Stronger.
Faster.
Smarter.
Intentional coaching. Proven principles. A development system for hitters and catchers, taught by SFS certified coaches in Phoenix since 2016.
Catcher? Start a Catching Evaluation →Already training with SFS? Book your next session →
We have trained thousands of athletes and helped hundreds reach college rosters.
Logos are trademarks of their respective schools. SFS Athletics is not affiliated with or endorsed by these institutions.
We develop more than a swing.
At SFS Athletics, we believe great athletes are built through more than talent. They’re developed through discipline, intentional coaching, accountability, and a commitment to the process.
We teach the fundamentals that create stronger, faster, smarter athletes. But our purpose goes beyond mechanics. We’re building confidence, developing character, and teaching young athletes how to respond to challenges, embrace coaching, and earn their growth.
Because the lessons learned in training should last long after the game is over.
Stronger
Building physical strength, mental toughness, and the confidence to overcome adversity.Faster
Developing efficient movements, quicker decisions, and the ability to make adjustments.Smarter
Understanding the game, trusting the process, and learning to compete with purpose.Separation happens here.
Not because we promise shortcuts. Because we believe in the work that separates preparation from potential.
On plane. On time. Gap to gap.
The Simple Circle is our hitting system for baseball and softball athletes, built on simple, repeatable concepts that develop consistent, powerful hitters. No complicated terminology. Athletes learn to see it, feel it, and repeat it, so they understand their swing and own it.
Start Your Hitting Evaluation → Already training with SFS? Book a Hitting Lesson →
Intention. Conviction. Evolution.
Behind The Mask Catchers Academy develops confident, skilled catchers through intentional instruction in receiving, blocking, throwing, and game awareness. Every movement has a purpose. Every repetition builds understanding. Every athlete learns to lead from behind the plate.
Led by Molly Smith
Start Your Catching Evaluation → Already training with SFS? Book a Catching Lesson →Receive
Build consistency and confidence.
Block
Control the zone and own the dirt.
Throw
Develop accuracy and game-ready skills.
Lead
Think the game. Elevate your impact.
Every athlete starts with a plan.
Hitting or catching, the first step is the same. Our coaches get to know your athlete before anything else.
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1
Initial Evaluation
We learn about the athlete: current abilities, mechanics, developmental needs, and goals. It is the starting point for an individualized plan.
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2
Individual Development
The athlete works through a personalized development plan, typically through private instruction with an SFS coach.
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3
Progressive Training
As an athlete shows readiness, our coaches may recommend more training, including small group sessions. Group placement is decided by our coaching staff.
Every athlete develops at their own pace. Results come from consistent work, not shortcuts.
Your development starts here.
Every session is with an SFS certified coach. Swings taken in our HitTrax tunnel are recorded, and our coaches analyze them whenever an athlete is ready to make an adjustment.
New to SFS? Start with an evaluation.
Every athlete begins with an Initial Evaluation so our coaches can understand their current abilities and recommend the appropriate development path.
Already training with SFS? Schedule your sessions below.
1 Hour Private Lesson
Your athlete gets the full hour. Focused instruction built around their swing, with every swing recorded in the HitTrax tunnel.
Existing athletes: book private →1 Hour Group Session
High-energy, focused reps in a small group. Learn, compete, and grow together. Group placement is set by our coaching staff.
Existing athletes: book group →Private Team Training
Bring the team in, or we will come to you. Same fundamentals, applied across your whole lineup. Call or email us at contact@sfsathletics.com to set it up.
Call 833.448.4797Not sure which one fits? Call 833.448.4797 and we will point you in the right direction.
See it. Measure it. Improve it.
Every swing taken in our HitTrax tunnel is recorded. Athletes see their numbers in real time, and our coaches use them to decide what to adjust next.
For hitters
Exit velocity, launch angle and distance on every swing, with video to match.
For catchers
Pop time, exchange time and throwing velocity, tracked the same way.
Results in your inbox
Parents can opt in to a results email after every session. Athletes can also send their reports to themselves, a parent, a club coach or a college coach.
Included in private, group and team training.
Coaching athletes builds better people.
SFS Athletics was founded in 2016 on a simple belief: great coaching creates more than better athletes, it builds stronger, more confident people. Through intentional training and a focus on the details, we help athletes reach their full potential in the game and in life.
