Chasing the Game - Youth Soccer in America – Details, episodes & analysis

What does better player development actually look like in American youth soccer?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia talk with Luis Robles, MLS NEXT Technical Director and former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper, about his path through the game and how that experience now shapes his view of youth development in the United States.

The conversation covers resilience, leadership, goalkeeping, the sacrifices families make in travel soccer, and why MLS NEXT matters in the broader player-development landscape.

This episode is for soccer parents, coaches, and players who want to understand how elite development is changing in the U.S. and what values still matter most underneath the structure.

• (00:00) - Chapter 1
• (00:00) - - Luis Robles on learning soccer late and almost choosing baseball
• (00:00) - - From immigrant family to USMNT and MLS Cup champion
• (00:00) - - Becoming a soccer parent and seeing pay-to-play up close
• (00:00) - - The grind of travel soccer and family sacrifices
• (00:00) - - What MLS NEXT is and why it matters
• (00:00) - - Can U.S. soccer build better pathways for kids?
• (00:00) - - Luis on goalkeeping, resilience, and identity
• (00:00) - - Hopes for the next generation of players

Why does youth soccer in America feel like a maze?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia set the foundation for the show by breaking down the fragmented U.S. youth soccer landscape. They compare MLS NEXT, ECNL, GA, USYS, high school soccer, and other pathways, and explain why so many families feel confused even when they are deeply invested in the game.

You’ll hear how pay-to-play shapes access, how American soccer culture differs from more established football countries, and why the definition of “success” in youth soccer is often far less clear than parents expect.

This episode is for soccer parents, coaches, and players who want a clearer understanding of the youth soccer system in the United States and the major decisions families face inside it.

• (00:00) - Introduction – Welcome to Chasing the Game
• (01:45) - Too Many Leagues, Too Little Clarity
• (06:30) - Matt’s Stats Corner – Fragmented System by the Numbers
• (09:50) - Liron’s Story – The Soccer Labyrinth at Home
• (13:10) - The MLS NEXT Shift
• (17:20) - The Pay-to-Play Paradox
• (21:00) - Expert Perspective – Finding Your Path
• (26:40) - The End Game – What Success Looks Like
• (29:10) - Closing – What We’ll Tackle Next

Why does youth soccer in America feel so complicated for families?

In this trailer for Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, hosts Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia introduce the show and the questions driving it. From MLS NEXT and ECNL to pay-to-play, travel costs, coaching culture, and player development, this podcast is built for parents trying to understand how the U.S. youth soccer system actually works.

You’ll hear how Chasing the Game approaches the topic: clear analysis, honest parent perspective, and conversations with coaches, academy directors, former pros, and people working inside the system.

This show is for soccer parents, coaches, and players navigating club soccer, academy pathways, college recruiting, and the broader culture of youth soccer in the United States.

https://chasingthegame.us

What does it mean to coach the person, not just the player?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia speak with Patrick Ouckama, Technical Director at the New England Revolution Academy, about culture, accountability, and player development inside an MLS NEXT environment.

They explore Patrick’s coaching path, what has changed in U.S. youth soccer, how academy systems shape mentality, and why development has to come before short-term winning.

This episode is for parents and coaches who want a clearer view of how elite academy soccer works and how the best environments build both stronger players and stronger people.

• (00:00) - Intro
• (02:10) - Patrick’s Coaching Path
• (12:40) - Culture vs Talent
• (24:55) - Accountability Inside Academies
• (35:30) - Parent Expectations

How should parents think about development inside a system as fragmented as American youth soccer?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia continue their conversation with Luis Robles, MLS NEXT Technical Director and former New York Red Bulls captain. This time, the focus shifts from personal journey to the system families are navigating right now.

They discuss how MLS NEXT fits alongside ECNL, USL, EA, and EDP; how video and analysis are used in development; why field-size and substitution decisions matter; and how parents fit into communication, culture, and long-term player growth.

This episode is for soccer parents and coaches trying to make smarter decisions about league choice, development environments, and what truly helps players progress.

Click here to view the episode transcript.

What does it mean to coach the person, not just the player?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia speak with Patrick Ouckama, Technical Director at the New England Revolution Academy, about culture, accountability, and player development inside an MLS NEXT environment.

They explore Patrick’s coaching path, what has changed in U.S. youth soccer, how academy systems shape mentality, and why development has to come before short-term winning.

This episode is for parents and coaches who want a clearer view of how elite academy soccer works and how the best environments build both stronger players and stronger people.

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (00:19) - Development focus at younger ages
• (00:23) - Positions vs. profiles in academy evaluation
• (02:50) - Why many players identify as “#10s”
• (04:00) - When an attacking player becomes a fullback
• (05:50) - Pathways into the first team by position
• (07:45) - When to move a player out of the midfield
• (09:10) - Playing time vs. development at U13–U14
• (12:00) - Technical load: why American players lack touches
• (14:50) - Are tactics introduced too early in the U.S.?
• (17:20) - Assessing coaching methodology inside academies
• (20:30) - Comparing U.S. and European development cultures
• (23:10) - Common misconceptions among parents
• (26:40) - Overlooked barriers in the U.S. development pathway
• (29:50) - Rapid-fire questions
• (33:40) - Closing remarks

Why do so many youth soccer environments create pressure before players are ready for it?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia talk with Ben Olsen about the realities of pressure in youth soccer in the United States and what parents often misunderstand about development.

