Why Coaches Need to Talk—From High School to Travel Ball
Too many coaches operate in silos. In this Sore to Soaring Podcast episode, Dr. Jason Zaremski (UF Health Sports Medicine) and Coach Leo Young discuss the urgent need for high school, Legion, and travel ball coaches to communicate and coordinate athlete workloads. Without unified oversight, players are being overused, injured, and burned out—simply because no one knows what the other is doing. Why Coaches Need to Talk—From High School to Travel Ball What’s the simplest way to reduce injury risk for young pitchers? Talk. From high school to Legion to travel ball, communication between coaches is rare—and that silence is hurting athletes. Dr. Jason Zaremski and Coach Leo Young lay it out clearly: coaches don’t need to agree on everything—but they need to align around the athlete.
INJURY PREVENTION & PERFORMANCE BUILDING STRONGER ATHLETES
Coach Leo Young
8/19/20252 min read
The Problem: No One Knows What the Athlete Is Actually Doing
It’s not uncommon for a kid to pitch 40–50 innings across multiple teams—and no one is tracking it.
Why?
Because in most systems, coaches from different programs don’t communicate.
“There are some great coaches doing it the right way,” Dr. Z says. “But it’s tough. Private organizations and school associations don’t always talk, and it’s the athlete who gets lost in the shuffle.”
Do coaches in your area talk to each other to protect players—or is everyone in their own silo? Drop your experience in the video comments.
The Pro Model: Communication Is the Standard
In higher levels of organized sports, communication is the expectation.
“In U.S. Soccer, if a player gets injured, college programs call the national team coaches—and vice versa,” Dr. Z explains. “Everyone stays informed because the player comes first.”
At the pro level, it’s even more structured. Trainers, coaches, and medical staff are in constant contact.
Why should youth athletes get less?
It’s Harder at the Youth Level—But That Doesn’t Mean It’s Optional
High school and travel coaches have different goals, different calendars, and different motivations.
But they all claim to care about the athlete.
If that’s true, communication must happen—even in competitive environments.
Otherwise, the same pitcher ends up throwing on Thursday for school and Saturday for travel… and breaking down by July.
Communication Isn’t Control—It’s Care
This isn’t about one coach telling the others what to do.
It’s about having a conversation:
– “How many innings has Johnny thrown?”
– “Did he pitch in that last tournament?”
– “Is he coming off rest or an injury?”
That one text message can prevent a blown elbow or a lost season.
Key Takeaways for Coaches, Parents, and Program Leaders
✅ Player workload must be tracked across all programs
✅ Coaches should communicate innings pitched, recovery status, and injury risk
✅ Silence between programs leads to injury, burnout, and poor development
✅ Professional and collegiate systems model the right behavior—youth baseball should follow
✅ The player should always come before the program
How Sore to Soaring Builds Communication Into Development
At Sore to Soaring, we don’t coach in isolation.
We work with families, school coaches, and travel programs to align around what the athlete needs.
That means tracking workload, adjusting based on performance, and communicating clearly.
Because protecting a pitcher isn’t just about mechanics—it’s about management.
Support our mission 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
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#SoreToSoaring #CoachingCommunication #TravelBallProblems
#SmartDevelopment #BaseballRecovery #ArmCare
#BaseballCoaching #PitchingHealth #LongTermAthleteDevelopment
