Hi USSSA family,
It's tournament season.
Here's what we're thinking about this week: protecting young arms, strengthening the mental game, and finding another chance for a meaningful conversation on the ride home.
Let's take a look beyond the scoreboard.
With buckets in hand, members of the USSSA team came together for a beach cleanup at Pelican Beach Park in Satellite Beach, Florida.
As part of the organization's Adopt-A-Beach program, the team spent the morning helping care for a shoreline that has welcomed countless USSSA families over the years between games and tournaments at the Space Coast Complex.
At USSSA, we believe sports build more than athletes. They build communities.
We're proud to do our part, both on and off the field.
If you grew up in the '90s, you probably remember the movie Rookie of the Year. Twelve-year-old Henry Rowengartner breaks his arm. It heals wrong, and suddenly he's throwing 103 mph for the Chicago Cubs.
As kids, we all wanted Gardenhoser's arm.
Unfortunately, in real life, arms don't heal into superpowers.
Over the last few decades, youth sports have changed dramatically. Kids today have more opportunities to play than ever before. School teams, travel ball, all-star teams, showcases, lessons, and year-round competition.
The challenge is making sure those opportunities are matched with smart recovery.
Here's the number that should make every parent pause:
Not professional players.
Not college athletes.
Teenagers.
Sports medicine experts call the rise in youth arm injuries what it is: an epidemic.
Here's the twist. The thing many parents worry about most isn't the biggest problem.
Little League research has found that the primary cause of arm injuries isn't pitch type. It's overuse.
Not curveballs.
Not sliders.
Just too many pitches, and too little rest.
Bullpens, practices, lessons, school ball, and tournaments all add to the same workload. The arm doesn't know what jersey it's wearing.
One of the biggest myths in youth sports is that the windmill pitch is easier on the arm than an overhand baseball throw.
Research tells a different story.
Biomechanical studies have found that the forces placed on the shoulder and elbow during a windmill pitch are remarkably similar to those of an overhand pitch. Different mechanics. Similar stress.
In fact, many fastpitch pitchers carry an even heavier workload than their baseball counterparts. It's not unusual for a team's primary pitcher to throw throughout an entire tournament weekend.
That's not a typo.
That's a lot to ask of a young arm.
Whether your athlete throws overhand or underhand, one thing doesn't change: young arms need time to recover.
Protecting a young arm doesn't require being a pitching expert. It starts with a few simple habits:
"What's our pitch count plan today?"
Most coaches want to do what's best for their players. Sometimes all it takes is starting the conversation.
Henry Rowengartner's arm was movie magic.
Real kids don't need superpowers. They just need enough recovery to keep playing the game they love.
THIS WEEK · CHAPTERS 11 to 16 ← Missed Ch 6 to 10? Catch up ↗
Three ideas worth carrying into the weekend.
Ever notice how quickly kids pick up our habits? If we pace, they fidget. If we complain, they complain. If we stay composed, they're more likely to do the same.
Every team has a dugout full of Petes and Repeats. Our body language, reactions to umpires, and responses to adversity often become their blueprint.
If we want steady, resilient athletes, it starts with us modeling composure first.
Before the start of the playoffs, Phil Jackson asked every player to write a short paragraph about what the season and their team had meant to them.
Wins fade fast. Losses fade faster than we think. The moments that stay with our kids aren't always the ones we noticed.
Don't wait until the last game to find out what mattered most.
Phil Jackson reflects on one of the Buddha's teachings: that much of our suffering comes from wanting reality to be different than it is. He then adapts the Noble Eightfold Path into a guide for helping his players stay in the present moment.
This isn't just a guide for basketball players. It's a pretty good reminder for parents and coaches, too.
It's easy to get caught wishing things had gone differently in the game. But our greatest influence often comes from how we respond to the moment we're in, not the one we wish we had.
Try responding to what's actually happening instead.
NEXT UP · CHAPTERS 17 to 22
Meet "E-Dog." At just 8 years old, he's already logging nearly 100 swings a day, proof that big dreams get built one rep at a time.
That kind of effort, on and off the field, is exactly why Ethan Powell is this week's USSSA Player of the Week.
Keep swinging, Ethan.
Sometimes the best conversations begin with the toughest moments.
You don't need to have the right response. Just be willing to listen.
Whether they share a little or a lot…
36 of the nation's top 12U players. Three elite teams. One unforgettable weekend.
Athletes from across the country were invited to represent Rawlings Army, Easton Army, and USSSA Army in the 2026 War Games for a one-of-a-kind showcase of talent, teamwork, and competition.
Here's to another week of great games and even better memories.