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Youth sports can make it feel as if every family has to take the same route: join the same organization, train year-round, and copy whatever successful athletes are doing. Coaches Eric Johnson and Aaron Thigpen argue that this pressure can distract families from a more useful question: what does this particular athlete need, at this stage, to keep developing? Their answer is not to reject outside advice or inspiration. It is to stop treating someone else’s path as a ready-made plan.

Why Athletes Need a Plan, Not Just More Work The urge to train harder can be a strength—until it gets in the way of training well. Coaches Eric Johnson and Aaron Thigpen say athletic progress depends on more than effort: it takes a plan that connects each workout to a sport-specific goal, room to recover, and enough patience to master the work.

A high school’s winning record can look like proof that it is the right place for an athlete. But wins alone don’t show whether a program develops players, gives them a fair chance, or helps them move toward their next goal. Coaches Aaron Thigpen and Erik Johnson argue that families should investigate a school’s athletic program before committing—not after an athlete has spent years in the wrong situation.

Young pitchers are obsessed with throwing hard, but this "chasing velocity" mindset is leading to burnout and injury. Learn how to build a sustainable, year-round plan for arm health and peak performance. In the world of baseball recruiting, the radar gun often feels like the ultimate judge. Young pitchers, their parents, and even some coaches have become singularly focused on one metric: pitching velocity. This obsession has created a culture of "chasing velocity," where athletes jump from one quick-fix program to another, often at the expense of their long-term health and development as a complete pitcher. In a recent discussion, veteran coaches Eric Johnson ("The Bran") and Aaron Thigpen ("The Source") of the "Ask Aaron and Ask EJ" podcast broke down the pitfalls of this trend and outlined a smarter, more sustainable path to becoming a high-level pitcher.

In the competitive world of high school sports, being a versatile athlete who can play multiple positions often feels like a badge of honor. A player who can pitch a winning game on Tuesday and hit a home run on Friday is invaluable to their team. However, as athletes set their sights on a collegiate career, this versatility can become a significant roadblock. This is the "dual position dilemma"—the struggle between being a jack-of-all-trades in high school and the need to become a master of one for the next level.

In the world of athletics, everyone wants to get better, faster, and stronger. But a significant gap often exists between the desire to improve and the understanding of what it truly takes. This disconnect in training expectations—between athletes, parents, and even coaches—can lead to frustration, stalled progress, and a cycle of endless "fixes" that never stick. The core issue often boils down to a fundamental misunderstanding between simply working out and engaging in true performance training.

Tired of hearing "you need to get bigger, stronger, faster"? This article deconstructs the popular but lazy coaching cliché and reveals what truly matters for athletic development: specific feedback and measurable performance output.

In the world of competitive sports, there's a pervasive and dangerous mindset settling in among athletes of all ages: the check-in mentality. It's the belief that simply showing up—to practice, to training sessions, to showcases—is enough. It's the idea that punching the clock should automatically lead to rewards, improvement, and recognition.

Welcome to a deep dive into the evolving landscape of sports, where the rulebook for athlete development is being rewritten daily. In a recent discussion on "Ask Aaron and Ask EJ," hosts Eric Johnson and Coach Aaron explored the multifaceted pressures facing young athletes today. From seismic shifts in college baseball recruiting to the psychological hurdles of competition in the digital age, the path to success has never been more complex.

In the world of sports, we focus on drills, physical conditioning, and strategy. But what about one of the most critical skills for success—one that happens off the field, court, or track? We're talking about athlete-coach communication. For many athletes, approaching a coach can feel intimidating, leading to missed opportunities for growth.

For high school athletes, particularly rising seniors, the college recruiting journey can feel like a maze of confusion and anxiety. Many talented players feel like if they don't have offers by the summer before their senior year, the dream is over. But that couldn't be further from the truth. The landscape of college recruiting has changed dramatically, and a crucial window of opportunity is wide open right now.

n a recent episode of "Ask Aaron and Ask EJ," they pull back the curtain on the modern draft. Drawing from their experience with three recently drafted athletes—Tyler Spangler (Phillies, 1st round), Paulie Contreras (Yankees, 4th round), and Jacob Johnson (Cardinals, 17th round)—they revealed a process that has evolved far beyond old-school scouting.

Explore the shifting landscape of collegiate baseball recruiting. Learn why dedicated baseball player development is more crucial than ever for high school athletes to succeed in the new NCAA environment and beyond.

The spring season is underway, and with it comes the excitement of competition. But what happens when the first weekend doesn't go as planned? Your young athlete strikes out, misses a shot, or posts a disappointing time. The immediate instinct for many parents and coaches is to sound the alarm and demand immediate changes. This "knee-jerk reaction" to a poor performance is a common pitfall. According to youth sports coaches, this approach can do more harm than good, derailing long-term progress for short-term fixes. The key is to shift the focus from a single bad day to the overarching journey of athletic development.

Discover the biggest mistakes athletes make that kill their off-season gains. Learn why consistent in-season training is crucial for peak performance, injury prevention, and long-term development.