Rooney Baseball

Every single day another “expert” appears. And I’ll tell you why. AI can generate content, social media can manufacture attention, and anyone can rent credibility for at least a little while. It feels like everyone suddenly knows everything, especially if you don’t know ‘x’ about ‘y’. But one mustn’t forget, appearances and capability have always been far different currencies. While a quick slamming of letters on a keyboard into can get you commoditized information, context and deeply understanding is still incredibly rare. Visibility has become cheap, while trust will forever remain expensive. It’s easy to know what to say (chat will tell you), but that isn’t the same thing as knowing why it’s true or when it applies. We see it all the time in the S&C/Fitness space. You can know all day long exists, but do you know who to use it on and why it does or doesn’t make sense? And look where that’s got us.. We have a whole band of jack-offs marketing “train like the pros” to parents of kids who are quite literally the furthest they could be from pros. (And some of these parents still buy the nonsense lol, Lord help us.) But there is a (really good) reason these guys who push and preach this bu****it they can’t back never ever stand the test of time. It’s because as a coach, eventually, you get found out. You must sustainably produce. Reality grades everyone eventually. Fire emoji comments on your posts showcasing s**tty drills that don’t transfer if your athletes don’t improve. Your content strategy doesn’t matter if your business isn’t generating real money. And you can bump your gums all day long with the talk, but if you can’t walk it, you’re worthless. Even in 2026, the people who continue to separate themselves can be found doing the same unsexy things that have always worked best: Studying deeply. Practicing relentlessly. And consistently refining themselves over the years. The internet will always reward appearance first. But those who do the real work required to be great always win in the end. They always have. And t

Private equity is buying youth sports and most parents have no idea what that means for their kid. This is not about development anymore. This is about profit. Save this and share it.

One of the hidden benefits of strength training? ⤵️⁠ ⁠ It gives you a movement language to fall back on when things go sideways.⁠ ⁠ When someone has spent time squatting, hinging, lunging, pressing, balancing, and understanding basic positions under load, rehab becomes a lot more straightforward because we already have shared reference points.⁠ ⁠ We can regress the movement, slow it down, reduce the load. We can add support and build it back progressively.⁠ ⁠ The person already knows what the shape feels like.⁠ ⁠ What gets trickier is when someone gets injured and they're trying to learn movement for the very first time while also dealing with pain, swelling, fear, and tissue healing.⁠ ⁠ That’s a much harder conversation.⁠ ⁠ This is one of the reasons I think everyone benefits from some foundational strength and conditioning practice, regardless of age or sport.⁠ ⁠ You don’t need to become a competitive lifter, but you do want enough movement literacy that your body has options and your brain has context when life inevitably throws you a curveball.⁠ ⁠ 🗣️ It’s a lot easier to navigate the system when you already speak a little of the language.⁠ ⁠ Follow me @TheReadyState for more of my philosophy on training and recovery.

The Young Arm at Risk

A Deep Analysis of the Author’s Core Ideas, Mental Models, Frameworks, and Practical Applications

Author: Jim Rooney

⸻

Executive Summary

The Young Arm at Risk argues that the current youth baseball environment has created an epidemic of preventable arm injuries—not because athletes are weaker than previous generations, but because the system itself rewards short-term performance over long-term development.

The book’s central thesis is:

Most arm injuries are not random events—they are the predictable outcome of poor movement development, excessive workload, and a culture obsessed with velocity rather than athleticism.

The book reframes injury prevention as a player-development issue rather than a medical issue.

Instead of asking:

“How do we fix injured pitchers?”

the book asks:

“How do we develop athletes who never become injured in the first place?”

⸻

Core Idea #1

Build the Athlete Before Building the Pitcher

Why it Matters

Pitching is an expression of athletic movement—not merely arm action.

Many young pitchers attempt to perfect pitching mechanics before developing:

* balance
* mobility
* coordination
* strength
* body awareness
* rotational power

Without these foundational qualities, the arm compensates for deficiencies elsewhere in the body.

⸻

Mental Model

Athleticism is the operating system.

Pitching mechanics are merely the software.

If the operating system is flawed…

No software update can fix it.

⸻

Real-Life Application

A 12-year-old should spend significantly more time developing:

* sprinting
* jumping
* balance
* crawling
* medicine ball throws
* strength training
* mobility

than throwing bullpen sessions.

