George Carralejo, recently named the 2026 ABCA/Soldier Sports Pacific Association Division National Assistant Coach of the Year, is using the honor to advocate for a new approach to youth athletic development. Instead of prioritizing game results, Carralejo emphasizes skill development, mental resilience, and reducing injury risks associated with excessive game volume.
Carralejo, who has nearly two decades of coaching experience at the high school and college levels, believes youth sports place too much emphasis on outcomes rather than process. "The award is a tremendous honor," said Carralejo. "But what matters most to me is helping young players build skills that last. I'd like to see our youth parents take a step back and focus on the big picture, which is improvement over time and understanding the lessons that are learned during times of failure as well as success."
His message aligns with research from the American Sports Medicine Institute, which has found that pitching while fatigued significantly increases injury risk. Pitch Smart guidelines, developed by USA Baseball and Major League Baseball, recommend age-based pitch counts and proper recovery to prevent overuse injuries. Carralejo argues that playing too many weekend tournaments with limited pitching staffs exacerbates these risks. "We are playing a lot of weekend tournaments. Ok, then we need to develop an entire roster of pitchers, so we can cover that many games in a short period," he said.
To address these issues, Carralejo encourages players, parents, and coaches to adopt practical habits: focus on multiple sports to build athleticism, embrace failure to develop mental toughness, celebrate incremental improvement, maintain a growth mindset, and enjoy the post-game ride home. "When I get pitchers coming to play for me in college, I want athletes. Guys who can pitch, who know how to compete, value winning. That's an understated trait," Carralejo noted.
The ABCA has recognized National Assistant Coaches of the Year since 1999, honoring contributions to coaching expertise, recruiting, loyalty, and respect for the game. Carralejo will be recognized at the 83rd annual ABCA Convention in Chicago in January 2027. He hopes this recognition sparks a larger conversation about sustainable player development. "If this award encourages one more coach to develop players more thoughtfully, or one more young athlete to stay patient with their development, that's a win," he said.
Carralejo's call to action includes learning Pitch Smart guidelines, ensuring proper rest, rewarding consistent improvement, and building mentally resilient athletes. "The goal isn't to create the greatest player. It's to help create people who learn to compete with confidence, and enjoy the game for years to come," he concluded.
