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Zero college offers in his U18 year. A first-round MLS SuperDraft pick a few years later. Released after one pro season — and still chasing it. Roman Torres has lived nearly every turn of the youth soccer player pathway, and he’s only 24.

Roman grew up in Dallas, starting on a rec team at the Y before coming up through FC Dallas, Classic League, and the club’s ECNL team. From there his road ran through Germany’s fifth division at 19, junior college at Iowa Western, a breakout season at Creighton, a first-round pick by Minnesota United, a loan to Birmingham Legion, and now Forward Madison FC in USL League One.

Ian and Roman get into what that pathway really asks of a player and a family: raffle tickets and long drives to practice, choosing high school soccer and his friends over a move to the academy, why JUCO can be a smart route to the pros, and what it felt like to walk into an end-of-season meeting confident and walk out released. Roman also shares what he’d tell his 12-year-old self — touches, left foot, scan — why strength work at 10 misses the point, and why parents should care less about the league badge and more about the quality of every training session.

For soccer parents, youth coaches, and players chasing the next level who want an honest look at development over winning — and the grit it takes to keep going.

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Chris Rich has passed on talented recruits because of what he saw from their parents on the sideline. The UNC Greensboro head coach explains what else he's watching.

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Chris opens up the college soccer recruiting process from the coach's side of the table. He took over UNCG men's soccer ten days before the 2019 season, used the COVID pause to rebuild the culture, and turned a program ranked in the 100s into a 2022 Elite Eight team that beat Stanford in PKs on the road.

Ian and Chris get into the questions soccer parents actually ask: Is my kid good enough to play in college? How do players get seen when they aren't on the biggest showcase teams? How much does playing time really spread across a 28-man roster? Chris walks through how his staff evaluates recruits on the field, over FaceTime, and on visits, why his team's GPA climbed from a 2.7 to a 3.4, and why the word he leans on most is obsessive — obsessed with the process of development, not just the trophy.

He's also honest about the hard parts: a 2023 season that came crashing down after losing eight pros, a transfer portal that's squeezing young players, and 9.9 scholarships stretched across a full roster.

For soccer players, parents, and youth coaches mapping out the pathway from club soccer to college — and anyone who wants to know what a college coach is really looking for.

• From Tampa youth soccer and Barry University to assistant roles at FIU, Virginia Tech, UNC, and Duke — and learning as much from peers as from bosses

• Hired ten days before the 2019 season: leading with culture, standards, and non-negotiables before a game model

• How the COVID pause became a silver lining for recruiting, training, and building the program block by block

• Transparency, accountability, and "I will always have your back" — the promise Chris makes to every recruit

• Why "obsessive" is the most important word in the program, and how an elite mindset lifted the team GPA from 2.7 to 3.4

• Staff-selected captains, a leadership committee from every class, and players policing the locker room

• College soccer playing time explained: six substitution moments, 15 to 16 players per game, and the role of the closer off the bench

• College soccer recruiting: why UNCG targets North Carolina, Texas, and Florida, plus the transfer portal and international players

• What coaches watch beyond talent — reactions to mistakes and referees, the parents on the sideline, and the FaceTime call

• Taking ownership of your pathway: ID camps, gap years, JUCO, and staying patient in the transfer portal era

• "I was just a sponge. I was learning from everybody that I worked with."

• "You can't just throw your game model on players that don't fit that."

• "We're always gonna adapt, and we're always gonna try to thrive in the new situation. I'm never gonna be a complainer."

• "The one thing I will always guarantee and always promise our players in the recruiting process, I will always have their back."

• "Probably the most important word that I use all the time is obsessive."

• "Everybody wants to lift the trophy. Everybody wants to win, but what is the process that gets us to that point?"

• "I'm not gonna say, 'I'm gonna be a terrible father today, but I'm gonna be a good coach.' You're either gonna strive for greatness or you're not."

• "There's been many good players I've identified that we didn't take because of mom and dad."

• "Take ownership of your process. Instead of waiting on somebody to do something for you, go to the environment where coaches are."

• "Sometimes you gotta take a gap year. Sometimes you gotta go to a JUCO for a year. And that's okay."

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A parent pulled a second-place medal out of a trash can and brought it to Preston Pomykal, disgusted that his son had thrown it away. Preston asked her three questions about how the boy behaved on the field — then told her he had no problem with the trash can.

Part 2 of the conversation moves from coaching to letting go. Preston walks through what youth soccer player development looks like once a dad hands his sons to somebody else: staying useful without hovering, reading effort honestly when a kid's body has an off day, and knowing which battles are worth a word in the car.

He tells the story that put Paxton on a different track — a Manchester United staff coach who quietly swapped groups for two days just to watch a 10-year-old, and the four a.m. conversation in a Vegas bar that ended with twenty-something North Texas families pulling their kids into a charter school so they could train from noon to four every day for two years.

Then the part every soccer parent eventually faces. Preston on why "we raised them all the same" isn't true, why his three boys pushed each other harder than he ever did, and what it felt like to walk through the gates at Columbia and know his oldest was going there — four hours away by plane, out of reach for the first time.

He closes with the show's signature question: the greatest influences on him as a player, and separately as a coach.

For soccer parents, youth coaches, and club leaders learning when to step in and when to step back.

• Be a parent, be a coach, be a parent — where the line sits when you're both, and why the car ride is where most parents cross it
• Hard work is relative: why an 80-minute effort one weekend and 60 the next may be the body, not the attitude
• The second-place medal in the trash — respect for the opponent on the field, and what a kid does with his own disappointment after
• The FC Dallas coach who took Paxton in at U15 — a talented kid dealing with size doubts and a hard stretch at his former club — and watched him come out of his shell
• Why "we raised them all the same" isn't true — parents change between kids, and children read every bit of it
• Sibling pressure as the motivator parents can't manufacture, from the "Border" report card to two brothers who became Paxton's biggest fans
• Handing his boys to new staff and staying useful — moving cones, filling in, staying close without hovering
• The Manchester United staff coach who switched groups for two days to watch a 10-year-old, and the trip to Carrington that changed what Paxton wanted
• The four a.m. Vegas conversation behind a daily training program: 20-plus families, a charter school until noon, and two years of afternoon sessions
• Letting go — trips he didn't take, the walk through the gates at Columbia, and the goodbye at Evansville that was easy

"Go up and down your sideline and listen to the parents, and then ask yourself what you think they're saying when they get in the car."

"You're paying for a coach. You don't need to be their coach. Be a parent, be a coach, be a parent."

"Hard work is relative. He goes 80 minutes hard, and the next weekend 60 — it could just be a different day for his body."

"The part of the game I care about is the respect for the other team. He lost, and he respected them."

"It's a very fluid, dynamic game with a gazillion opportunities to change it."

"We laugh because we say we raised them all the same, which we tried to, but when you really think about it, we didn't."

"Sibling respect for each other is a massive influencer on kids as they're coming through, not just parents."

"You have to let go. It's just not feasible to only spend time with one aspect of your life when you have a wife and two other children."

"I walked inside the gates and I got tears in my eyes. My wife said, what's wrong with you? I'm like, he's going here."

"It's a brutally sad day. But if you've raised them in a manner where they want to come home, they want to be with their family."

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A Hall of Fame ballplayer was asked about his favorite little league memory. His answer was about his mom, and an ice cream cone. His worst memory was the car ride home with his dad.

That story changed how Preston Pomykal parented — and it's the one he says every soccer parent needs to hear. In Part 1 of this conversation, Preston walks through youth soccer player development from the inside: he grew up playing in Dallas, coached his own three boys until age ten, never took a paycheck to do it, and watched all three come up through the North Texas system — two on to college soccer, and one, Paxton, into a professional career.

Ian and Preston get into what a real technical foundation looks like before age twelve, why the best 10-year-old is so often gone by 16, and the difference between a coach who develops players and one who just picks them. Preston explains why you don't want your kid to be the best player on the team, what he learned from a Barcelona staffer who ran the identical 30-minute skills routine six days in a row, and how he replaced summer camp for 40 families with one skills coach and six weeks of real work.

He also tells the hardest conversation he ever had — telling a starting left back's parents, in January, to start looking elsewhere — and why that mom still thanks him years later.

For soccer parents, youth coaches, and club leaders who care more about the player at 25 than the trophy at 10. Part 2 continues the conversation.

• Why Preston wouldn't let anyone else coach his boys until age ten — and why he gave up paid coaching roles to do it
• A ball in every room and Saturday mornings watching the Prem instead of cartoons: love of the game built at home, not scheduled
• The chicken salad analogy — talent has to be there first, and "you didn't build him, you honed him"
• Technique before everything: striking, passing, receiving, both feet, and why the window before twelve outweighs anything after fifteen
• Training up as the real developmental lever, and why your player shouldn't be the best or the worst kid on the team
• The Barcelona camp coach who ran the exact same 30-minute routine six days straight — and the American football and basketball logic behind it
• Skipping summer camps: pooling 40 families to hire one skills coach for six weeks instead of paying for high-priced daycare
• Coaching without a paycheck — how it changed what parents heard, and the parent who accused him of favoring his own son
• Sink or swim: FC Dallas moving Paxton up to the U18s mid-season, and two coaches who committed to the decision
• Never cutting a player, no one playing less than half a game, and the January conversation that gave one family time to land somewhere better

"If you put a soccer ball in front of them, let's see if they grab it. And they grabbed it and never stopped."

"Any coach that says 'I built him' — you didn't build him, you honed him."

"I saw some kids that were better than everybody else at 10 years old that by the time they were 16, they weren't."

"You don't really want your kid to be the best player on the team, and you for sure don't want him to be the worst player on the team."

"Don't be creative. You don't need to be. Just teach them the right way."

"We did the exact same formula through the skills progression every time those kids got on a field, and their quick feet were amazing."

"When you don't take money, they listen to you completely differently. You're not my paycheck."

"I was a coach that would never cut a player. If you played for me, you played for me."

"You just gotta be honest and candid. If you try to do it with the right intention, everything should turn out pretty well."

"We're gonna talk about three things you did great, one thing that might need a little improvement, and in five minutes it's gone."

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Andy Cook took a left back, put her at number nine, and she scored 22 goals and won a league. That’s not a hunch — that’s a coaching philosophy.

In Part 2, Andy Cook gets into the part of youth soccer player development that doesn’t fit on a session plan: culture, trust, and reading the player in front of you. He took over a Nottingham Forest side sitting one place above relegation and, four years later, won the league and the cup with several of the same players who’d been there on day one. The thing he changed first wasn’t the formation. It was telling every player, every week, exactly why she was starting or why she wasn’t.

He’s blunt about systems, too. If you’ve got a Ford Mustang in the garage, you don’t work on it like it’s a Lamborghini — and the coaches he rates most, Pep included, are the ones who bend the shape to the players rather than the other way around. For anyone coaching youth, his line is simple: until 18, the individual is everything, and the team is a scoreboard that doesn’t matter yet.

There’s also a straight conversation about why England has caught up to the United States in the women’s game, two non-negotiables he’ll build any program on, and the answer he gives parents when they ask what to look for in a coach. Plus the signature closer — his greatest influence as a player, and separately as a coach.