⸻

Core Idea #2

Velocity Is an Outcome, Not a Goal

One of the strongest arguments throughout the book.

The author argues that baseball has reversed cause and effect.

Most programs chase:

Velocity

instead of developing the qualities that naturally produce velocity.

Velocity emerges from:

* force production
* sequencing
* timing
* efficiency
* movement quality

Trying to “throw harder” before these qualities exist often increases injury risk.

⸻

Mental Model

Don’t chase the speedometer.

Build the engine.

⸻

Real-Life Application

Instead of asking:

“How do I gain 5 mph?”

Ask:

“What physical qualities are preventing efficient force production?”

⸻

Core Idea #3

The Body Functions as One System

The arm does not throw the baseball.

The body throws the baseball.

The kinetic chain is the central scientific principle underlying the book.

Force travels:

Ground

↓

Feet

↓

Legs

↓

Hips

↓

Core

↓

Thorax

↓

Scapula

↓

Shoulder

↓

Arm

↓

Hand

↓

Ball

When one link fails…

Another link compensates.

⸻

Mental Model

Think of cracking a whip.

The handle generates energy.

The tip simply delivers it.

The arm is the tip—not the handle.

⸻

Application

Instead of fixing:

Arm slot

Work on:

* hip mobility
* trunk rotation
* balance
* lead-leg stability
* thoracic mobility

⸻

Core Idea #4

Pain Is a Warning, Not a Normal Part of Development

The author challenges one of baseball’s most dangerous cultural myths:

“Everyone’s arm hurts.”

No.

Healthy pitchers should not routinely experience:

* elbow pain
* shoulder pain
* biceps pain
* forearm tightness

Pain is information.

Ignoring pain often transforms a manageable problem into structural damage.

⸻

Mental Model

Smoke before fire.

Pain is the smoke alarm.

Don’t disable the alarm.

Find the fire.

⸻

Application

Parents and coaches should immediately investigate recurring pain instead of normalizing it.

⸻

Core Idea #5

Overuse Is Only Part of the Problem

Pitch counts matter.

Rest matters.

Recovery matters.

But the book argues something deeper.

Two pitchers can throw:

80 pitches.

One remains healthy.

The other develops elbow pain.

Why?

Movement efficiency.

The athlete with better sequencing experiences lower stress despite similar workloads.

⸻

Mental Model

Stress =

Workload × Efficiency

Less efficient movement multiplies stress.

⸻

Application

Workload management must include:

* mechanics
* movement screening
* fatigue monitoring
* recovery

⸻

Core Idea #6

Parents Must Become Informed Consumers

The book repeatedly emphasizes:

Parents outsource too much responsibility.

Many assume:

Travel ball coaches

Private instructors

Showcase organizations

know what is best.

The author argues:

Parents must understand development principles themselves.

⸻

Why?

Parents make decisions about:

* specialization
* showcases
* pitching volume
* private lessons
* showcases vs development

Poor information leads to poor choices.

⸻

Mental Model

Parents are CEOs.

Coaches are consultants.

The CEO retains final responsibility.

⸻

Core Idea #7

Athletic Diversity Protects Arms

One recurring theme:

Young athletes should move in many different ways.

Not simply pitch year-round.

Benefits include:

* coordination
* resilience
* proprioception
* reduced repetitive stress
* psychological freshness

⸻

Application

Basketball

Swimming

Soccer

Tennis

Track

All improve athletic development.

⸻

Core Idea #8

Early Success Often Predicts Later Problems

One of the book’s more counterintuitive arguments.

Youth baseball rewards:

Large

Early maturing

Hard throwing

players.

Those same players often stop developing because they rely on physical advantages instead of improving athletic qualities.

Late developers frequently surpass them.

⸻

Mental Model

Early winners aren’t always long-term winners.

⸻

Application

Evaluate potential rather than present dominance.

⸻

Core Idea #9

Long-Term Development Beats Short-Term Results

The author consistently contrasts:

Development

versus

Performance.

Winning today’s tournament often sacrifices tomorrow’s athlete.

⸻

Long-Term Questions

Will this athlete:

Be healthier?

Throw harder?

Enjoy baseball longer?

Still be pitching at age 18?

These questions matter more than winning a 12U championship.

⸻

Core Idea #10

Coaching Should Develop Problem Solvers

One of the strongest educational themes.

