TAC - Sports, Aquatics and Education: Parent Interview with Basak Ozsuvari

Watch our Parent interview with Basak Ozsuvari to hear firsthand what children experience and how they grow at TAC - Sports, Aquatics and Education.

Transcript of the interview

How did you know this was the right fit?

First, my son had started with their soccer academy, [after being in their] after-school program. I've seen how they treat the kids, but also how they approach their coaches. [There’s a sense of] happiness and a safe environment for the kids. 

My kid was very young, five years old. He developed not only in athletic terms, but also in leadership, and mentally. When I saw that, I really appreciated the way they approach the kids and their own employees. They create a comforting and safe environment for the kids. I thought,  Why not try summer camps? Winter camps? 

That's how it started with my son, then my daughter joined him, and they’re both really happy with it. This is how it started. I really see that full approach in TAC, creating a safe environment where kids can thrive. Either in the academy or the year-long course they offer, or in a camp, it's always the same. It's the best fit for my kids. 

What's unique about this camp?

First of all, it's year-round. They have a lot of options and opportunities for the kids. It's not only one sport, it's everything. You can find a lot of things in it, like soccer, basketball, the athletics team, everything. But it's also not only development. 

Year-round, you can get leadership development from them. You can [learn] financial literacy, chess, robotics. Whatever you need, you can find it there. They have a holistic approach for kids’ development where they offer a lot of options and you can combine them. You're see your learning and growing not in just one area, but several different areas. 

Was there any growth you saw in your child?

A hundred percent! Another unique point about TAC is that they’re really interested in kids individually. They don't have a one-size-fits-all approach. They care about the kids themselves, who they are, and how they're developing. Everybody has a different pace. If kids have different interests, they follow them, evaluate them, and build a separate path for each one of them.

That makes all of the kids feel understood, valued, and that helps them to grow even more in whatever they want to do.

How can parents support their child to help them get the most out of camp?

[It’s most] important to ask questions and [have] open conversations and communication with your kids, because the coaches in TAC are not in open communications with the kids. They try to understand how they can support your kid in the best way [while at camp]. As a parent, [you should] continue that at home, after a camp day. 

Ask them what they like the most or what they didn't like. Ask them what made them happy. If they want to change the sport they're doing, if they're ready to move ahead, to add one more leadership skill to their development. 

TAC is very open to feedback. If you're not happy with something, it's okay to tell them. Get your kid’s feedback. They will listen to it definitely, in any area. My kids even like the food in their camps, but sometimes they say, “Mom, it's not enough. We played soccer for seven hours and I'm hungry,” and they will hear that. They will follow up and increase their portions, or sometimes if a kid’s hungrier than normal, they will see that. Even with this very basic logistic stuff, they help you.

Just stay in open communication, both with your kids and also the coaches at the camps. 

What does your child say?

They love it. The most important point for me is that the next day, they want to go back.If they are dragging their feet, that's not a good sign, but they want to go back [to TAC].

My daughter doesn't have [only] one competitive sport. She would come and ask, “Mom, what do they have this winter for camp? Is it dance? Is it gymnastics?” And we'll pick it together. I think this [variety] is really very important. 

They love it there. They love the coaches. They love the food, as I mentioned. They love the environment, so they enjoy being there, every aspect of it.

Any final thoughts?

I see two main things that TAC offers. 

One is a personalized approach. I'm amazed with their capability of seeing and understanding [each] kid individually. Your kid won't be [just another] kid in the crowd. They see the kid specifically. They invest in his/her athletics and leadership. I care about this a lot!

Another thing [is that] they have created such a good environment for their own employees and coaches and volunteers. People are happy to work there, which I value a lot. They're loyal, and that loyalty comes [from] a happy working environment. This results in happy employees and happy kids. They’re willing to help your kids. They're willing to serve you. They’re willing to literally invest in and develop kids. Happy coaches, happy kids, good development.

This creates a safe environment for the kids because they know who they’re going to see. They met one swimming coach in the winter camp let's say, then we continue with the aquatics winter long program. They see the same coaches. They’re in a known environment. I know these people. I don't have to prove myself again [or] teach them who I am. I can talk to them. When my parents leave, I'm okay here. I'm confident, and I feel good. 

I value that there’s no turnaround of coaches [or] of volunteers. The people there are very nice because they're nicely treated.

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