About Us
Meet Dr. Maisie Cook
Dr. Maisie Cook is the owner and head coach of Armory Athletics, with more than 20 years of experience working with athletes from the high school, NAIA, and NCAA levels. She has served as an athletic trainer at institutions including Boise State, Washington State, the University of Redlands, and Carroll College, while also coaching strength and conditioning and working with numerous high school programs.
Throughout her career, Dr. Cook recognized a common pattern: athletes were becoming more specialized but less resilient, leading to preventable injuries and burnout. Those experiences inspired her to create Armory Athletics, a program focused on building confident, well-rounded athletes through smart, adaptable training.
Dr. Cook holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master’s in Exercise Science from Boise State University, and a Doctorate in Athletic Training. She is a certified athletic trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and a Parisi Speed School affiliate, combining evidence-based training with individualized coaching to help athletes stay healthy, perform at their best, and enjoy the game for years to come.
Meet Dr. Maisie Cook
Dr. Maisie Cook is the owner and head coach of Armory Athletics, with more than 20 years of experience working with athletes from the high school, NAIA, and NCAA levels. She has served as an athletic trainer at institutions including Boise State, Washington State, the University of Redlands, and Carroll College, while also coaching strength and conditioning and working with numerous high school programs.
Throughout her career, Dr. Cook recognized a common pattern: athletes were becoming more specialized but less resilient, leading to preventable injuries and burnout. Those experiences inspired her to create Armory Athletics, a program focused on building confident, well-rounded athletes through smart, adaptable training.
Dr. Cook holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master’s in Exercise Science from Boise State University, and a Doctorate in Athletic Training. She is a certified athletic trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and a Parisi Speed School affiliate, combining evidence-based training with individualized coaching to help athletes stay healthy, perform at their best, and enjoy the game for years to come.
Why Armory Athletics Exists
Armory Athletics was built from over two decades of firsthand experience in the athletic world, where patterns became impossible to ignore. Too often, young athletes are pushed into early specialization, sacrificing foundational movement for sport-specific skills, which can lead to increased injuries, burnout, loss of confidence, and a diminished love for the game. Dr. Maisie Cook has worked with athletes at every level and has seen talented individuals sidelined both physically and mentally by these pressures. Armory Athletics was created to offer a different path, one that prioritizes quality movement, injury resilience, and long-term development while fostering confidence and enjoyment in sport. The goal is to provide an environment where athletes feel supported, capable, and inspired to grow, not just as competitors, but as individuals.
Armory Athletics was built from over two decades of firsthand experience in the athletic world, where patterns became impossible to ignore. Too often, young athletes are pushed into early specialization, sacrificing foundational movement for sport-specific skills, which can lead to increased injuries, burnout, loss of confidence, and a diminished love for the game. Dr. Maisie Cook has worked with athletes at every level and has seen talented individuals sidelined both physically and mentally by these pressures. Armory Athletics was created to offer a different path, one that prioritizes quality movement, injury resilience, and long-term development while fostering confidence and enjoyment in sport. The goal is to provide an environment where athletes feel supported, capable, and inspired to grow, not just as competitors, but as individuals.
Coaching Goals
Maisie’s goals have always been to make athletes feel safe during the vulnerable time after injury. Each person reacts differently to pain and injuries and the person is more important than the diagnosis. She takes this mindset to her performance programs where she wants every athlete to feel they are seen and heard and that any success, big or small is worth celebrating. Where “elite” is defined by your confidence and by how much you challenge yourself to get better and it is not tied to wins or losses.
Barriers to performance training have always been money. Armory Athletics aims to provide high level coaching that is not excluded to those of a higher economic status. Accessibility is important while maintaining a well organized program with the tools necessary to maintain the high standard experience for each athlete.
Coaching Goals
Maisie’s goals have always been to make athletes feel safe during the vulnerable time after injury. Each person reacts differently to pain and injuries and the person is more important than the diagnosis. She takes this mindset to her performance programs where she wants every athlete to feel they are seen and heard and that any success, big or small is worth celebrating. Where “elite” is defined by your confidence and by how much you challenge yourself to get better and it is not tied to wins or losses.
Barriers to performance training have always been money. Armory Athletics aims to provide high level coaching that is not excluded to those of a higher economic status. Accessibility is important while maintaining a well organized program with the tools necessary to maintain the high standard experience for each athlete.
What Makes This Program Different
Confidence-First Approach
Movement-Based Training
Expert Individualized Coaching
At Armory Athletics, success is measured by personal growth, not by wins or comparison to others. Every athlete is encouraged to challenge themselves without fear of failure, celebrate small victories along the way, and build lasting confidence through consistent progress in both movement and mindset.
Training at Armory Athletics is built on developing strong, efficient movement patterns that transfer across all sports. By focusing on acceleration, deceleration, agility, power, and movement quality, athletes build a strong foundation for performance while improving injury resilience through varied movement experiences.