• Becoming a dad while coaching Sunderland’s academy — and how watching his own son learn changed how he coaches
• Nottingham Forest: taking over a side one place above relegation and winning a league and cup double four years later
• The one rule he set on day one — every selection decision gets explained, however long it takes
• Moving Charlotte Greengrass from left back to number nine, and the 22-goal season that followed
• Coaching the players in front of you instead of the formation in your head — with Pep, Haaland, and Bayern as the case study
• Why the individual is paramount until 18, and why teams at youth level don’t win anything on their own
• Protecting joy: at 27 you should still play the game like you’re 7 — and what screaming from the sideline does to a 7-year-old
• Why England caught up to the US women’s game, and where he ranks the technical nations
• Accountability and respect as the only two non-negotiables — right down to how you leave the away changing room
• His answer for parents: look for honesty, and check whether what the coach says shows up on the pitch

• “Every decision I make, I’m gonna explain it to you. It doesn’t matter whether it takes me an hour or whether it takes me two minutes.”
• “My eyes don’t lie. If I’ve got a group of footballers in front of me, my first instinct is always to go, what can they do now?”
• “If a guy brings a Ford Mustang into your garage, you’re not gonna deal with it like you would a Lamborghini.”
• “Teams at youth level don’t do anything. It’s the individual.”
• “At 27, you should still play the game like you’re 7.”
• “If at 7 years old you’re having the fun kicked out of you because somebody on the sideline is screaming, whether that’s a parent or a coach, I think it’s so wrong.”
• “You put her up front, and it was like you’d freed her from the shackles of a defender.”
• “The two biggest ones for me are accountability and respect, and that really starts with me.”
• “I want a team that leaves the changing room better than what it was when we got in there.”
• “The first thing that a parent needs to look out for is honesty.”

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Andy Cook coached Beth Mead at 14 and Leah Williamson at 15. He wasn’t looking for tactics or trophies — here’s what he was actually watching for.

In Part 1, UEFA A licensed coach Andy Cook takes Ian Babcock through a youth soccer player development story that starts with a season ticket at Middlesbrough and ends up inside Arsenal’s women’s program. He got his first coaching badge at 16, in a country where full-time coaching jobs in the women’s game simply didn’t exist yet, and stacked qualification on qualification for a decade on nothing but what he calls blind determination.

Along the way he coached two future England internationals before either of them could drive. His answer for what made them stand out is refreshingly plain: could they control it, could they pass it, could they dribble it. Everything else — speed, tactics, position — got built out from the ball. He also talks openly about the parts that didn’t work: leaving Arsenal too early, and a first head coaching job at Oxford United where the football was fine and the man-management wasn’t.

If you’re a parent trying to understand what a good coach is actually looking at, or a coach wondering whether the badges are worth it, this one’s for you. Part 2 picks up with culture, trust, and why the individual matters more than the team until 18.

• Falling for the game as a Middlesbrough season-ticket kid in the mid-'90s, and playing local club football until 16
• The moment he realized he'd never reach his best friend's level as a player — and why that pushed him straight into coaching
• Getting his first FA badge at 16, UEFA B at 19, and the UEFA A license at 26 — a decade of qualifications with no job market waiting on the other side
• "Blind determination" as a career strategy: planning a future in a profession that didn't exist yet
• Coaching Beth Mead at the Middlesbrough Girls' Centre of Excellence — two evenings a week, a gym session, and a Saturday game
• What he looked for in young players as a young coach: control it, pass it, dribble it — the physical stuff built out from there
• Arsenal at 24 under Laura Harvey — U17s, reserves, and a 15-year-old Leah Williamson training up with older players
• His theory on why today's young women's players may be more robust: more minutes, earlier, than the generation before them
• Leaving Arsenal for the FA — the regret, and the coach-education years that taught him to plan a session properly
• Oxford United, the smallest budget in the league, and the man-management lesson he's built the rest of his career on

• “I always felt that I had different ideas to what I was being told as a boy.”
• “It was just blind determination. There was no job. There was no career.”
• “You have to plan your future based on something that you don't know.”
• “I thought, that is it, I've completed coaching. I've learned more every season since than I did in the first ten years.”
• “Could they control the ball? Could they pass the ball? Could they dribble with the ball? It all started from the ball, and then it built out from that.”
• “She was the best trainer, she was the one that had the best questions. She would stay back and want to do more.”
• “I'm always a little bit hesitant to say that's because of the work I did as a coach, because a youth player goes through so many different moments.”
• “If I'm really honest, I wish I didn't leave Arsenal. That's a regret I have.”
• “It was now trying to influence the coaches to then influence the players, and that is a completely different task, a completely different skill set.”
• “I never told them why I was picking them. All those man-management skills that I think are essential.”

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Turning down MLS. Walking away from an SMU scholarship. A trial at Bayern. Jay and Carey Cappis share how Christian Cappis bet on development — and won.

In Part 2 of this conversation, the Cappis family walks Ian Babcock through Christian’s player pathway from club soccer in Houston to the professional game in Europe: captaining a national-champion FC Dallas Academy side, youth national team call-ups, an MLS rights battle between Houston and Dallas, and the decision to start at the bottom of the Danish Superliga instead — because development beats badges, free boots, and even bigger money.

Jay and Carey get honest about the hard parenting moments too: letting go when Christian moved to Dallas his senior year, the summer he came home with no prospects while his friends left for college, and the day he was deported from Denmark over a paperwork mistake. It ends with the advice every soccer parent needs to hear: it’s their journey, professional soccer is a business, and your job is to support with eyes wide open.

Key Talking Points

• Why Christian turned down bigger clubs — he scouted their recruiting versus their developing and knew where he wouldn’t grow
• Free boots, kits, and warmups are enticements, not development — how the family saw through the sales pitch
• “In charge from day one”: making his own decisions from a YMCA rejection at age two and a half through every club choice after
• Playing up with older kids, scoring the winning goal against the Texans, and how one bold team choice opened the next door
• Letting go: the senior-year move to FC Dallas Academy — and living like a pro (groceries, laundry, driving to work) before ever signing
• Youth national team life: “Hey Dad, I’m going to Spain today”
• The MLS rights battle between Houston and Dallas — and why Christian took his chances in Denmark instead
• Walking away from the SMU scholarship, the Bayern trial that almost happened, and the quiet summer where Christian never doubted
• Deported from Denmark with 24 hours to leave — the life education no classroom offers
• Player identity beyond soccer: marriage, cooking with a Michelin chef, and advice for parents — it’s their journey, and pro soccer is a business

Quotes from the Guests

• “He’s been in charge from day one.” — Jay Cappis
• “Everybody wants you until they see you.” — Jay Cappis
• “Your choice, your responsibility, your consequences — all the way across the board.” — Jay Cappis
• “He could basically tell you, ‘I will not develop there. They’re great at recruiting the top players, but they’re not great at developing them.’” — Jay Cappis
• “He very calmly just kinda looks at me, and he’s like, ‘It’s okay. Don’t worry. We got this.’ He never doubted.” — Carey Cappis
• “You have a finite shelf life as an athlete... You can go back to college anytime.” — Jay Cappis
• “You’re on a journey with that child. It is not your journey. That is theirs to live.” — Jay Cappis
• “Professional athletics is a business... They will do what’s best for the club, and if that means it’s not good for you, that is not their problem.” — Jay Cappis
• “We never really set out with the goal of getting a college scholarship or even the goal of him being pro... it was more of just, well, what’s next?” — Carey Cappis
• “I’m not so much proud as I am pleased. He had a vision of what he wanted to do, and he pursued it.” — Jay Cappis

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What does it actually take to raise a professional soccer player — without pushing? Jay and Carey Cappis, parents of U.S. pro Christian Cappis, open up the family playbook.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Ian Babcock sits down with the Cappis family to talk soccer parenting and youth soccer player development from the very beginning: a toddler with a ball glued to his foot, a kid so competitive he challenged the neighborhood to a foot race in his sleep, and parents who made one rule non-negotiable — it’s his journey, not theirs.

Jay and Carey share how they evaluated clubs and coaches (including interviewing a club director before joining Texans Soccer Club), why development beats winning at every age, and how a family of six divided and conquered life in Houston — from parenting in the front seat of the car to a university model school that gave them their family time back. If you’re a soccer parent wondering how to support your player without being that parent, this one’s for you.

Key Talking Points

• Raising four very different kids — and letting each one find their own sport and path
• Christian the early bloomer: walking at nine months, kicking a ball at his first birthday, and sleepwalking down the street at 6:00 AM looking for a foot race
• How Jay made sure soccer stayed Christian’s passion — including forcing breaks to prove he played because he wanted to, not because Dad was around
• Letting the child drive the journey instead of pushing it — and the school decision Christian made himself to chase the youth national team
• “Development is your A number one job” — the family standard at every level of play
• How to vet a youth soccer coach: watch multiple games, look for week-to-week improvement, and check who actually gets on the field
• Why the Texans Soccer Club culture of development over early-season results produced pros like Christian Cappis and Chris Richards
• Divide and conquer: managing four kids’ activities across a huge city, one activity per child, and parenting from the front seat of the car
• Turning long drives to training into relationship-building conversations — and knowing when your player just needs the radio
• The trust that paid off: why Christian’s first call was to his dad when Danish immigration showed up at the club

Quotes from the Guests

• “He was so competitive, even when he was sleepwalking, he was going down the street going, ‘Hey, you wanna have a foot race?’” — Jay Cappis
• “I really honestly believe he probably could have been a professional at whatever sport he chose.” — Carey Cappis
• “It was his passion, and he couldn’t go three days without getting his foot on a ball.” — Jay Cappis
• “Development is your A number one job, no matter what level you’re at.” — Jay Cappis
• “It’s incredibly difficult to know what you’re getting with any particular coach until you get some hands-on experience with them.” — Jay Cappis
• “I don’t really care as a parent whether or not they are the best team in the league. What I care about is every week, do I see the team improving?” — Jay Cappis
• “I felt like I was parenting from the front seat of the car.” — Carey Cappis
• “It suddenly occurred to me that if we didn’t have that long drive, we would have never had this particular conversation.” — Jay Cappis
• “We didn’t get it right all the time... there’s lots of learning to go around for everybody in the family.” — Jay Cappis
• “We did our best to make sure every child had a parent.” — Carey Cappis

Connect with the Cappis Family

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Is pay-to-play youth soccer actually developing players — or just monetizing false hope? Alex Lubyansky says it's the latter, and he's building the proof.

Alex is the General Manager and Head Coach of Detroit Metro FC, a completely free, senior-level football club run on the European model — on American soil. He's also an M&A attorney, an A-licensed coach, a former sporting director in Europe, a soccer parent, and an immigrant from Kyiv whose first ball came out of a trash can. In this conversation with host Ian Babcock, Alex breaks down why there's no real pyramid in American soccer, why 99.9% of kids belong in rec, and why free play — not expensive coaching — is what actually develops players.

If you're a soccer parent wondering whether club soccer is worth it, a coach frustrated with the system, or anyone asking how to fix US soccer, this episode gives you a clear-eyed map of how the machine works — and a working model for what comes next. Rooted in North Texas, heard around the world.

• Detroit Metro FC's mission: a completely free, senior-level European model on American soil, built to reform US soccer from outside the system
• Why Alex says there is no real pyramid in American soccer — just a "circle" of pre-professional leagues, MLS included, that avoid playing each other
• The one honest test for any youth program: is a child being charged a subscription fee to participate? If yes, it's pay-to-play — no matter the badge
• The case that 99.9% of kids belong in recreational soccer, and why free play develops players faster than structured, expensive coaching
• How the pay-to-play machine monetizes false hope — and why frustrated parents and coaches misunderstand what the system is actually built to do
• The ID camp myth: why college rosters are filling with international players and what that means for American families chasing scholarships
• Alex's anti-nepotism rule: no owner, coach, or staff member's child is ever allowed to try out for Detroit Metro FC
• How the club is funded: capital plus belief, an ROI model over a vanity play — and lessons from the Wrexham story
• What real senior-level football looks like: open trials, honest cuts, and a merit-based roster spanning a 16-year-old to a 40-year-old
• Alex's fix for the youth game: give the game back to the kids — pickup, free play, safe spaces, mixed ages, and parents over private trainers

• "If you can afford a used car, you can start Detroit Metro FC in DFW, and I'll tell you how."
• "A pyramid implies that there's a way to go up and go down. That's not possible in the US. It's a circle."
• "What we are doing as a country is the best monetization of false hope in the history of the planet."
• "Coaching does not develop players."
• "I think 99.9% of kids in this country belong in recreational soccer."
• "Parents are way more important than coaches. Way more. It's not close."
• "Not making it is not a failure. Not trying is the failure."
• "You wanna fix youth soccer? Give the game back to the kids. Let them play pickup. Let them have fun."
• "I'm not selling you a franchise. I'm not asking you to invest in my league."
• "He never charged me. He wouldn't let me pay him if I offered for 900 days, and he turned me into a monster."