The best coaches do not create robots.

They create adaptable athletes.

Rather than prescribing every movement,

they teach:

* awareness
* self-correction
* experimentation
* feedback interpretation

⸻

Mental Model

Coach less.

Teach more.

⸻

Application

Instead of saying:

“Keep your elbow here.”

Ask:

“What did you feel on that pitch?”

This develops ownership.

⸻

Major Frameworks Presented

Framework 1

The Development Pyramid

Level 4

Pitching Skill

↑

Level 3

Power

Speed

Rotational Force

↑

Level 2

Strength

Balance

Coordination

↑

Level 1

Mobility

Movement Competency

Stability

Every level depends on the one beneath it.

⸻

Framework 2

The Injury Triangle

Injury Risk =

Movement Quality

Workload

Recovery

Poor performance in any one increases risk.

⸻

Framework 3

Development Timeline

Athlete

↓

Mover

↓

Thrower

↓

Pitcher

↓

Competitor

↓

High Performer

Most youth baseball reverses this order.

⸻

Framework 4

Decision Filter

Before any training decision ask:

Does this improve:

Movement?

Athleticism?

Health?

Longevity?

If not…

Don’t do it.

⸻

Key Mental Models

Throughout the book, several recurring mental models help explain the author’s philosophy:

* Build the engine, not the speedometer — Develop physical qualities rather than chasing radar-gun numbers.
* The arm is the messenger, not the culprit — Arm pain often reflects problems elsewhere in the kinetic chain.
* Movement before mechanics — Quality movement creates better mechanics, not the reverse.
* Think in decades, not seasons — Evaluate decisions by their long-term impact on health and development.
* Development compounds — Small improvements in movement quality, strength, and coordination accumulate into large gains over years.

⸻

Actionable Insights

The book translates its philosophy into practical recommendations:

1. Develop athletic movement before emphasizing pitching mechanics.
2. Prioritize quality movement over throwing volume.
3. Treat pain as feedback requiring investigation, not as something to “throw through.”
4. Build strength, mobility, and coordination year-round.
5. Follow structured throwing progressions and respect recovery.
6. Encourage participation in multiple sports or varied physical activities during development.
7. Evaluate coaches by their ability to develop healthy athletes, not simply by producing hard throwers.
8. Measure progress through improved movement efficiency, consistency, and durability—not only velocity.
9. Teach athletes to understand and self-regulate their own mechanics.
10. Make every development decision with the athlete’s long-term health and enjoyment of the game in mind.

⸻

The Central Takeaway

The unifying message of The Young Arm at Risk is that healthy, durable, high-performing pitchers are developed—not discovered. Velocity, command, and resilience are not isolated skills; they emerge from years of building athleticism, movement quality, sound decision-making, and efficient force transfer.

The book challenges coaches, parents, and organizations to redefine success. Rather than celebrating early radar-gun readings or youth tournament wins, it argues that the true measure of a development system is whether it produces athletes who continue to improve, stay healthy, and still love the game years later. That shift—from chasing immediate outcomes to investing in long-term capability—is the thread that connects every major argument in the book.

Dave Dagostino The Kinetic Arm DVS Baseball Jason Kimball Players Athletic Club Elite Functional Performance

Young Arm at Risk: The untold truth about the broken system contributing to youth pitching injuries in baseball Young Arm at Risk: The untold truth about the broken system contributing to youth pitching injuries in baseball

college coaches stop abusing young pitchers’ arms challenge, College World Series edition #baseball #collegebaseball #mlb

Do I love elements of social media? Sure do. Has social media enhanced my family’s life? I’m grateful to say it has. But I’m also, probably more than most, a bit more understanding of the dangers of social media when it comes to “what you see” vs. “what life is really like”. While I obviously try to use social media as an effective tool to enhance what our company is working to accomplish, globally, I can proudly say I’ve never outsourced a single piece of content. Of 9,000+ pieces, I’ve never made one post because I was paid to, nor have I ever once “aimed at going viral”. I literally post, freely, what’s on my mind, how we train our athletes, how I train myself, and how I train my own kids. And to be frank, it’s super easy to be consistent because I’m never having to “think of what to post” because I’m literally just posting the s**t we’re already authentically doing. And how I “got to this point” with our business and family dynamic stems not from social media. But what I spent tens of thousands of hours working on in the dark. The hands and knees dog work, where I was getting the s**t kicked out of me, day after day that nobody saw, much less gave a s**t about. And I’m grateful that I couldn’t pay my way around it. That I couldn’t optimize a post to earn a few bucks. And it’s because shoveling s**t when nobody is watching can’t be made into a highlight reel. But it does compound. And that’s my concern with social media sports. You know what they are. These bigger adult money driven organizations “influencing” kids behaviors for their gain. They’re pushing the bigger batflips. The goofy ass uniforms. The outlandish antics. They want it all on film. And they make the kids feel good about it by tagging them in a post to get their rush, while they as adults collect the dollars in the attention is currency era. But guess who loses when they find out the circus acts they performed for praise yield them jack s**t in the real world? The kids.

