staff, focusing on offensive and defensive team development. Athletes work on position specific fundamentals, situational awareness, and competitive execution through structured team scenarios designed to reinforce communication, decision making, and accountability within a team environment.

Phase Three: Mental Performance Integration

The final 10–15 minutes of each practice are dedicated to mental performance, led by Trevor Barlow in collaboration with Coach Joey. This portion includes guided group discussion, reflective journaling, and performance focused conversations aimed at strengthening emotional regulation, self-awareness, leadership, and composure under pressure.Coaching & Leadership

The 305ERS are led by a multidisciplinary team whose backgrounds extend beyond traditional coaching.

Joey Topel – Head Coach
Joey brings extensive experience as a school counselor and youth behavioral specialist. His work in emotional regulation, behavior management, and youth development allows him to push athletes athletically while developing them beyond plays and games. He sets the cultural standard through discipline, consistency, and accountability.

Ben Yogev – Assistant Coach
Ben supports athlete development both on and off the field. With a background in counseling and ongoing professional training, his role reinforces habit formation, communication, and consistency throughout the team environment.

Brett Carroll – Performance Specialist / Assistant Coach
Brett is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA with extensive experience working with professional MLB and NFL athletes. He leads athletic development with a focus on speed, movement quality, balance, coordination, and injury prevention.

Martyra Turnquest – Performance Support
Martyra supports athletic performance alongside Brett, reinforcing proper movement patterns and mental focus during training and competition periods.

Trevor Barlow – Mental Performance & Program Integration
Founder of HTFT Mental Health & Performance and a registered MFT intern, Trevor leads the team’s mental performance and reflective programming. Through a relationship-driven, solution-focused approach, he supports athletes and families in developing self-awareness, communication skills, and emotional regulation.

Tournament & End of Season Experience

The season concludes with one end of season tournament experience designed to challenge athletes both athletically and mentally while bringing families together.

Depending on the selected seasonal cycle:

• Fall Cycle: Practices run from September through November, followed by a December tournament in a selected NFL facility with NFL FLAG.
• Winter Cycle: Practices run from January through March, followed by an April NFL Flag tournament hosted at an NFL facility.

Tournament selection is made collaboratively once official schedules are released and based on what best fits the team and families.

Enrollment & Communication

Parents receive a detailed breakdown of practice schedules, uniform information, and cost structure prior to the season.

Once tournament registration is completed, families receive a full season itinerary including confirmed practice dates, locations, and a complete cost breakdown. At that point, the athlete is considered part of the 305ERS program and receives all team communications.

Final roster decisions are made by Head Coach Joey Topel based on team needs, balance, and overall fit. Families are notified once official roster placement is confirmed.

The 305ERS Standard

The 305ERS are not a standard flag football team. We are a professionally constructed, integrated developmental team.

The program is designed to complement an athlete’s primary sport, not replace it. It exists to provide a structured environment where athletes and families grow alongside experienced professionals who value development as much as performance.

Four months of practice.
One tournament experience.
One integrated developmental journey.

Junior Coaches & Integrated Mentorship

Beyond practices, the 305ERS include an Integrated Mentorship Track designed to strengthen leadership, mindset, and decision-making.

The mentorship team includes Junior Coaches Alex Reizen and Jonathan Oksemberg. Alex Reizen, a former 305ERS athlete, now assists with on-field instruction, practice organization, and peer mentorship, exemplifying the program’s commitment to growth, continuity, and giving back.

Together, the junior coaches learn from experienced professionals while guiding and supporting younger athletes.

Community & Character

Each season begins or concludes, depending on the cycle, with a team bonding experience at the annual 305ERS vs. Broward Charity Softball Game and our Annual Mental Health Run, hosted by One Hometeam Foundation and HTFT Mental Health & Performance.

These event highlight the intersection of sport, leadership, and mental health, encouraging athletes to recognize both their platform and their responsibility within the community.

 

For information on pricing,

call (954) 806-5399