⚽ Club: Detroit Metro FC — free, senior-level football in Detroit, Michigan

🎥 YouTube: Alex mentions his YouTube channel in the episode — link to be confirmed before publishing

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She didn't commit to soccer until the summer before her junior year — and still earned a Division I scholarship from a small club no college coach was watching.

Former NCAA Division I player Jada Davis joins Chat By The Pitch to break down youth soccer player development from both sides of the touchline. A multi-sport kid from the DFW Metroplex who bounced from karate to dance to basketball before soccer ever stuck, Jada shares how a competitive streak, ID camps, and pure hustle carried her from a small private club to Prairie View A&M — where she collected an offer from every other school in the conference first, just to prove a point.

Now a youth coach in Dallas with a background in personal training and sports nutrition, Jada opens up about the injuries that cut her college career short, the unexpected path into coaching, and how she builds a player-led culture where even her eight-year-olds run their own warmups and hold each other accountable. She also digs into the psychology of coaching girls through the Girls Academy Credential of Coaching Excellence — why words land differently than we intend, and why culture has to be player-driven.

If you're a soccer parent heading into tryout season, a young player wondering if your club is “big enough” for college, or a coach trying to balance development over winning, this conversation is for you. Jada's advice is simple: find a coach who cares about the person first — and never let the size of your club decide the size of your dream.

• A multi-sport childhood — karate, dance, basketball, volleyball, track, and cross-country — and how cross-training made her stronger and always in shape when she committed to soccer
• Falling in love with competing before falling in love with the sport, and why she didn't choose soccer until the summer before her junior year of high school
• Playing for a small private club instead of a big-name academy — and how ID camps, game film, and self-advocacy got her in front of college coaches anyway
• Choosing Prairie View A&M: putting an HBCU at the top of her list, having no plan B, and earning an offer from every other school in the conference first
• Two season-ending foot fractures, the decision to play through the pain, and what she'd tell players facing the same choice today
• The unexpected call from TOCA that turned a personal trainer into a youth soccer coach — and why she almost said no
• Building a player-led culture with eight-year-olds: player-run warmups, accountability between teammates, and zero tolerance for negative talk
• The Girls Academy Credential of Coaching Excellence: the psychology of coaching girls and why it doesn't matter what a coach means — it matters how players interpret it
• Parent buy-in, over-communication, and the ongoing conversation about development versus winning at the youth level
• Her tryout-season advice for families: find a coach who values the person before the athlete, and a club with real standards, culture, and a pathway

• “I just like to compete. You could put Uno in front of me, and I'm probably gonna win nine out of 10 games.”
• “I don't think it matters what club you play on if you wanna play in college. You just have to make the effort yourself.”
• “She offered me the least, and I truly believed all I need is one season, and I was absolutely correct.”
• “I wanted to stick with something where I could just create my own path.”
• “I kinda steered away from coaching 'cause I was like, 'I don't wanna turn into the coaches that I hated.'”
• “It doesn't matter what we mean when we say it, it matters how they interpret it.”
• “It's their team. It's not my team. They're playing. I'm not playing.”
• “I don't care if you make mistakes as long as you fix them.”
• “You don't have respect for people when they don't care to get to know you.”
• “Sydney looked at me and she said, 'We got this.' It's something I live by. I think about it every day.”

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What if you could capture every second of your kid's game — and actually be present to watch it? That's the promise Gabriel Roxas brings to Chat By The Pitch.

Gabriel, PR manager for AI sports camera company XbotGo, joins Ian Babcock to talk about making game-day videography accessible to every soccer family — not just the ones who can afford a videographer. They dig into how autonomous, ball-tracking cameras let parents put the phone down and stay in the moment, why owning your footage with no subscription matters, and how tools like the Falcon and Chameleon are lowering the cost of capturing youth sports.

Ian shares his honest, hands-on experience running the Falcon at his own kids' matches — live streaming to family who couldn't make it, marking highlights on the fly, and learning the quirks along the way. Gabriel unpacks the company's mission to democratize videography, the new TeamSnap partnership, and why watching your child's game with your own eyes beats watching it through a screen.

Whether you're a soccer parent, coach, or club leader trying to share the game with more people, this conversation is about protecting the joy of youth sports — and making sure no moment goes unrecorded.

• Making game-day videography accessible and affordable for every soccer family — not just the ones who can hire a videographer.
• Why being present at your child's game matters more than capturing it through a phone screen.
• The difference between the all-in-one Falcon ($699) and the phone-cradling Chameleon ($329), and who each one is for.
• How autonomous, ball-tracking cameras free parents from full-time filming duty on the sideline.
• Owning your footage outright with no subscription fee — a deciding factor for a lot of families.
• Live streaming games so out-of-town relatives and busy parents never miss a match.
• Marking highlights on the fly and auto-generating clips right after the final whistle.
• The 'follow me' mode that keeps an individual player as the star of the coverage.
• The new XbotGo–TeamSnap partnership bringing streaming, scheduling, and communication into one ecosystem.
• Gabriel's path from TV journalism to PR — and why storytelling is really about clearing a path for families to tell their own game-day stories.

• “We were all about democratizing the experience of videography for sports.”
• “It's really about allowing the people on the sidelines to actually be present in the game.”
• “For a sports parent, it's actually letting them be present in their child's moment.”
• “If you're experiencing something through the lens, you're not experiencing it with your naked eye.”
• “What we're doing is we're making people's lives better through technology.”
• “You have to learn how to play before you can learn how to win.”
• “At the very youngest level, you have to let children find their own joy and their own love for the game.”
• “This is something where the parent gets to own the camera themselves — a hundred percent control over it.”
• “It's finding that sweet spot: quality, usability, accessibility, and a reasonable price point for everybody.”
• “You can just set it and forget it — and you get to watch the game.”

🌐 Website: xbotgo.com

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Hanna Barker turned a recovering ACL into a college career that ended with Freshman of the Year — then chased the pro game across four countries.

In Part 2, Hanna and Ian trace the player pathway from college to the pros and the long road of playing abroad. She breaks down roles over positions and the playmaker’s mindset, why soccer IQ comes from being allowed to make mistakes, and how a safe environment lets players “fail forward.” It’s a clear-eyed look at what the student-athlete years really teach: time management, accountability, and leadership.

Then the journey goes global. A mentor, Megan Dunnigan, opens the door to Iceland — the American route to the pros when the NWSL draft was only 30 names deep. From there it’s Hungary, a Champions League run in Budapest, two hard-earned seasons in Istanbul, and finally Serie A with underdog Napoli Women.

For players, parents, and coaches mapping the road from youth soccer to the professional game, this one is about patience, mentorship, and building an identity beyond the sport. Don’t give up — something always comes around. Rooted in North Texas, heard around the world.

• Roles over positions and embracing the playmaker mindset — don’t put yourself in a box
• Soccer IQ: reading the game, overlapping runs, and learning by being allowed to make mistakes
• Why a safe environment where players can “fail forward” produces real growth
• Starting college on a recovering ACL and rising to Freshman of the Year
• What student-athlete life teaches: time management, accountability, and leadership
• The mentor, Megan Dunnigan, who showed her the American pathway to the pros through Iceland
• The reality of the NWSL draft — only 30 names — and finding an alternative route overseas
• A career across Iceland, Hungary, a Champions League run in Budapest, and two seasons in Istanbul
• Turning resentment into her biggest growth, then landing in Serie A with Napoli
• Building an identity beyond soccer — a sports & performance psychology master’s and mentoring the next generation

“If you don’t give up, you can’t lose, because something will always come around to what you want.”

“The bad days will not last forever. The good days are not gonna last forever either — but at least enjoy them.”

“Don’t put yourself in a box.”

“The most important thing as a player is being on the field.”

“You tell me what position you want me to play.”

“It is okay to make mistakes, and you’re gonna fail, and that’s just part of the growth.”

“If they can do it, I can do it.”

“Stay patient in the process and don’t give up.”

“I’m just a completely different person from college to now.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without playing soccer.”

📸 Instagram: @hannabarkerr

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Before she was a winger for Napoli Women in Serie A, Hanna Barker was just a kid in Farmers Branch, Texas, kicking a ball around at her dad’s games.

In Part 1, Hanna and Ian go back to the beginning — the youth soccer years that built everything that came later. She shares why she stayed at one club, Defeaters, for her entire youth career, how community and friendship kept her in love with the game, and why free play and multiple sports mattered more than private lessons and a packed schedule. It’s a real look at long-term player development over short-term winning.

Then comes the hard part: two ACL tears as a teenager, and the mindset that brought her back in roughly eight months each time. Hanna’s advice on recovery — focus on what you can do, not what you can’t — is gold for any player or parent facing a setback.

For soccer parents, youth coaches, and players chasing the game, this one is about protecting joy, growing together, and choosing the program that truly wants you. Rooted in North Texas, heard around the world.

• Finding soccer early in Farmers Branch through her dad’s games and the younger-sibling advantage
• Joining Defeaters around age 10 and staying with the same group of girls for her entire youth career
• Why community and friendship — not private lessons — kept her in love with the game
• The value of multi-sport play and free time over early specialization and over-scheduling
• Parents who protected her from the political side of soccer and let her be a kid
• “Love the game so you survive the sport” — fostering joy that lasts a lifetime
• Coach Hugh’s style: discipline paired with the freedom to make mistakes and grow together
• Tearing her ACL twice as a teen — freshman and junior year — and the mental reset each time
• Reframing injury recovery: focus on what you can do, not on what you can’t
• Earning a full ride to Stephen F. Austin from a program that wanted her, and the support that carried her through her second comeback

“I would not be the player who I am today without my ACL tears — it taught me a crazy level of resilience and perspective at such a young age.”

“If you focus on what you’re able to do rather than what you can’t, it’ll take you a lot further.”

“Focus on something else that you love if you can’t have that right now.”

“There will always be injuries. It’s a part of the game, but it’s really how we bounce back from them.”

“I always describe a team like a puzzle, and everyone has a little piece.”

“It doesn’t matter your age. If you show up and you’re good, that’s who’s gonna play, and that’s how it should be.”

“Someone always wishes they were where you’re at.”

“They let me be a kid, and that’s something I’m always gonna be grateful for.”

“You’re just a person who knows how to kick a ball.”

“If you focus on what you have versus what you don’t have, it can really form a new perspective for you.”

📸 Instagram: @hannabarkerr

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What separates good players from great players?

In Part 2 of this conversation, Everton FC's John Keagan dives into the mindset, work ethic, and personal responsibility required to reach your full potential in soccer and in life. From early college commitments and the transfer portal to player development, recruiting, and parenting in youth sports, John shares lessons learned from his playing and coaching career.

The conversation explores why mentality often matters more than talent, how players earn opportunities, what coaches really look for when evaluating players, and why parents should focus on helping their children enjoy the game rather than trying to control every step of the journey.

Whether you're a player chasing your goals, a coach developing young athletes, or a parent navigating the youth soccer landscape, this episode is packed with practical advice and timeless lessons.

Key Talking Points

• Why early college commitments can be risky for players.
• How player development changes between ages 16 and 18.
• The realities of playing time and earning opportunities.
• Why coaches value mentality as much as talent.
• The difference between talented players and successful players.
• What Everton FC looks for when evaluating players.
• The role parents play in long-term player development.
• Why players should focus on effort and consistency.
• Lessons John learned from his father and former coaches.
• Why enjoying the game remains the most important goal.

Quotes from John Keagan

"A lot can change in two years."

"If you're not playing, work harder."

"Nobody has a God-given right to play."

"Great desire and attitude aren't an ask—they're a given."

"The mentality is everything."

"If you dedicate yourself and do things correctly, you'll reach your level."

"It's hard being good."

"Give everything you've got every day, every session, every game."

"Players will always reach the level they're supposed to."

"Just let them enjoy playing the game."