The conversation covers pay-to-play, soccer IQ, joy versus pressure, MLS NEXT academy culture, player development, and how elite environments evaluate potential beyond early success.

This episode is for soccer parents, coaches, and players navigating ECNL, USYS, MLS NEXT, high school soccer, and the college pathway, as they try to understand what truly matters for long-term growth.

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:40) - Ben’s Early Experiences in U.S. Youth Soccer
• (03:15) - Pressure, Competitiveness & Player Development
• (07:10) - What Parents Get Wrong About Youth Soccer
• (11:30) - What Real Development Looks Like Inside MLS NEXT
• (15:45) - Culture, Joy & The Global Game
• (21:20) - Navigating Club Soccer Expectations
• (27:50) - Ben’s Advice to Parents & Players
• (32:40) - Wrap-Up

How do young coaches and former players see the gaps in youth soccer differently from everyone else?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia talk with Brando Babini and Billy Pavlou, founders of Youth4Youth FC and Next Level USA, about supplemental training, mentorship, match minutes, and what families often misunderstand about development.

They explore near-peer coaching, the role of parents, differences between clubs in New York City, college recruiting, social media, burnout, and why the next generation may reshape the U.S. youth soccer landscape.

This episode is for soccer parents and players looking for clearer guidance on supplemental training, exposure, development, and the real value of the right environment.

• (00:00) - Start
• (00:09) - Remote intro and audio joke
• (00:33) - Present and future of youth soccer, why these guests
• (00:46) - Introducing Billy Pavlou and Brando Babini
• (04:44) - Brando’s path through NYC academies and founding Youth4Youth FC
• (08:34) - Billy’s journey from Australia to New York and starting Next Level USA
• (14:28) - What supplemental training really means
• (19:56) - Club identities in NYC and how they shape players
• (27:21) - Who drives supplemental work, parents or players
• (29:25) - Relationships with MLS NEXT and top clubs, guest play rules
• (35:50) - Youth4Youth mentorship model and near-peer support
• (44:34) - Showcases, college recruiting and real exposure
• (48:50) - Burnout, pressure and where it actually comes from
• (53:39) - Social media, player profiles and the showcase effect
• (58:30) - Why the US is fertile ground for soccer startups
• (01:02:24) - Rapid fire: skills, clubs, parents and advice for 12-year-olds

Why does youth soccer in America feel chaotic even when everyone involved cares deeply about development?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia speak with Noah Gins, Founder and CEO of Albion, about structure, culture, recruiting, retention, and what a functioning youth soccer system could look like in the United States.

They discuss the league maze, club incentives, beautiful soccer versus winning, measurable development, college recruiting myths, and how clubs should define success in a fragmented system.

This episode is for soccer parents, coaches, and club leaders who want a sharper understanding of club culture, player pathways, and the pressures shaping youth soccer in America.

• (00:00) - Intro: The Machine Behind U.S. Youth Soccer
• (00:39) - Noah Gins Joins the Conversation
• (02:56) - Noah’s Youth Career and Path to Pro Soccer
• (04:00) - Building Albion: Six Teams to National Recognition
• (08:47) - Expansion, Affiliates, and the Albion Model
• (13:02) - What Was Missing in Youth Soccer
• (17:10) - How Environment Shapes Playing Style
• (18:58) - Structure vs Freedom in Player Development
• (20:31) - The League Maze: MLS NEXT, ECNL, EA
• (22:34) - Could the U.S. Ever Unite Its Development System?
• (25:45) - Why the U.S. Needs Player Compensation
• (29:57) - Supplementary Training and the Secondary Market
• (32:51) - Technical Mastery: Juggling and Measurable Skills
• (35:05) - Multi Sport Athletes and Specialization
• (37:45) - Understanding the U.S. Player Pathway
• (39:36) - The Problem With Using the Word “Elite”
• (41:11) - High School Soccer vs Academy Soccer
• (44:14) - Parents, Communication, and Culture
• (46:26) - Global Influences: Brazil, Spain, and Beyond
• (51:53) - Social Media, Mentality, and Today’s Players
• (53:50) - Seeing Albion as a System: Local to National
• (54:20) - Defining Success and Albion’s Four Pillars
• (57:54) - Cracking the College Pathway and Scholarships
• (01:02:22) - Albion’s Long Term Vision and Role in U.S. Soccer

What if the youth soccer system is rewarding the wrong things?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia speak with Morten Gahn, former director of the NYCFC Soccer Academy, about why early success is often mistaken for long-term potential.

They discuss winning versus development, structured plans versus feelings, the staircase analogy for player growth, challenge and adversity, and what parents should really watch for in elite environments.

This episode is for soccer parents and coaches questioning how players are evaluated, how opportunity is framed, and whether current development models truly support long-term growth.

• (00:00) - Intro – Why results still run youth soccer
• (02:45) - Winning vs development
• (06:30) - How elite systems really work
• (10:15) - Not everyone is built to be developed
• (14:40) - The staircase analogy explained
• (19:30) - Where players are vs how well they climb
• (24:10) - Why most players aren’t rockets
• (29:20) - Challenge struggle and not playing
• (34:15) - Frameworks over feelings
• (39:10) - Environment shapes outcomes
• (44:00) - What parents often misunderstand
• (49:20) - Rethinking opportunity and fairness
• (54:10) - Long term development vs short term success
• (58:30) - Rethinking how we evaluate players
• (01:02:10) - Advice for parents inside elite systems
• (01:05:40) - What development actually asks of families