Every athlete at Armory Athletics is coached as an individual, with training tailored to their unique abilities, goals, and learning style. Athletes don’t just learn what to do, they gain an understanding of why and how they move, creating a supportive environment where they feel seen, understood, and empowered to succeed.
What Makes This Program Different
Confidence-First Approach
At Armory Athletics, success is measured by personal growth, not by wins or comparison to others. Every athlete is encouraged to challenge themselves without fear of failure, celebrate small victories along the way, and build lasting confidence through consistent progress in both movement and mindset.
Movement-Based Training
Training at Armory Athletics is built on developing strong, efficient movement patterns that transfer across all sports. By focusing on acceleration, deceleration, agility, power, and movement quality, athletes build a strong foundation for performance while improving injury resilience through varied movement experiences.
Expert Individualized Coaching
Every athlete at Armory Athletics is coached as an individual, with training tailored to their unique abilities, goals, and learning style. Athletes don’t just learn what to do, they gain an understanding of why and how they move, creating a supportive environment where they feel seen, understood, and empowered to succeed.
Coaching Philosophy
At the Parisi Speed school, the delivery of the Parisi Training methodology is what makes our program unique among the competition. Everyone knows that speed and agility drills are no secret. In fact, there are plenty of DVD’s, books, and articles that can tell someone the basics on what needs to be done to get faster. So, what makes the Parisi Training Systems (PTS) and Parisi Speed School unique? It’s actually pretty simple. While important, speed and agility drills are not all that is delivered in our training sessions. Parisi wants MORE for our athletes than just great drills! We want our athletes to gain self-confidence! We want them to have an understanding and awareness of WHY they are training and HOW to do it correctly, as well as achieving competitive grace! (to learn more about the Parisi Speed School visit: parisischool.com)
Maisie’s experience with treating injuries that are unique to the individual as well as her passion for each athlete to feel confident gives her the ability to educate the why and how of the training process.
At the Parisi Speed school, the delivery of the Parisi Training methodology is what makes our program unique among the competition. Everyone knows that speed and agility drills are no secret. In fact, there are plenty of DVD’s, books, and articles that can tell someone the basics on what needs to be done to get faster. So, what makes the Parisi Training Systems (PTS) and Parisi Speed School unique? It’s actually pretty simple. While important, speed and agility drills are not all that is delivered in our training sessions. Parisi wants MORE for our athletes than just great drills! We want our athletes to gain self-confidence! We want them to have an understanding and awareness of WHY they are training and HOW to do it correctly, as well as achieving competitive grace! (to learn more about the Parisi Speed School visit: parisischool.com)
Maisie’s experience with treating injuries that are unique to the individual as well as her passion for each athlete to feel confident gives her the ability to educate the why and how of the training process.
Working With Young Athletes
A Safe & Supportive Environment
- Every athlete is treated as an individual, with coaching tailored to their unique needs and abilities.
- Athletes are encouraged to feel safe trying new things, making mistakes, and growing through the process.
- Coaching balances encouragement with constructive feedback to build confidence and skill.
- The environment emphasizes belonging, respect, and supporting one another as a team.
Building Confidence Through Movement
- Celebrate small wins to build confidence, momentum, and self-belief.
- Help athletes develop confidence through understanding how their bodies move.
- Emphasize progress over perfection, recognizing growth at every stage.
- Foster a team culture where athletes encourage, support, and celebrate one another.
Coaching Every Personality
- Take time to understand each athlete’s fears, hesitations, and comfort level through open communication.
- Break movements into manageable steps so athletes know exactly what to expect.
- Build confidence through small, achievable successes that create trust and momentum.
- Adapt coaching cues and teaching methods to match how each athlete learns best.
Balanced Structure & Encouragement
- Teach athletes to listen, apply instruction, and stay engaged throughout each session.
- Provide clear, constructive feedback that motivates athletes to improve.
- Reinforce effort, attitude, and consistency, not just performance or results.
- Help athletes develop discipline while creating an environment where training is enjoyable.
Reducing Pressure & Redefining Success
- Measure each athlete’s progress against their own baseline, not against others.
- Define success through effort, improvement, and growing confidence.
- Use assessments to highlight individual growth and celebrate meaningful progress.
- Create an environment where athletes can enjoy the process without the pressure of comparison.
A Positive Experience for Parents
- Build strong communication with parents to understand each athlete’s needs and goals.
- Prioritize long-term athletic development over short-term results.
- Provide a safe, structured, and encouraging environment where athletes can thrive.
- Help every athlete leave each session feeling accomplished, confident, and motivated to return.
