An individual plan, not a class
Coach Butler designs individualized strength plans for athletes of all levels rather than running one session for everyone in the room.
Sports performance training in South Tampa
Strength and sports performance training in South Tampa, open to athletes in every sport and not only to baseball and softball. Coaching is by Michael Butler, who came from Minor League Baseball, USF, Saint Leo and Florida State, with Johana Whitfield, Drew Oldham and Mikayla Cable. From $150 a month, or $50 a drop-in group.
Price $150 or $450 per month, a $250 add-on for members, or $50 for a one-hour drop-in group ($30 for members).
Who it is for
- Athletes in any sport — this program is not limited to baseball and softball
- Baseball and softball players who need strength behind the skill work
- Athletes returning to full training and rebuilding durability
- Adults training for job-specific strength, including first responders
What happens in a session
Power that transfers
Rotational and anti-rotation work with medicine balls and tidal tanks sits alongside the barbell work, because a swing and a pitch are both rotational events.
Durability and mobility
Mobility, durability and injury-prevention work is built into the plan — the same emphasis Coach Butler applied to collegiate athletes at the University of South Florida.
Recovery treated as part of training
Recovery and performance optimization strategies are applied deliberately rather than left to chance, which is how they were handled in his Minor League Baseball role.
Private 1-on-1 lessons
Our 1-on-1 training sessions provide athletes with individualized coaching focused on developing their skills, improving technique, and building confidence. Each session is tailored to the athlete's specific needs and goals, with specialized instruction from experienced coaches in their area of expertise.
Johana Whitfield
Strength
Varies, scheduled around her firefighter shifts
Who teaches it
Coaches with a full service record link to it: what they played, where, and what they teach here. The rest are on the roster by name and specialty until their bios are published.
Michael Butler
Sports Performance
Minor League Baseball University of South Florida Florida State
Johana Whitfield
Strength Performance
Firefighter and paramedic strength & conditioning coach South Tampa 13 years
Drew Oldham
Advanced strength and conditioning
Mikayla Cable
Youth strength and conditioning
What we measure with
The point of the equipment is that a change either shows up in a number or it did not happen.
Medicine balls and tidal tanks
Weighted balls and water-filled bags used for rotational power and anti-rotation core work.
What parents say
Field reports
Read Arsenal reviews on Google
5 out of 5 stars on Google
Worth every penny. Absolutely the best facility I've ever seen. The trainers are top notch professionals.
This is a selection. Read every review on Google, or leave one of your own.
Questions
The full list of questions people ask covers ages, pricing, cancellation and parking.
Do you work with athletes from sports other than baseball and softball?
Yes. The sports performance program at Arsenal Performance Training is open to athletes in all sports, not only baseball and softball. Coach Michael Butler has built strength programs for collegiate softball, basketball and lacrosse. Coach Johana Whitfield works with clients from youth to seniors, including job-specific strength training for first responders.
Who runs strength and sports performance at Arsenal?
Michael Butler, known at the facility as Trainer Mike, runs strength and sports performance at Arsenal Performance Training. He has been an assistant strength and conditioning coach in Minor League Baseball, at the University of South Florida and at Saint Leo University, and an intern at Florida State. Drew Oldham coaches advanced strength and conditioning, Mikayla Cable youth strength and conditioning, and Johana Whitfield strength performance.
How much does sports performance training cost?
Strength training at Arsenal Performance Training is $150 a month for the Youth Strength and Speed Membership, with unlimited youth sessions Monday to Friday. The Unlimited Strength Membership is $450 a month, for athletes who don't hit or pitch at Arsenal. Stealth Bomber, Tank Soldier, Max Arsenal and War Machine members can add unlimited strength-only credits for $250 a month. A one-hour strength group is $50 as a drop-in, or $30 for members.
Do you train adults, or only youth athletes?
Arsenal Performance Training works with adults as well as youth athletes through its sports performance program. Coach Johana Whitfield trains a range of clients from youth to seniors on weight loss, healthy lifestyle habits, muscle building and job-specific strength. She is a paramedic of eleven years and a full-time firefighter, and trains for those demands directly.
What ages do you train?
Arsenal Performance Training works with athletes from age six through the professional level. Founder Ricardo Lizcano has spent over a decade coaching that full range, and has completed more than 10,000 lessons in person and online. Instruction is built around the individual athlete rather than an age bracket, so a nine-year-old and a college pitcher are not given the same session.
Start strength & performance at Arsenal
$150 or $450 per month, a $250 add-on for members, or $50 for a one-hour drop-in group ($30 for members). Memberships are month-to-month and can be cancelled before the billing date. Call (813) 872-7765 during opening hours and someone will match your athlete to the right coach.