A good coach doesn't correct a thousand details per rep. One should strive to focus on one issue for a thousand reps. Fix the big problem and the little ones disappear too. That's true in coaching and it's true in your own training. Stop chasing every minor flaw and find the one thing that actually matters. Work on that until it's solved. . . . . . . . . . . #danjohn #coaching #strengthcoach #realcoaching #practicalstrength #simplestrength #fitnessmindset #gymadvice #trainingadvice #trainingsmart #functionalstrength #fitnesseducation #strengthtraining #consistencyiskey #smarttraining #fitnesscoach #longtermathletes #movewell #danjohnuniversity #keepitsimple #coachingtips #athletedevelopment #coachingtools #strengthandconditioning #kettlebelltraining #barbelltraining #focusononehing #progress #lessonsfromcoaching #artofcoaching

Most baseball dads I know are doing everything right by the standard they’ve been given. ⠀ Right team. Right lessons. Right showcases. Right everything... except nobody told them the standard they’ve been handed was built by the industry to keep them spending. ⠀ Swipe through every law. Then save this before you keep scrolling. ⠀ #travelbaseball #selectbaseball #youthbaseball #baseballparents #baseballdad Nobody in this industry is going to tell you what I’m about to tell you. Not the coach recruiting your son for his roster. Not the organization director selling you on the next level. Not the showcase rep telling you your son needs more exposure. ⠀ They can’t afford to. ⠀ The youth baseball industry runs on confusion. Not on development. Not on your son’s future. On the gap between what you know and what you’d need to know to make the right call right now. ⠀ That gap is worth billions. And it gets wider every season most dads don’t close it. ⠀ #travelbaseball #selectbaseball #youthbaseball #baseballparents #baseballdad I want to be straight with you about something. The coaches running these organizations aren’t bad people. Most of them genuinely love the game. ⠀ But love for the game doesn’t change the math. Roster spots get filled. Fees get collected. And the machine rolls forward whether your son develops or just takes up space on the bench every weekend. ⠀ I’ve seen it play out the same way at every level for more than 35 years. Good families. Good intentions. Wrong information at the wrong time. ⠀ That’s the machine doing exactly what it was built to do. ⠀ #travelbaseball #selectbaseball #youthbaseball #baseballparents #baseballdad Fear doesn’t wait for a plan. That’s what makes it so expensive in youth baseball. ⠀ A dad feels his son is behind. Maybe another kid on the team is bigger. Maybe a coach made an offhand comment. Maybe he just did the math on how many roster spots are out there and panicked. ⠀ So he spends. New team. More lessons. Another camp. Anything that feels like forward momentum. ⠀ The industry knows this. It built the whole thing around it. A scared dad is a spending dad. And right now somebody is manufacturing that fear on purpose

Most parents read early success as a signal. It's worth asking what it's actually a signal of. A 13-year-old who's bigger than everyone else will win in almost any speed or strength sport. Physical maturity at that age gets mistaken for talent more often than people realise. The research bears this out — around 24% of kids who make provincial under-13 rugby go on to make provincial under-19. Until recently, one in 10 Springboks played SA Schools rugby. The kid who's being knocked around at 12, who has to work twice as hard just to stay on the field — that kid is often building something the standout isn't being asked to build yet. Parents who understand this tend to watch their kids differently. Less focused on the result, more curious about what the struggle is actually producing in them. Comment GROWTH and I'll send you the full conversation. #PaddyUpton #TheBarefootCoach #YouthSport #SportParents #ParentingInSport #HighPerformance #MentalGame #Coaching #LongTermDevelopment #SportPsychology