Connect with John Keagan

🌐 Website: evertonfc.ac.uk

📸 Instagram: @evertonfootballcollege

📧 Email: john.keegan@evertonfc.ac.uk

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What happens when a professional club creates a pathway that combines elite soccer development with education?

In this episode, Ian sits down with John Keagan from Everton FC to discuss the club's Football College Program, how players transition from academy environments, and why education remains a critical piece of long-term player success. John shares how Everton has built opportunities for players to pursue professional football, university degrees, careers in sport, and scholarships around the world.

The conversation also dives into the differences between youth soccer in England and the United States, the realities of pay-to-play, the importance of community-based football culture, and why parents should focus on helping their children enjoy the game rather than chasing professional contracts.

Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or club leader, this episode offers a global perspective on player development, education, and building lifelong relationships with the game.

Key Talking Points

• John Keagan's journey from professional player to coach and educator.
• The creation of Everton FC's Football College Program.
• How the English education system differs from the U.S. model.
• What a typical day looks like for Everton student-athletes.
• Success rates for players moving into university, professional soccer, or careers in sport.
• Scholarship opportunities available through Everton's programs.
• International player pathways into the UK.
• England vs. United States youth soccer culture.
• The challenges and realities of the American pay-to-play model.
• Why enjoyment and long-term participation should be the goal for young players.

Quotes from John Keagan

"We want everyone to be a success story."

"It's very rare that students walk away from our program with nothing."

"Everything that you would get with a professional team, we try to mimic."

"Football is our national sport."

"The standard of soccer in the United States is really high."

"I think sometimes people are too critical of U.S. soccer."

"Players will always find their level."

"Everybody thinks their child is going to be the one."

"People forget that it's a game to enjoy with your friends."

"You still want people playing football in their forties, fifties, and beyond."

Connect with John Keagan

🌐 Website: evertonfc.ac.uk

📸 Instagram: @evertonfootballcollege

📧 Email: john.keegan@evertonfc.ac.uk

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What does good soccer parenting actually look like?

In Part 2, Kristie and Mark Brooks move beyond the Spain story and share the parenting lessons they learned while helping their son Easton chase soccer at a high level.

We talk about pressure, parent behavior, coach relationships, letting kids advocate for themselves, mistakes parents make in youth soccer, and why too many adults unintentionally hurt their child’s development by trying to control the journey.

If you’re a soccer parent trying to support your child without taking over, this conversation will challenge how you think about youth sports, development, pressure, and long-term growth.

Key Talking Points

1. Why parents should stop fighting every battle for kids
2. Letting players advocate for themselves with coaches
3. Parent behavior and how it impacts opportunities
4. Why American soccer culture feels different from Europe
5. Supporting a child without controlling the process
6. Pressure, confidence, and love of the game
7. The emotional challenge of parenting elite athletes
8. Why joy matters more than pressure
9. Advocating for overlooked players and teammates
10. What soccer parenting should really look like

Quotes From Kristie & Mark Brooks

“Don’t make the coach hate your kid because you’re a jerk.”

“We make him advocate for himself.”

“Your kid should go out there and have fun.”

“He puts more pressure on himself than we do.”

“We all support each other as a family.”

“You’re doing your child a disservice by dictating everything.”

“If a kid wants something and works for it, we’ll help remove roadblocks.”

“Parents should celebrate other kids’ success too.”

“We let coaches coach unless something truly matters.”

“Joy matters in development.”

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What does it really take for a teenager to move to Spain and chase a soccer dream?

In Part 1, Kristie and Mark Brooks share the real story behind helping their son Easton move overseas at 14 to pursue soccer in Spain. From visas, FIFA cards, training environments, and team culture to the emotional side of letting your child leave home, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a process most families never truly understand.

We also dig into the differences between American youth soccer and the Spanish system, how Easton earned trust through work ethic, and why family support matters when big opportunities appear.

If you're a soccer parent, player, or coach trying to better understand player development, overseas pathways, or how to support a young athlete chasing something big — this episode matters.

Key Talking Points

Why Easton wanted to pursue soccer in Spain at 14

How work ethic helped Easton earn opportunities overseas

Differences between American and Spanish soccer culture

The truth about FIFA cards, visas, and eligibility

Why parents in Spain behave differently around youth soccer

Letting kids advocate for themselves with coaches

The emotional reality of sending your child overseas

Why joy and love of the game matter in development

The role coaches played in Easton’s growth

What families should know before chasing an overseas opportunity

Quotes From Kristie & Mark Brooks

“If our kid wants something and is willing to put the work in, then we’ll do the work on our end to make that dream happen.”

“He puts more pressure on himself than we ever could.”

“Go out there and have fun. When you overthink everything, you don’t play your best.”

“We don’t fight those battles for him — he has to advocate for himself.”

“Parents over there aren’t dictating everything like they do here.”

“The stars have to align — talent, timing, coaches, belief, opportunity.”

“He was the kid running every corner while everybody else cut the laps.”

“He earned respect through work ethic.”

“We aren’t helicopter parents — we help remove the roadblocks.”

“Sometimes you just have to let them go figure it out.”

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What does it really look like for a 14-year-old American player to move to Spain and chase the dream of professional soccer?

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Easton Brooks to discuss his journey from local soccer in Texas to training and competing in Spain against academy-level opposition. Easton shares what it was like leaving home at 14, adapting to a completely different soccer culture, learning a new language, handling pressure without family nearby, and discovering how much the joy of the game matters.

Easton also opens up about the mental side of development, learning the speed and intelligence of the Spanish game, balancing school and soccer overseas, and what young American players can learn from the European pathway.

This episode is a must-listen for soccer families, players, and coaches trying to better understand player development, international football culture, and the realities of chasing the professional game overseas.

Key Talking Points

1. Easton’s first experience with soccer through “The Frogs”
2. Realizing Spain could become a legitimate pathway
3. Moving overseas at 14 years old
4. Differences between American and Spanish soccer culture
5. Technical ability vs soccer IQ
6. Living independently in Spain
7. Training intensity and film study overseas
8. Handling pressure and adversity away from family
9. Why joy and freedom matter in development
10. The importance of family support during the process

Quotes From Easton

1. “As long as you’re having fun, that’s all that really matters.”
2. “I knew I had put in the work.”
3. “The game over there is a hundred times more intense.”
4. “They already know what they’re doing before they receive the ball.”
5. “The more fun you’re having, the better you’re going to play.”
6. “I really learned to appreciate every moment with my family.”
7. “I just tried my best and did what I knew.”
8. “I wanted them to want me.”
9. “I learned how to perform even without my family there.”
10. “Playing the sport is a blessing.”

Connect with Easton Brooks

📸 Instagram: EastonBrooks88

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In Part 2, Ray Power and Ian Babcock continue the conversation by diving into coaching methodology, player development systems, training environments, and the importance of continuing coach education.

Ray breaks down why static drills and long lines hurt player development, why game-like environments matter, and how the best coaches constantly evolve their understanding of the game.

The conversation also explores curriculum building inside clubs, balancing development with winning, and why coaches must continue learning if they truly want to help players grow long term.

Key Talking Points

• Why dynamic training environments matter
• The problem with line drills and stagnant sessions
• Teaching players through game-like situations
• Why youth coaches must continue their education
• Balancing club curriculum with coaching autonomy
• Winning versus long-term player development
• How professional environments shape player mentality
• Why coaching styles must evolve over time
• Creating environments that maximize touches and decision-making
• The importance of development-focused coaching culture

Quotes from Ray Power

“Winning should never come at the expense of development.”

“There is no room for set plays at the younger ages.”

“If kids are standing in lines, they’re not learning the game.”

“Development happens in dynamic environments.”

“You can wrap fitness, technique, and decision-making all into the game itself.”

“The best coaches are constantly evolving.”

“Coaching should never become cookie cutter.”

“If you’re not changing as a coach, you’re falling behind.”

“Players need a toolbox of experiences by the time they reach adulthood.”

“The game itself should be the teacher whenever possible.”

Connect with Ray Power

🌐 Stan Store / Courses: https://stan.store/CoachPower

💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/coachpowerpro

✖️ X / Twitter: @power_ray

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In Part 1 of this conversation, Ray Power joins Chat By The Pitch to talk about youth soccer development, coaching philosophy, parent education, and why keeping kids in love with the game matters more than early results.

Ray shares his journey from teacher to professional coach educator, how writing Making the Ball Roll shaped his philosophy, and why modern coaching environments should focus on development, trust, communication, and long-term player growth.

This episode dives deep into what parents misunderstand about coaching, why match day behavior matters, and how coaches can create environments where players actually learn and thrive.

Key Talking Points

• Ray Power’s journey into coaching and coach education
• Why youth soccer should prioritize development over outcomes
• The importance of keeping kids in love with the game
• Why match day should not become joystick coaching
• The role parents play in youth player development
• Coaching environments built on trust and communication
• Why players need different coaching experiences growing up
• How coaches develop their own philosophy over time
• The difference between learning and simply chasing results
• Why parents need to better understand the development process

Quotes from Ray Power

“If we could just get out of the way of kids falling out of love with the game, everything after that will run its course.”

“Do your coaching in training. Match day should mostly be reminders.”

“The game evolves. Coaches have to evolve too.”

“You can’t ruin the love of the game for kids.”

“Good coaches will come, bad coaches will come — that’s part of development too.”

“Kids grow from praise. They want to repeat what gets recognized.”

“If you surround something with negativity all the time, that’s what it becomes.”

“Parents often arrive without the motivation to learn, but with plenty to say.”

“Winning at the expense of development is where youth soccer gets lost.”

“The most important thing is making sure kids want to come back tomorrow.”

Connect with Ray Power

🌐 Store & Courses: Stan Store – Coach Power

💼 LinkedIn: Ray Power on LinkedIn

✖️ X: @power_ray

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Part 2 is where everything connects.

After hearing the journey, Anja Koehler breaks down how leadership is actually built—not assumed. Through Captains University, she’s created a system around something most players are expected to figure out on their own.

Confidence. Communication. Decision-making.

This isn’t about naming captains—it’s about developing leaders at every level of the game.

Key Talking Points

• The mission behind Captains University
• Leadership as a learned skill—not a trait
• The three pillars: clarity, communication, confidence
• Why leadership should start earlier
• Real player-to-player communication challenges
• Handling conflict the right way
• Working alongside coaches and team culture
• Parents’ role in development
• Guided decision-making vs giving answers
• The 40–70 decision-making framework

Quotes from Anja

• “Leadership isn’t just about the armband.”
• “The earlier you learn these tools, the better.”
• “Confidence comes from understanding who you are.”
• “You don’t need perfect information to make a decision.”
• “Your next decision doesn’t have to be your final decision.”
• “A team of leaders is more powerful than one leader.”
• “We should stop giving answers and start asking better questions.”
• “Leadership is something you learn over time.”
• “Communication changes everything.”
• “These tools go beyond soccer.”

Connect with Anja Koehler & Captains University

🌐 Website: https://captainsuniversity.com/

📸 Instagram:

@captainsuniversity

@anja_koehler

💼 LinkedIn:

Captains University

Anja Koehler

🎵 TikTok:

@captainsuniversity

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This one starts with the story—but it’s not the clean version.

Anja Koehler walks through what it actually looked like to become a leader—being overlooked, losing confidence, earning it back, and figuring it out in real time. From youth soccer to becoming a Division I captain, this is the part most players never hear about.

Before Captains University became a framework, it was lived experience.

This is where it started.

• Growing up in a soccer-driven environment
• Early development and competitive mindset
• Transition to high-level club soccer
• Not being the best player—and why that mattered
• Building habits outside structured training
• High school vs club leadership experiences
• College transition and injury setbacks
• Losing confidence and earning it back
• Turning point moments that changed everything
• Becoming a captain through consistency

• “I wasn’t the best player—but I knew I could work to become better.”
• “You have to keep going even when it’s not working.”
• “Your spot isn’t permanent—you earn it every day.”
• “Confidence came from the work I was putting in.”
• “That moment didn’t define me—it pushed me.”
• “It wasn’t a straight path, and that’s what made it real.”
• “You don’t just arrive—you build into it.”
• “Every setback forced me to grow.”
• “I just kept trying to get better every day

🌐 Website: https://captainsuniversity.com/

📸 Instagram:

@captainsuniversity

@anja_koehler

💼 LinkedIn:

Captains University

Anja Koehler

🎵 TikTok:

@captainsuniversity

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Part 2 of this reissued conversation shifts into the details that matter when making a decision.