Beyond Coaching
Dr. Maisie Cook is not only a coach, but also a mom, wife, and lifelong athlete who brings her passion for movement into every aspect of her life. As a mother, she understands how important it is for kids to feel supported, encouraged, and confident in what they are doing, and she carries that perspective into every session.
Her love for movement began early with ballet, where she developed an appreciation for body awareness, discipline, and efficient movement. As she transitioned into sports like softball, basketball, and volleyball, she saw firsthand how a strong foundation in movement could carry over into new skills. That experience continues to shape her approach to training today.
Outside of coaching, Maisie enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and her two dogs, rain or shine. She has also continued to challenge herself as an athlete, competing in events like the Scottish Highland Games, CrossFit, and Olympic weightlifting. Her curiosity and love for learning drive her to better understand how the body adapts and performs, which allows her to connect with athletes and coach them in a way that meets their individual needs.
Beyond Coaching
Dr. Maisie Cook is not only a coach, but also a mom, wife, and lifelong athlete who brings her passion for movement into every aspect of her life. As a mother, she understands how important it is for kids to feel supported, encouraged, and confident in what they are doing, and she carries that perspective into every session.
Her love for movement began early with ballet, where she developed an appreciation for body awareness, discipline, and efficient movement. As she transitioned into sports like softball, basketball, and volleyball, she saw firsthand how a strong foundation in movement could carry over into new skills. That experience continues to shape her approach to training today.
Outside of coaching, Maisie enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and her two dogs, rain or shine. She has also continued to challenge herself as an athlete, competing in events like the Scottish Highland Games, CrossFit, and Olympic weightlifting. Her curiosity and love for learning drive her to better understand how the body adapts and performs, which allows her to connect with athletes and coach them in a way that meets their individual needs.
Q and A with Maisie
Was there a specific moment that made you realize you wanted to help athletes?
“After 20 years in the athletics world I feel a strong connection to those who choose to participate; from the competitive collegiate athlete to the youth and the recreational athlete everyone can benefit from a good foundation of movement and the joy and confidence that comes from sports and activities can be such an inspiration and a sure-fire way to stay in this setting.”
Why is working with children important to you?
“Two main reasons: youth athletes who participate in athletics can gain confidence as well as a good foundation when they learn to move properly. The other is that today’s youth athletes are exposed to so many pressures including early sports specialization, a focus on skill acquisition in order to win as well as a focus on individual achievement where the team environment is not fully experienced. I want a safe, supportive environment focused on foundational movement that can be applied to any sport or activity where everyone feels they belong and we all learn to build each other up.”
What do you enjoy most about coaching youth athletes?
“Watching them grow that spark that comes with seeing improvement. I love to watch young athletes find the love of the game or just in movement itself. The youth celebrate each other with wild abandonment and I love being a part of that. “
When a child completes your program, what do you hope they gain besides athletic ability?
“I hope they walk away with confidence both in how they move and how that movement can translate to sports specific skills as well as learning to support others in their movement development.”
Why do you focus on confidence, movement quality, and injury resilience?
“The research into return from injury indicates that fear is a more powerful factor to consider than even strength or mobility. If someone is exposed to all kinds of movement patterns and how to accelerate/decellerate their ability to move with confidence build injury resilience. We cannot prevent all injuries but the body is amazing and can adapt if given the exposure to different kinds of movement. When the quality of movement is high, the nervous system and muscular system work together for smooth, effective movement, it is transferable to many situations including sports skills of all kinds.”
What are some common misconceptions parents have about sports performance training?
“The most common misconception parents have is that it should be sports specific. Much of what we do can be used for any sport and that is why it is so powerful.”
What values guide the way you coach and interact with children?
“Balancing learning to listen and apply instructions with enthusiasm and pointing out small accomplishments teaches young athletes how to gain perspective in what is success as well as encourages them to take an active role in their learning process.”
How do you create a positive and safe environment for young athletes?
“A safe environment starts with a place where everyone feels seen and heard. This requires listening skills, to interpret what is important to each athlete and family. Sports performance training is based on exercise science principles but can be applied based on the needs of each person. When someone feels their concerns or goals are understood the environment becomes one that supports each participant.”
How do you work with athletes who are shy, nervous, or lacking confidence?
“The first step is to communicate. If there is fear then address the fear, if there is a lack of motivation we find what they are motivated to do. Once we can overcome fear and get some interaction, even a small one, we can find success and celebrate that. Children are usually nervous when something is unknown so if they understand what is asked of them we can move to the fun part of finding better movement. The more the small successes we can find the more children learn how to work towards improvement.”
Can you share a few memorable moments where you've seen a child and/or athlete gain confidence through training?
“I have done many return to running progressions post ACL repair surgery on athletes. The fun part is asking them to perform a movement they are nervous about, coaching them through the movement and watching them progress from nervous- to increasing their speed – to watching their confidence return and they get to focus on a skill and not the running or change in direction.”