In this powerful episode of Chat By The Pitch, we welcome Victor Jaramillo of SportXplore Travel to peel back the curtain on one of the most frustrating parts of youth sports: the "stay to play" tournament model. Victor breaks down how families are being squeezed by hotel schemes, what really goes on behind those “official travel partner” links, and how clubs, coaches, and parents can push back without risking their players' spots. Whether you're new to the travel game or a seasoned parent navigating another tournament season, this conversation is your roadmap to informed decisions, financial clarity, and better experiences for your team.

📌 Key Talking Points

• What “Stay to Play” really means and how it impacts families financially

• How the hotel cost structures are inflated—and who benefits

• The leverage clubs do have, but rarely use

• How to negotiate hotel rates without being a travel agent

• The importance of communication between parents, coaches, and club leadership

• Real examples of tournaments that rejected the system and thrived

• Why language barriers create a bigger issue in tournament logistics

• Tips on navigating cancellation policies and refund traps

• How Victor leverages his travel agency to advocate for families

• What it will take for the youth sports community to change the system

🎧 Tune In To Learn

• How to identify red flags in tournament lodging agreements

• The exact questions to ask your team manager before the season starts

• Why “going rogue” might be the only way to regain control

• How clubs and parents can work together to break the cycle

• What Victor believes is the tipping point to fix youth travel culture

💬 Quotes from Victor Jaramillo

• “A hundred-dollar hotel rate can turn into $180 overnight—and the quality often doesn’t match the cost.”

• “Parents are being held hostage by a system they don’t understand and didn’t choose.”

• “The teams that reject ‘stay to play’ and choose their own path? I respect that deeply.”

• “This isn’t just about saving money—it’s about building trust, clarity, and fairness.”

• “Tournaments bake kickbacks into hotel prices, and families are left paying the bill without knowing.”

• “The players may speak English fluently, but their parents might not—and that silence creates a power imbalance.”

• “You have power as a customer, but the system counts on you not realizing that.”

• “I’m not here to make a quick buck. I started SportXplore Travel to solve a real problem.”

• “It’s time for big clubs to take a stand and say, ‘We’re not playing by these rules anymore.’”

• “Never arrive. Stay ready, stay learning, and stay in the fight for what’s right.”

  
  

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