BJ Johnson
Founder / Hitting DevelopmentFounded SFS Athletics in 2016 and leads The Simple Circle hitting system.
Molly Smith
Catching and Hitting DevelopmentLeads Behind The Mask Catchers Academy.
Selena Perez
SFS Certified Hitting CoachFormer Division I softball player at Long Beach State and Oklahoma State, now coaching hitters at SFS.
Our coaches teach rather than just instruct. The goal is athletes who understand what they are doing, take ownership of their development, and handle coaching with confidence.
Confidence shows up first.
My daughter has been an SFS member for over a year. We walked in with no power and poor swing mechanics. After a year of hitting at SFS she now has confidence at the plate and is hitting just as hard and far as some of the bigger, stronger girls she plays with. All the coaches there are super supportive and give players the tools and confidence they need to succeed in such a tough game. We’ve been to multiple hitting coaches in the area and this is far and away the most supportive and knowledgeable place to get your player the tools she needs to succeed!
I couldn’t be more grateful for SFS Athletics and the incredible impact their team has had on my daughter over the past two years. The growth I’ve seen in her has been truly amazing, not only as an athlete, but as a person.
Everywhere we go, people compliment her swing, and it’s a testament to the time, dedication, and coaching she has received at SFS. Her swing mechanics have improved tremendously, but what means even more to us is the confidence, discipline, work ethic, and character she has developed along the way. The coaches at SFS have a way of seeing potential in their athletes and helping them grow far beyond the game itself.
As a parent, there is nothing more rewarding than watching your child grow, gain confidence, and fall in love with their journey. SFS has played such a meaningful role in that process for my daughter, and I truly believe their impact goes far beyond athletics.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have the SFS team in our lives and to have them as part of my daughter’s athletic journey. Two years in, I couldn’t be more thankful for their guidance, encouragement, and investment in her growth. If you’re looking for a team that cares about developing not only better athletes but better people, I can’t recommend SFS Athletics enough. They have made a lasting difference in my daughter’s life, and we are so grateful to be part of the SFS family! To many more years to come! Love you guys!
Our daughter Addison has been training with BJ at SFS Athletics since 2019, when she was just 8 years old. BJ has an incredible ability to connect with young athletes and break down the technical components of a softball swing into simple, easy-to-understand language that kids can actually grasp and put into practice. That clarity and connection have been consistent from the time Addison was a little kid all the way through her high school years.
SFS Athletics has been a major part of Addison’s development. The coaching has given her a solid foundation she trusts, and just as importantly, it has built the confidence she needs to compete at the highest levels. BJ and the SFS team don’t just teach a swing, they help athletes understand it, own it, and believe in themselves. We’re grateful for the role they’ve played in Addison’s journey and highly recommend SFS Athletics to any family looking for thoughtful, effective hitting instruction.
We’ve been working with BJ at SFS Athletics for 7 years, and he has become so much more than a hitting coach to us, he’s family! His patience, kindness, and genuine care for his athletes are unmatched. He is incredibly detailed, knows exactly what adjustments need to be made, and gets results. We’ve seen firsthand the impact he has had, not only on hitting but also on confidence and growth as an athlete. We are beyond grateful for him and couldn’t recommend a better coach!
Top notch instruction! If you need an excellent hitting instructor, this place is the place to go! He made my daughter feel at ease and gave her confidence.
BJ breaks the swing down step by step. He provides specific information that literally improved her swing after just one session.
Built to support the whole athlete journey.
Training is one piece. These sister brands help athletes get seen, help families learn the game, and help parents stay the parent.
Discover The Parent Behind the Athlete by BJ Johnson, a guide to supporting young athletes while protecting the parent-child relationship.
Explore the Book →
Helping athletes and teams present and share player information with college coaches.
Explore Recruit Sheets →
Connecting the baseball and softball community through events, resources, and opportunities.
Explore Around the Dirt →
Take the first step.
Every athlete’s journey is different. The first step is understanding where you are today, so we can build a plan for where you want to go.
Already training with SFS? Book your next session →
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2602 W. Lone Cactus Dr., Suite H
Phoenix, AZ 85027