We break down pricing, how different systems are built, and where things like AI and analytics actually stand today.

There’s a lot of noise in this space — and this episode helps cut through it by focusing on what’s real, what’s not fully ready yet, and what families should actually expect.

If you’re evaluating a camera system or trying to understand the value behind it, this is the conversation you need.

Key Talking Points

• Pricing models across camera systems
• Subscription vs hardware-based models
• Why AI in sports analytics isn’t fully accurate yet
• The difference between marketing and reality
• Modular camera systems vs full replacements
• Live streaming capabilities and limitations
• Remote connectivity and real-time access
• The role of video in player development
• Positive vs negative reinforcement through film
• The future of sports media in youth soccer

Quotes from Orhan (Part 2)

• “I’m not a big believer in AI doing stats yet.”
• “We won’t focus on analytics — we’ll focus on the footage.”
• “We’re not a camera company — we’re a media company.”
• “Parents shouldn’t feel like they’re stuck.”
• “Access to footage has to come first.”
• “We want to be shoulder to shoulder with our users.”
• “This is about young athletes, not just technology.”

Connect with Reeplayer

🌐 Website: https://reeplayer.com

📸 Instagram: @reeplayer

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This is a reissue of Part 1 of my conversation with Orhan from Reeplayer — brought back because the questions around camera systems are picking up again with the new season starting.

In this episode, we focus on the foundation — why youth soccer still struggles to consistently capture games, what families are dealing with, and how access to footage impacts development.

We also get into Orhan’s journey and what led to building Reeplayer, along with the bigger issue most people don’t realize exists.

If you’re a parent, coach, or club looking at camera systems, this is where you should start.

• The lack of recorded footage in youth soccer
• Why capturing games is still difficult for families
• Orhan’s journey from player to founder
• The original problem Reeplayer set out to solve
• Cost barriers in current camera systems
• Why parents don’t want to film games themselves
• The importance of access to game footage
• Instant processing vs traditional workflows
• Storage limitations with current systems
• How video impacts player development

• “There’s over a billion hours of youth sports footage not being recorded.”
• “Parents just don’t want to hold their phones for an entire game.”
• “We wanted to make game footage accessible to all.”

🌐 Website: https://reeplayer.com

📸 Instagram: @reeplayer

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In Part 2, the focus shifts to how players are actually developed with futsal.

Pablo Da Silva breaks down futsal—what it really is, why it matters, and how it translates directly to the outdoor game.

From faster decision-making to total field awareness, this is where development becomes real.

If you want to understand why some players just see the game differently, this episode explains it.

⚽ Key Talking Points

• Why futsal is critical for development
• Differences between real futsal and “fake futsal”
• Speed of play and decision-making
• Playing in tight spaces under pressure
• Positionless development and movement
• How futsal builds soccer IQ
• Global success tied to futsal systems
• Identifying futsal-trained players
• Creativity and discipline balance
• Patience in long-term development

💬 Quotes from Guest

• “The more futsal kids play, the better they become.”
• “The game is faster—you must think faster.”
• “You play under pressure all the time.”
• “There are no fixed positions.”
• “Most futsal in the U.S. isn’t real futsal.”
• “Futsal players transition easily to soccer.”
• “You can tell who has played futsal.”
• “Let kids choose what they love.”
• “Be patient with development.”
• “Success is different for everyone.”

🔗 Connect with ULETE Sports & John Davis

🌐 Website: https://uletesports.com/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ULETEsports/videos

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uletesports/

✖️ X: https://x.com/ULETESports

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ULETEsports

🔗 Connect with Pablo Da Silva & PFA

🌐 Website: https://pablofutsalacademy.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pablodasilvafutsal/

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What does real player development actually look like?

In Part 1, Ian sits down with John Davis and Pablo Da Silva from Ulete Sports to break down what they’re building—and why it’s different.

This conversation dives into culture, community, and creating an environment where players can actually grow. Not just win games—but develop long-term.

From multi-sport training to setting boundaries with parents, this is a real look at what youth soccer should start becoming.

⚽ Key Talking Points

• The vision behind Ulete Sports
• Why multi-sport development matters
• Culture vs results in youth soccer
• Growth of Ulete FC from the ground up
• Building a true community within a club
• Setting expectations with parents
• Why kids lose passion for the game
• Development over winning mentality
• Creating a player-first environment
• Accessibility and opportunity in youth sports

💬 Quotes from Guest

• “We’re focused on development—not just winning.”
• “If parents trust us, they need to let us do our job.”
• “It’s quality over quantity.”
• “Kids should enjoy the game and fall in love with it.”
• “We’ve seen players get their joy back.”
• “We’re building a community, not just a club.”
• “Parents don’t know how to lose anymore.”
• “Development takes time.”
• “We want players ready for the long term.”
• “Every kid should feel cared for here.”

🔗 Connect with ULETE Sports & John Davis

🌐 Website: https://uletesports.com/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ULETEsports/videos

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uletesports/

✖️ X: https://x.com/ULETESports

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ULETEsports

🔗 Connect with Pablo Da Silva & PFA

🌐 Website: https://pablofutsalacademy.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pablodasilvafutsal/

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What does a full day in a soccer residency program actually look like—and how is it different from the traditional youth soccer model?

In Part 2 of this conversation, Ian Babcock and Erin Medina go deeper into Alpha Forms Residency, breaking down the daily schedule, training structure, and how education is integrated into player development.

They cover everything from strength and conditioning, recovery, and individualized learning, to how families should evaluate if this type of environment is the right fit for their child.

This episode is about understanding the details—what really happens behind the scenes, and what it takes to build a complete player.

Key Talking Points

A full breakdown of a typical residency day (training + school + training)

Why many players reduce evening team training

The role of strength and conditioning in youth development

Importance of recovery (cold tubs, compression, load management)

Weekly training structure and load management for players

Science-based training methods and cognitive development

How individualized learning works in the classroom

Supporting players with different academic needs

Building culture: family environment, accountability, and standards

Why parents must choose what’s right for their child—not the system

Quotes from Erin Medina

“We’re focusing on all the pieces—not just soccer.”

“There’s so much science behind how the kids move and train.”

“Fridays are all about recovery—getting ready for the weekend.”

“The model is about balance.”

“It’s not for every kid—and that’s okay.”

“You have to choose what’s right for your child.”

“We evaluate every player individually—academically and athletically.”

“Smaller environments allow kids to thrive.”

“The goal is a full-circle development environment.”

“It’s our job to show you why you should choose us.”

Connect with Alpha Forms / Erin Medina

FORMS RESIDENCY

🌐 Website: https://www.formsresidency.org

📸 Instagram: @formsresidency

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61587855025706 (Forms Residency | Melissa TX)

FORMS ACADEMY

🌐 Website: https://www.formsacademy.com

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FormsAcademy

📸 Instagram: @formsacademy

✖️ X: @FormsAcademy

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FormsAcademy

FORMS MADRID

🌐 Website: https://www.formsmadrid.com

📸 Instagram: @formsmadrid

Ron Hogsett

✍️ Substack (Writing): https://ronhogsett.substack.com

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What does real player development actually look like—and why are so many systems missing it?

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Erin Medina, COO of Forms Residency and Forms Academy, to break down a completely different approach to youth soccer development.

From her journey through the Canadian national team to building one of the largest youth clubs in the country, Erin shares what she’s learned about development, structure, and what kids actually need to succeed.

They dive into the reality of today’s youth soccer environment, the pressure of competition, and why a residency-style model focused on individual growth, education, and balance may be the future of the game.

This conversation is for players, parents, and coaches trying to understand how to truly develop—not just compete.

Key Talking Points

Erin Medina’s journey from Canada’s national team to youth soccer leadership

The impact of early coaching and development environments

Why player development is not a linear path

Transitioning from player to business leader in youth soccer

Building Sting into a national powerhouse

The importance of early technical development windows

Why traditional training models fall short

The role of individual development vs team training

What makes Forms Academy’s methodology different

Why residency programs require a different type of athlete

Quotes from Erin Medina

“Nobody’s journey is linear.”

“We’re not just developing players—we’re developing people.”

“There’s only so much time before that technical window closes.”

“The youth game is where you can really impact kids.”

“Development requires meaningful time—not just an hour and a half twice a week.”

“We’re creating an environment where kids can focus on development without pressure.”

“The model is not for everyone—and that’s okay.”

“Kids need balance to avoid burnout.”

“We’re building athletes that can move and think differently.”

“It’s about preparing them for performance, not just chasing wins.”

Connect with Erin Medina / Forms

Erin Medina

📸 Instagram: @maccallummedina

FORMS RESIDENCY

🌐 Website: https://www.formsresidency.org

📸 Instagram: @formsresidency

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61587855025706 (Forms Residency | Melissa TX)

FORMS ACADEMY

🌐 Website: https://www.formsacademy.com

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FormsAcademy

📸 Instagram: @formsacademy

✖️ X: @FormsAcademy

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FormsAcademy

FORMS MADRID

🌐 Website: https://www.formsmadrid.com

📸 Instagram: @formsmadrid

Ron Hogsett

✍️ Substack (Writing): https://ronhogsett.substack.com

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With the Dallas Cup just weeks away, this episode hits a little different.

This is a tribute to Gordon Jago—a true pioneer of the game and one of the key figures behind what the Dallas Cup has become today.

From his journey as a player and coach to helping build one of the most respected youth tournaments in the world, Gordon shares what the game is really about—community, standards, and bringing people together.

If you’ve ever been part of Dallas Cup—or you’re about to experience it—this conversation gives you a deeper understanding of why it matters.

This is more than a tournament—it’s a legacy.

Key Talking Points

Gordon Jago’s journey from England to the United States

His role in building and shaping the Dallas Cup

What makes Dallas Cup different from other tournaments

The importance of international competition in youth soccer

How Dallas Cup creates lifelong friendships and connections

The impact of 9/11 and rebuilding the tournament

Why standards (fields, refs, teams) matter at the highest level

The role of volunteers and community in making it all work

Stories of players who went on to global success

What the game should really be about beyond the field

Quotes from Gordon Jago

“It’s not just a soccer tournament… it does so many other things.”

“We want every team to have a competitive experience.”

“Soccer brings people together from all over the world.”

“We are known throughout the world because of our standards.”

“You don’t want a team to come and not be challenged.”

“It’s an old boys reunion every year at Easter.”

“Get a job that you enjoy.”

“There’s a lot more in life than finance.”

“The friendships formed here last a lifetime.”

“We are very fortunate to be known around the world.”

Connect with Dallas Cup

🌐 Website: https://www.dallascup.org

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallascup/

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👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasCup/

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#ChatByThePitch #GordonJago #DallasCup #YouthSoccer #SoccerCommunity #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParents #SoccerCoaches #GlobalGame #SoccerCulture #GrowTheGame #SoccerLegacy #FootballCommunity #RespectTheGame #SoccerJourney #CoachingMatters #SoccerStories #GameImpact #YouthDevelopment #SoccerLife

In Part 2 of Soccer for Success, we go deeper.

This conversation moves beyond curriculum and into implementation — how Dallas ISD built a no-cost, district-wide pathway from elementary Spark programs to middle school leagues and high school UIL competition.

We break down how Spark works (grades 2–6), how competitive soccer is introduced the right way, and how over 50 elementary schools are now participating in structured play.

If you’re a parent wondering how to advocate for better sports access…

If you’re a school leader looking for a scalable youth development model…

If you care about keeping kids active and engaged…

This episode gives you the blueprint.

