Overexposed and Underdeveloped: How Showcase Culture is Hurting Young Athletes
Travel ball and showcase culture promise exposure and opportunity—but often deliver fatigue, poor mechanics, and long-term setbacks. In this Sore to Soaring Podcast episode, Coach Leo Young and Dr. Jason Zaremski (UF Health Sports Medicine) break down how the constant chase for attention is leading to injury, burnout, and undeveloped skill sets in youth baseball. Overexposed and Underdeveloped: How Showcase Culture is Hurting Young Athletes Weekend after weekend, kids are logging high-volume game reps with little structure, rest, or developmental purpose—all for the chance to be seen. Coach Leo Young and Dr. Jason Zaremski, MD, argue that this showcase-first system is doing more damage than good. What’s one way you’ve seen “exposure” come at the expense of actual development? Drop your experience in the comments—we want to hear the reality.
INJURY PREVENTION & PERFORMANCE BUILDING STRONGER ATHLETES
Coach Leo Young
5/2/20252 min read
Why Exposure-Driven Tournaments Are Creating Long-Term Problems
“You’ve got kids playing three or four games in a weekend, throwing in different roles, jumping back in the lineup, playing outfield—and by Sunday they’re cooked,” says Coach Leo. “And it’s all for a $14 ring and the idea that someone might see them.”
Dr. Zaremski agrees. He explains that constant, unstructured exposure—especially under fatigue—makes kids far more susceptible to injury. Their mechanics break down. Their recovery windows disappear. And the long-term cost is high.
What’s one moment you realized a player—or even your own child—was being pushed more for exposure than real growth? Drop it in the comments. We want to hear the truth behind the grind.
Chasing the Spotlight Is Setting Players Back
What was once about reps and learning the game is now about appearances and outcomes. Players aren’t building skills—they’re surviving weekends.
“Even if they rotate players out of pitching, they’re still throwing, still warming up, still exposed,” says Coach Leo. “The body doesn’t care what position you’re in—when you’re at that fatigue threshold, it’s all risk.”
Meanwhile, the most critical developmental needs—mobility, strength, movement patterns, recovery—are being ignored.
Key Takeaways for Parents and Coaches
✅ Exposure without development is a trap – Being seen doesn’t help if the body is breaking down
✅ Fatigue destroys mechanics – Bad habits form when energy drops
✅ Weekend wins don’t build long-term success – Development takes time and structure
✅ Protect the athlete first – Programs that prioritize health produce the best outcomes over time
How Sore to Soaring Helps Shift the Focus
At Sore to Soaring, we help athletes train with purpose, not panic. We’re not chasing attention—we’re building real players who can compete, stay healthy, and keep developing when others burn out. The spotlight is earned over time—not through shortcuts that hurt kids.
Support our work at: www.SoreToSoaring.org
Disclaimer
The views shared in this article are for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement by Lupos Initiative Inc., DBA Sore to Soaring. Always consult a qualified professional before implementing any training, recovery, or medical plan. No affiliation or compensation exists between Sore to Soaring and any for-profit entity mentioned.
To learn more about Dr. Jason Zaremski and UF Health Sports Medicine, visit:
https://ufhealth.org
Hashtags
#ShowcaseBaseball #YouthSportsDevelopment #BaseballTraining
#SoreToSoaring #PlayerHealth #BaseballMechanics #TravelBallReality
#InjuryPrevention #LongTermAthleteDevelopment #SmartTraining