Key Talking Points

How Spark functions as a foundational after-school program

Why grades 3–6 are critical for long-term sports retention

The creation of a competitive elementary soccer league

51 elementary schools currently participating

31 middle schools running interdistrict leagues

No-cost participation for families (equipment included)

How healthy competition is introduced gradually

The importance of PE and Athletics working together

How other school districts can partner with US Soccer Foundation

Why foundational skills reduce dropout rates after sixth grade

Quotes from the Guests

“You don’t have to be a soccer star to teach soccer.” – Lisa Perry

“Ask what your child is learning in physical education and how you can support that.” – Lisa Perry

“We want kids to fall in love with fitness — with moving.” – Dr. Lisa Whitaker

“Spark says we are going to build your skill over time in a safe place.” – Dr. Lisa Whitaker

“We are fully committed to these programs across these two departments.” – Dr. Lisa Whitaker

“My goal was always to give opportunities to kids who can’t afford to play.” – Marisela Lopez

“At this point in my career, I’m more about coaching coaches than coaching players.” – Warren Coddle

“After sixth grade, kids start dropping out.” – Lisa Perry

“We want to provide the opportunity.” – Lisa Perry

“At the end of the day, I want kids active. I want them to play sports.” – Lisa Perry

Connect with the Guests

Warren Cottle

🌐 Website: https://www.ntxsoccer.org/odp/olympic-developm

📧 Email: warren@ntxsoccer.org

📸 Instagram: @NTXODP

👍 Facebook: @NTXODP

Lisa Perry

🌐 Website: https://ussoccerfoundation.org

✖️ X: @pe4_u

📸 Instagram: lisakperry23

Dr. Lisa Whitaker

✖️ X: @DrlisaWhitaker

✖️ X: @HPEDallasISD

Marisela Lopez

✖️ X: @MariselaLopez91

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#ChatByThePitch #SoccerForSuccess #DallasISD #SparkProgram #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #ParentEducation #SchoolSports #USSOCcerFoundation #HealthyCompetition #CoachingEducation #AccessToSport #YouthAthletics #PhysicalEducation #UILSoccer #CommunitySports #TitleIX #CoachingCoaches #SoccerInSchools

Soccer for Success is reshaping how youth soccer development happens inside school systems.

In this episode, leaders from Dallas ISD and the US Soccer Foundation break down how a 10-lesson, standards-aligned curriculum is equipping PE teachers, training coaches, and reaching nearly 50,000 students across Dallas.

We talk about why small-sided games matter, how physical activity impacts academic performance, and how this partnership is extending beyond the classroom into after-school programs, recess, and even World Cup-themed initiatives.

If you’re a parent, coach, or school leader wondering how to build real development environments inside education systems — this conversation matters.

Key Talking Points

What Soccer for Success is and how it supports underserved communities

The 10-lesson curriculum aligned with national PE standards

Training 114 Dallas ISD teachers in two sessions

Reaching nearly 50,000 students through PE and athletics

Why small-sided games replace 11v11 in development settings

The REST principle: modifying rules, equipment, space, and time

How the Spark after-school program extends soccer beyond class

The financial investment: $56,000 into Dallas ISD

World Cup-based resources launching for recess, field day, and classrooms

How sports participation supports academic performance and focus

Quotes from the Guests

“We provide underserved communities access to innovative play spaces and evidence-based soccer programs.” – Lisa Perry

“If you don’t touch the ball, you’re not going to improve your skills or your confidence.” – Lisa Perry

“Soccer is such a universal sport and a universal language.” – Lisa Perry

“There’s no way you’re going to leave the same way you came in.” – Dr. Lisa Whitaker

“We want our students to have the foundational skills to go in and be competitive.” – Dr. Lisa Whitaker

“It gives a powerful way to ingrain each kid within a community.” – Warren Coddle

“You could come in with zero knowledge of soccer and put together a program in 10 weeks.” – Warren Coddle

“Our goal is to expose kids to soccer and develop fundamental skills so they have confidence.” – Lisa Perry

“We were all in.” – Dr. Lisa Whitaker

“We just want to make it easier for teachers to access what we have.” – Lisa Perry

Connect with the Guests

Warren Cottle

🌐 Website: https://www.ntxsoccer.org/odp/olympic-developm

📧 Email: warren@ntxsoccer.org

📸 Instagram: @NTXODP

👍 Facebook: @NTXODP

Lisa Perry

🌐 Website: https://ussoccerfoundation.org

✖️ X: @pe4_u

📸 Instagram: lisakperry23

Dr. Lisa Whitaker

✖️ X: @DrlisaWhitaker

✖️ X: @HPEDallasISD

Marisela Lopez

✖️ X: @MariselaLopez91

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#ChatByThePitch #SoccerForSuccess #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #CoachingEducation #DallasISD #USSoccerFoundation #SchoolSports #YouthDevelopment #SoccerCoaching #ParentEducation #SoccerInSchools #PhysicalEducation #YouthAthletics #CommunityThroughSport #SoccerLeadership #SmallSidedGames #CoachingCoaches

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, I sit down with Gregg Megaw, founder of Ballers ID, to talk about investing in the full player — not the hype.

We break down individual development, 1v1 training, decision-making, culture, confidence, and why true growth takes time. Gregg explains why small group training often beats early private sessions, why standards matter more than shortcuts, and how parents should think about development as a long-term investment.

If you’re a soccer parent navigating the noise, a coach building culture, or a player serious about improving — this conversation will reset your perspective.

This is about building the complete player.

Key Talking Points

1. The meaning behind Ballers ID and individual development

2. Why “invest in the player, not the hype” matters in youth soccer

3. Coaching the 1v1 moment — attacking and defending

4. The role of decision-making in real player development

5. Why cone choreography doesn’t translate to games

6. Small group training vs private sessions under 14

7. Building elite habits without negative coaching

8. Creating competitive culture while protecting confidence

9. Honest parent communication and not selling dreams

10. Why development requires consistency, not quick fixes

Quotes from Gregg Megaw

1. “Everything I do is for that player’s individual development.”

2. “I want elite standards from the start.”

3. “Development doesn’t come from one session — it’s an investment.”

4. “There has to be a decision being made, or it’s not real training.”

5. “I don’t want kids leaving my session feeling negative.”

6. “Winning the moment matters more than winning the game.”

7. “I want to create mavericks, not robots.”

8. “If your energy is high, my energy will be.”

9. “Confidence without decision-making is false confidence.”

10. “Love the game enough to work for it.”

Connect with Gregg Megaw and Ballers ID

📸 Instagram: @ballersid.soccer

🎵 TikTok: @ballersid.soccer

👍 Facebook: @BallersIDSoccerAcademy

💼 LinkedIn: BallersIDSoccerAcademy

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#BallersID #InvestInThePlayer #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParents #SoccerCoaching #IndividualDevelopment #SoccerIQ #1v1Training #DFWSoccer #CompetitiveCulture #LongTermDevelopment #EliteStandards #SoccerGrowth #ChatByThePitch

Seeing the Next Level Changes Everything

In Part 2 of this conversation, Ian and Jonathan dig deeper into exposure, access, and perspective in youth sports.

Jonathan explains why seeing the next level in person — middle school, college, or professional — can motivate kids without pressure, while also giving parents a clearer understanding of what elite performance actually looks like. They unpack the financial realities of club sports, travel, and training, and why “free” programs still come with hidden costs that many families can’t afford.

The episode closes with powerful reflections on the coaches and mentors who shaped Jonathan’s life — reminders that long-term impact rarely comes from wins, rankings, or trophies.

🧠 Key Talking Points

Why seeing the next level up motivates kids naturally

The importance of watching sports live — not just on TV

How context changes our perception of talent

The physical and mental gap between youth and college athletes

Financial barriers that limit access to elite pathways

Why “free” youth sports still aren’t truly free

How geography impacts opportunity in the U.S.

The hidden costs of national leagues and travel

Why winning isn’t a fair measure of development

The lifelong influence of coaches who invest beyond results

💬 Quotes from Jonathan Corone

“Until we see it up close, we don’t realize how big the gap really is.”

“Context changes everything.”

“Even if club fees are free, someone still has to get the kid there.”

“Is winning really a fair way to judge success?”

“Opportunity depends more on access than talent.”

“There are more good people in sports than toxic ones — they’re just quieter.”

“Gratitude is the thing I’ve learned the most from great leaders.”

“The people who show up matter more than the results.”

🔗 Connect with Jonathan Corone

🌐 Website: healthysportsparents.com

🎙️ Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/1dpgJQoownxZfnliaiqIJv

📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents/

👍 Facebook: www.facebook.com/HealthySportsParents/

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#ChatByThePitch #HealthySportsParents #YouthSportsAccess #PlayerDevelopment #YouthSoccer #SportsParenting #CollegePathway #SportsCulture #EquityInSports #LongTermDevelopment #CoachingImpact

In Part 1 of this conversation, Ian sits down with Jonathan Corone, creator of Healthy Sports Parents, to unpack the emotional, cultural, and behavioral challenges parents face in youth sports.

Jonathan shares how his own daughter’s experience — and a moment on the sidelines watching a parent lose control — sparked a platform focused on helping parents do better without shame or blame. Together, they explore why parents react the way they do, how outcome obsession sneaks in early, and why most kids don’t need more pressure — they need perspective.

This episode is for parents, coaches, and anyone trying to protect joy, growth, and long-term development in youth sports.

🧠 Key Talking Points

Why most parents don’t intend to become “that parent” on the sidelines

How outcome obsession sneaks into youth sports early

The emotional fatigue parents carry into games

Why growth matters more than wins at young ages

The difference between reacting and responding as a parent

How kids mirror adult behavior on the field

Why intrinsic motivation matters more than talent

The dangers of projecting adult goals onto children

How environment and resources shape development

What kids actually remember long after the games end

💬 Quotes from Jonathan Corone

“Most parents want to do better — they just haven’t been taught how.”

“Youth sports are not about winning. They’re about teaching kids tools for life.”

“If you’re having to motivate your kid, they’re probably not going to make it.”

“Methods change. Principles don’t.”

“Kids don’t fall out of love with sports overnight — they drift.”

“Growth is what matters, not the scoreboard.”

“Parents are reacting from exhaustion, not intention.”

“You can’t make your kid want it — they have to want it themselves.”

🔗 Connect with Jonathan Corone

🌐 Website: healthysportsparents.com

🎙️ Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/1dpgJQoownxZfnliaiqIJv

📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents/

👍 Facebook: www.facebook.com/HealthySportsParents/

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#ChatByThePitch #HealthySportsParents #YouthSportsCulture #SportsParenting #PlayerDevelopment #YouthSoccer #LongTermDevelopment #SidelineBehavior #SportsPsychology #ParentEducation #CoachingCulture #LetKidsPlay

In this solo episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock reflects on years of learning as a soccer parent, coach, and constant student of the game. This episode challenges the obsession with early results and reframes success around development, environment, communication, and joy.

Ian explores what youth soccer is getting right, where it’s falling short, and what parents, coaches, and clubs can do—starting today—to create healthier, more sustainable experiences for young athletes. This conversation is for families who care about long-term growth, not just the scoreboard.

Key Talking Points

1. Why development matters more than early wins

2. The danger of overscheduling and athlete burnout

3. Creating safe environments for learning and failure

4. Why kids need space to be kids—not mini professionals

5. The importance of emotional connection between coaches and players

6. How communication breakdowns damage player development

7. Culture as the foundation of healthy teams and clubs

8. The realities and consequences of pay-to-play youth sports

9. How sideline behavior shapes athlete confidence and creativity

10. Redefining success as lifelong love of the game, not outcomes

Quotes from Ian Babcock

1. “Our job isn’t to push kids toward greatness. It’s to walk beside them so they can define what greatness means for themselves.”

2. “Winning early doesn’t create better players. It usually creates burned-out ones.”

3. “Kids don’t fall out of love with sports all at once. They drift—from joy to obligation, from play to performance.”

4. “If a child feels safe enough to fail, they’ll be brave enough to grow.”

5. “We’re raising humans first. Athletes second. When we get that order right, everything else gets easier.”

6. “Development isn’t about today’s score. It’s about who the athlete becomes over time.”

7. “Overscheduling doesn’t build commitment—it slowly erodes joy.”

8. “Culture isn’t about winning at all costs. It’s about creating an environment kids want to stay in.”

9. “When parents, players, and coaches aren’t aligned, development breaks down fast.”

10. “If a kid still loves the game at 25—or 80—we’ve done our job.”

Connect with Chat By The Pitch

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#YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParents #HumanFirstAthleteSecond #LongTermDevelopment #YouthSportsCulture #ParentEducation #CoachingPhilosophy #LoveTheGame #DevelopmentOverResults

In Part 2 of this conversation, John O’Sullivan dives deeper into the realities of pressure, anxiety, early specialization, and the myths that continue to shape youth sports in unhealthy ways.

We unpack why the so-called 10,000-hour rule doesn’t hold up, why development is never linear, and why mentality, enjoyment, and resilience matter more than chasing outcomes at young ages. John also shares powerful insights for parents on how to support their kids without adding pressure — and why nervousness isn’t a problem, but a sign that kids care.

This episode challenges parents, coaches, and organizations to redefine success, strip away interference, and help kids fall in love with movement so sports remain a positive part of their lives long after the final whistle.

Key Talking Points

1. Why the 10,000-hour rule is a myth — and what matters instead
2. The dangers of early specialization and outcome obsession
3. Why development is different for every athlete and every sport
4. How pressure shifts from excitement to anxiety
5. Teaching kids to handle nerves instead of eliminating them
6. Performance as potential minus interference
7. Why parents must separate their identity from their child’s sport
8. Letting the journey belong to the athlete, not the adults
9. How joy fuels resilience and long-term commitment
10. Redefining success beyond wins, trophies, and rankings

Quotes From Guest

1. “There’s no such thing as a 10,000-hour rule.”
2. “Kids are not computers — you don’t just program hours into them.”
3. “Nervous means that you care.”
4. “Performance is potential minus interference.”
5. “The same drive that helps some kids succeed can also destroy them.”
6. “You can do everything right and still get hurt.”
7. “Sport is something kids do — it’s not who they are.”
8. “Our job as parents is to strip away interference, not add to it.”
9. “Success isn’t winning every game — it’s kids wanting to come back.”
10. “The goal is raising athletes for life.”

Connect With John O’Sullivan

🌐 Website: https://changingthegameproject.com

🎙️ Podcast: https://wayofchampionspodcast.com

📚 Book: Changing the Game

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changingthegameproject

✖️ X: https://x.com/CTGProject

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangingTheGameProject

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#YouthSports #SportsParenting #PlayerDevelopment #CoachingCulture #YouthSoccer #AthleteMentalHealth #LongTermDevelopment #PositiveCoaching #SportsPsychology #RaisingAthletes #JoyInSport #ParentEducation #ChatByThePitch

In Part 1 of this conversation, John O’Sullivan joins Chat By The Pitch to break down what truly drives healthy development in youth sports.

John shares his journey from long-time soccer coach to founder of Change the Game Project, explaining why burnout, fear-based coaching, and adult agendas continue to derail young athletes. We dive into culture, joy, intrinsic motivation, and why relationships — not tactics — are the foundation of sustainable success.

This episode is essential listening for parents, coaches, and anyone invested in helping kids stay in the game longer, love the process, and grow as people — not just players.

Key Talking Points

1. Why fear-based coaching can create short-term results but long-term damage
2. The difference between transactional and transformational coaching
3. How burnout often starts with adults, not athletes
4. Why coaching is fundamentally a relationship business
5. What research says kids actually want from sports
6. The myth that fun and competitiveness don’t coexist
7. How joy fuels intrinsic motivation and long-term growth
8. Teaching athletes to compete, not just “win”
9. The role of autonomy in athlete development
10. Why culture matters more than systems, tactics, or drills

Quotes From John O’Sullivan

1. “You can compel people through fear in the short term, but it’s not sustainable.”
2. “If kids quit next year, who cares how many games you won?”
3. “Coaching is a relationship business — not an X’s and O’s business.”
4. “You can’t teach winning. You can teach competing.”
5. “Joy and competitiveness absolutely coexist.”
6. “Fun doesn’t mean sloppy — it means organized, challenging, and meaningful.”
7. “Intrinsic motivation is the path to mastery.”
8. “If you remove joy or ownership, motivation fades.”
9. “Sport teaches kids how to do hard things.”
10. “Development isn’t just performance — it’s moral character.”

Connect with John O’Sullivan

🌐 Website: https://changingthegameproject.com

🎙️ Podcast: https://wayofchampionspodcast.com

📚 Book: Changing the Game

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changingthegameproject

✖️ X: https://x.com/CTGProject

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangingTheGameProject

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#YouthSports #PlayerDevelopment #CoachingCulture #SportsParenting #AthleteDevelopment #IntrinsicMotivation #YouthSoccer #CoachingEducation #PositiveCoaching #SportsPsychology #LongTermDevelopment #JoyInSport #ChangeTheGame #ChatByThePitch

In Part 2, Ian Babcock continues the conversation with Dominique Molina and Antonio Perez, founders of Salient Touch Football Academy, diving deep into how real development is executed day to day.

This episode breaks down session design, open enrollment, punch cards vs. consistency, defending development, and Salient Touch’s ability-based leveling system. Dominique and Antonio explain why age alone is a poor indicator of readiness, how players are evaluated during trial sessions, and why holding firm on levels actually protects player confidence and growth.

For parents navigating busy schedules—and coaches trying to maintain standards—this conversation provides rare transparency into what thoughtful development looks like behind the scenes.

🔑 Key Talking Points

1. How Salient Touch designs sessions around player readiness
2. Why cones vs. game-based sessions change day to day
3. Open enrollment without sacrificing training quality
4. Punch cards vs. monthly commitment — what actually works
5. Why defending is one of the fastest transferable skills
6. Leveling players by ability, not birth year
7. How trial sessions evaluate the full player profile
8. Managing plateaus without rushing promotions
9. Parent communication as a core development pillar
10. Building long-term pathways instead of short-term wins

💬 Quotes from the Guests

1. “Development is best seen with consistency — there’s no way around that.” — Dominique Molina
2. “It’s not one size fits all. It’s one size fits one at a time.” — Antonio Perez
3. “If we water down our levels, we water down what we offer.” — Dominique Molina
4. “Defending is the only way you ever get the ball back.” — Antonio Perez
5. “Progress doesn’t always show on the field right away.” — Dominique Molina
6. “We evaluate the emotional and social side just as much as the technical.” — Antonio Perez
7. “Some players need time, not pressure.” — Antonio Perez
8. “Parents deserve clarity, not confusion.” — Dominique Molina

🔗 Connect with Salient Touch Football Academy

🌐 Website: https://salienttouch.com/contact

📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/salienttouchfutbolacademy

👍 Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalientTouch

Email: Info@SalientTouch.com

Call/Text : 940.268.3392

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#ChatByThePitch #SalientTouchFA #YouthSoccerDevelopment #DefendingSkills #PlayerPathway #SoccerTraining #ParentEducation #CoachingCulture #TechnicalTraining

From Park Sessions to Facilities: The Salient Touch Origin Story

In Part 1 of this conversation, Ian Babcock sits down with Salient Touch Football Academy founders Dominique Molina and Antonio Perez to unpack how Salient Touch was built—from a bumpy public field to a multi-location technical training program serving hundreds of players each week.

This episode dives into identity, first touch, emotional intelligence in coaching, and why individual development is often misunderstood in modern youth soccer. Dominique and Antonio share personal journeys from elite athletics, professional playing ambitions, and hard transition moments that ultimately shaped their coaching philosophy.

If you’re a parent, coach, or player trying to understand what real development looks like—and why progress isn’t linear—this conversation sets the foundation.

🔑 Key Talking Points

1. Why first touch is foundational at every age

2. Letting go of the professional dream to build something bigger

3. Coaching without mentors — learning through lived experience

4. Adapting training to emotional and psychological player needs

5. Why technical repetition alone doesn’t work for every child

6. The difference between team development and individual growth

7. Building a business while protecting coaching culture

8. Why progress feels invisible during development plateaus

9. The challenge of parent communication at scale

10. Creating environments where discipline and joy coexist

💬 Quotes from the Guests

1. “If you don’t have a good first touch, it’s impossible to be a good player.” — Antonio Perez

2. “Each player needs something different emotionally from the game.” — Dominique Molina

3. “Our goal isn’t to make everyone pro — it’s to educate them through the sport.” — Antonio Perez

4. “Nothing worth doing in sports is easy, and we shouldn’t pretend it is.” — Dominique Molina

5. “Some players need repetition. Others need sensation.” — Antonio Perez

6. “Culture starts with who you allow on your staff.” — Dominique Molina

7. “Progress isn’t linear — it’s chaotic.” — Antonio Perez

8. “Parents deserve clarity, not silence.” — Dominique Molina

🔗 Connect with Salient Touch Football Academy

🌐 Website: https://salienttouch.com/contact

📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/salienttouchfutbolacademy

👍 Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalientTouch

Email: Info@SalientTouch.com

Call/Text : 940.268.3392

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#ChatByThePitch #SalientTouchFA #YouthSoccerDevelopment #FirstTouch #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCulture #TechnicalTraining #YouthSportsParent #CoachingEducation #SoccerPodcast

In Part 2, Ted Kroeten goes deeper into the mechanics of free play, why traditional training misreads how kids actually learn, and how small-sided chaos builds problem-solvers, communicators, and creators. From one-v-one misconceptions to futsal culture, mixed-age environments, and why American kids rarely get “underload” time, Ted explains what the U.S. must rethink to compete globally.

He also breaks down what parents can actually do to bring joy and development back into their child’s soccer life — even without a Joy of the People program nearby.

This conversation is a blueprint for the next 10–15 years of American soccer… if we’re willing to go “down the mountain” before climbing higher.

Key Talking Points

• Why 1v1 isn’t the holy grail — and why 2v2 teaches the real language of soccer

• What small-sided games unlock: communication, deception, decision-making

• The concept of overload vs underload and how it shapes development

• Why futsal, SALs, barefoot play, and alternate balls accelerate creativity

• The danger of top-down coaching and why talk-heavy models block learning

• How kids self-regulate, self-officiate, and learn conflict resolution in real play

• Why U.S. kids lack free play opportunities — especially girls

• The global shift toward small-sided formats and why the U.S. is behind

• How parents can build play cultures at home, in neighborhoods, and in friend groups

• Ted’s vision for the U.S. over the next 10–15 years — and why a “Play Revolution” is coming

Quotes from Ted Kroeten

• “Kids don’t want to learn soccer — they want to be with their friends. The learning is a byproduct.”

• “One-v-one doesn’t really exist. Two-v-two teaches the real communication of the game.”

• “If a kid knows how they learned it, it can be hacked. If they learned it unconsciously, it can’t.”

• “Small-sided, uncoached play is where the language of the game is spoken.”

• “Friends must come before skills. Trust must come before competition.”

• “We don’t need more performance — we need more joy.”

Episode Chapters

00:00 — Why 1v1 Is Misunderstood in Player Development

03:45 — 2v2 and 3v3: Where the Language of Soccer Lives

07:30 — Small-Sided Chaos and Real Decision-Making

11:15 — Overload vs Underload: Reading Kids, Not Results

15:30 — Why Futsal Changes How Players Think

19:30 — Mixed-Age Play and Learning From Older Kids

23:30 — When Performance Kills Joy and Creativity

27:45 — Kids Who Love Winning vs Kids Who Love Playing

31:45 — Parents, Pressure, and the Loss of Free Play

36:00 — Why U.S. Soccer Develops Too Early, Too Fast

40:30 — Self-Regulation, Conflict, and Social Learning in Play

44:30 — Building Play Environments Without a Club

48:45 — What Coaches Talk Too Much About

52:45 — Peak Height Velocity and Developmental Timing

57:00 — Why Free-Play Kids Struggle Early but Thrive Later

1:01:15 — Failing First to Build Better Players

1:05:30 — The Next 10–15 Years of American Soccer

1:09:30 — A Call to Trust Kids and Protect Play

Connect with Ted / Joy of the People

🌐 Website: https://www.joyofthepeople.org/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_o_t_p/

✖️ X: https://x.com/JOYofthePEOPLE

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyofthepeople/

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#ChatByThePitch #JoyOfThePeople #FreePlay #LetThemPlay #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCulture #StreetSoccer #Futsal #SoccerAsALanguage #PlayBasedLearning #UnstructuredPlay #SmallSidedGames #CreativityInSports #YouthSportsReform #SoccerIQ #TrustTheProcess #LongTermDevelopment #MixedAgePlay #LetKidsBeKids

Joy of the People founder and longtime coach Ted Kroeten joins Chat By The Pitch to break down what truly develops creative, intelligent players — and why most of the U.S. youth soccer system gets it upside down. Ted’s “soccer as a language” philosophy reframes how kids learn, why free play must come before instruction, and how mixed-age, low-pressure environments cultivate game intelligence no coach can teach.

From the failures of super clubs and the youth sports industrial complex to Joy of the People’s bold commitment to no tryouts, no cuts, and no overcoaching, Ted delivers one of the clearest visions of what American development could be if we trusted kids to play again.

If you care about player development, coaching, or burnout in youth sports — this episode will challenge everything you think you know.

Key Talking Points

• Ted’s journey from late-start player to coaching leader and founder of Joy of the People

• Why he walked away from the elite club model and the youth sports industrial complex

• “Soccer as a language” — acquisition vs learning, Chomsky, Krashen, and immersion

• What kids learn in free play that coaches cannot teach

• Why Joy of the People operates with no tryouts, no cuts, no pressure

• How mixed-age play, different surfaces, and alternate balls accelerate creativity

• Overload vs underload: reading effort, joy, and false intensity in players

• Why early free-play kids lag at first—but surpass others by U16–U19

• The danger of over-rewarding performance and creating kids who only love winning

• Building a true community model where every kid matters and development lasts

Quotes from Ted Kroeten

• "When I saw kids in play learning things I could not teach them, I knew there was something in play."

• "Unstructured play, street play, free play has developed the top players in the world."

• "We’ve been teaching soccer only with rules and techniques, not allowing acquisition to occur."

• "The best way to learn a complex language is not a teacher — it's immersion."

• "Kids who fall in love with explicit training programs are in danger of burning out."

• "We don’t have tryouts. We have a mix of everyone — and they bloom on their own timeline."

Episode Chapters

00:00 — Ted Kroeten’s Late Start and Multi-Sport Roots

03:10 — Coaching at the Highest Levels and Seeing the Cracks

06:00 — Walking Away from the Youth Soccer Industrial Complex

08:30 — Founding Joy of the People and the Decision to Prioritize Play

11:45 — Watching Kids Learn What Coaches Can’t Teach

14:30 — Poverty of the Stimulus and Why Play Accelerates Learning

18:00 — Soccer as a Language: Acquisition vs Instruction

22:45 — Chomsky, Krashen, and Immersion on the Field

27:30 — The Panenka Penalty and Non-Verbal Soccer Communication

31:30 — Why Cone Work Fails Under Real Pressure

35:00 — What Parents Miss When They Watch Training

38:30 — Early Attempts at Free Play — and Why They Failed

42:45 — Building a Community Hub with the City of St. Paul

46:30 — Kids “Not Knowing How to Play” and What That Revealed

50:45 — Removing Tryouts, Cuts, and External Pressure

55:30 — What Joy of the People Looks Like Day to Day

59:30 — Losing Games Early to Win Long Term

1:03:30 — Why Joy and Belonging Come Before Results

Connect with Ted / Joy of the People

🌐 Website: https://www.joyofthepeople.org/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_o_t_p/

✖️ X: https://x.com/JOYofthePEOPLE

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyofthepeople/

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#ChatByThePitch #JoyOfThePeople #FreePlay #LetThemPlay #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCulture #StreetSoccer #Futsal #SoccerAsALanguage #PlayBasedLearning #CreativityInSports #SoccerDevelopment #YouthSportsReform #SoccerIQ #TrustTheProcess #LongTermDevelopment #MixedAgePlay #UnstructuredPlay

In Part 2, Kassandra Ruelas takes us deeper into her journey — from rediscovering her love for the game under Coach Temas, to the fate-driven path that led her to Vial/Villarreal, to leaving home for Spain as a teenager. She shares what life, training, and tempo looked like overseas, how Spanish clubs develop players through structure and intelligence, and what it felt like to finally find her rhythm abroad.

This episode also uncovers the hardest chapter of her career: tearing her ACL overseas, navigating the injury alone during a national blackout, and learning her younger sister tore her ACL the same week. Kassandra opens up about her recovery, her mindset, and what she hopes players and parents take away from her story.

Key Talking Points

• Finding joy again at Sting and the season that rebuilt her confidence.

• Earning the first-ever North Texas Player Training Week invite in Spain.

• How fate connected her to Vial after a controversial point error.

• The Spanish development model: daily structure, zones, rondos, and tempo.

• What life looked like: gym, training, Spanish class, film, late-night sessions.

• Being “the foreigner” and the pressure of integrating into a new culture.

• Highest levels she reached in Spain and how licensing works for minors.

• The game where her ACL tore on a routine change of direction.

• No trainer onsite, calling Christian at 4 a.m. Texas time for support.

• The national blackout that blocked access to her MRI results.

• Learning her sister tore her ACL days later.

• Returning home for surgery and beginning the long recovery.

• Rebuilding mentally while rediscovering who she is beyond soccer.

• Leaving the door open for Spain but embracing uncertainty.

• Message to parents: support but let players own conversations.

• Message to players: attitude and curiosity separate you.

Quotes from Kassandra

• “Coach Temas brought the love back for the game.”

• “Being the first North Texas player selected — I knew I had to go back.”

• “I was jumping the entire night when they announced I was going to Spain.”

• “In Spain, the ball does the work. The tempo is smarter, not just faster.”

• “I spoke Spanish, but I was still the foreigner. That pressure stays with you.”

• “I knew the moment it happened — something was wrong with my knee.”

• “I was alone in the locker room with no trainer. I just wanted my mom.”

• “The blackout hit the day my MRI came in. I couldn’t talk to anyone.”

• “Two days later, my sister tore her ACL too. It didn’t feel real.”

• “Right now I’m learning who I am outside of soccer.”

• “Curiosity and attitude — those two things take you farther than talent.”

Connect with Kassandra

📸 Instagram: Kass_1123

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#ChatByThePitch #NorthTexasSoccer #DFWSoccer #GirlsSoccer #ACLRecovery #PlayerJourney #WomensSoccer #YouthSoccerStories #SoccerMentality #PlayerDevelopment #TexasSoccer #SoccerCommunity

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian sits down with North Texas player and administrator Kassandra Ruelas to unpack what it really looks like to grow up inside one of the most competitive girls’ soccer markets in the country. From yelling “goal” as her first word to playing with the boys and eventually earning a chance to play in Spain, Kassandra’s story is a masterclass in soccer IQ, resilience, and family support.

Kassandra talks about the pressure of DFW girls’ soccer, the unspoken politics of youth sports, and what it feels like to be overlooked and benched after being named captain—and why she refused to let that season define her. She shares how her mom’s sacrifices, her cousins’ professional careers (including stints in Mexico and with the Dallas Sidekicks), and training with the boys gave her the tools to navigate setbacks without losing her love for the game.

For players, this conversation shows how to use the field as your therapy, build your game around intelligence instead of just being bigger, faster, stronger, and survive the hard seasons. For parents, it’s a real look at travel, pressure, and why the right coach matters more than any alphabet-soup league. For coaches, Kassandra offers a player’s-eye view on communication, favoritism, and how one honest conversation can change a career.

Key Talking Points

• How soccer has always been part of Kassandra’s life — her first word was “goal,” and the living room was a mini-pitch growing up.

• The moment in middle school when soccer shifted from “fun with friends” to serious training, four-year plans, and future dreams on the pitch.

• Growing up in a North Texas soccer family — cousins who played pro in Mexico and indoors with the Dallas Sidekicks — and the self-imposed pressure to honor their investment in her.

• The Texas girls’ soccer environment: extremely competitive, with teammates and opponents now playing in the NWSL—and how that can mess with your head if you compare timelines.

• How her mom’s support and sacrifices (driving 1.5 hours in traffic, always backing her choices) helped balance the pressure.

• Soccer as therapy and creative outlet: using the game to disconnect from stress, reset emotionally, and express herself without overthinking.

• Learning to separate “family” from “coach” with her three cousins: flipping the switch from joking in the car to professionalism on the field.

• Kassandra’s club journey: Odyssey → Liverpool → Solar → FC Dallas → Texans → Sting → Al Nord Texas boys → heading to Spain to play with Villarreal.

• Why DFW competition at U13+ felt tougher than most out-of-state tournaments (except maybe California) and how playing the same high-level players for years sharpened her game.

• The hardest season: being told she’d be captain, then getting five minutes of game time, feeling overlooked, and wanting to quit—but choosing to control her work rate and attitude instead.

• Esteban’s advice on politics and the rollercoaster of soccer—you can’t want the highs without accepting the lows.

• How the DFW soccer community is a small world—one name can spark a 30-person chain of connections, from FC Dallas games to Starbucks encounters.

• The difference between Texas-style “athlete building” and Spanish tactical football, and why playing with boys forced her to lean on IQ instead of brute force.

• Why she turned down a DA opportunity because the coaching style didn’t fit her, even though the letters looked good.

• A player’s perspective on alphabet-soup leagues, constant travel, and chasing logos vs. staying local, dominating your backyard, and finding the right environment.

Quotes from Kassandra

• “My first word was ‘goal’ during a game. Soccer has literally always been there—I can’t remember life without it.”

• “If I’m not playing on the field, I’m not happy. It’s when I miss the game that I realize how much I love it.”

• “I could never picture a future where I wasn’t on the field. That’s when I knew soccer wasn’t just a hobby—it was my path.”

• “Texas girls’ soccer is extremely competitive. I’ve grown up with teammates who are now in the NWSL, and it’s easy to compare your timeline to theirs.”

• “My mom always said, ‘The day you don’t want to do this, I’m here for you. If you do want it, I’m with you 100%.’”

• “On the field, it’s my therapy. I’m not playing to prove something—I’m playing because I love the game and I know what I’m doing.”

• “Playing with the boys forced me to be smarter. I wasn’t going to outmuscle them, so I had to use my brain or I’d lose.”

• “That season I got five minutes of playing time was the first time I ever thought, ‘Maybe I don’t want to do this anymore.’ And it had nothing to do with my performance.”

• “Soccer is a rollercoaster. As great as the high feels, it will just as quickly bring you to the lowest low you’ve ever felt.”

• “You can’t want the good times and not want the bad times. If you don’t want the lows, this might not be the game for you.”

• “It doesn’t matter what letters are next to your team’s name. If the coaching style isn’t right for you, you’re not going to grow there.”

Connect with Kassandra

📸 Instagram: kass_1123

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#PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParents #SoccerMentality #SoccerIQ #SoccerIsFamily #SoccerPolitics #PlayLocalGrowGlobal #TexasSoccer #FootballCulture

World-renowned development leader Tom Byer joins the show to break down where real soccer development truly begins — inside the home. Tom explains how early touches, simple routines, and parent involvement build confidence, coordination, and long-term potential. We explore culture, neuroscience, at-home training, and why the U.S. continues to struggle with building a true development identity.

This episode gives parents, coaches, and clubs practical steps to build a stronger foundation for young players from the very beginning.

Key Talking Points

Tom’s Story & Global Impact

• NY → Japan: How Tom built one of the world’s most successful technical programs

• The beginnings of Soccer Starts at Home

• Why Japan embraced ball mastery at massive scale

Early Development Insights

• Real development starts before organized soccer

• Kids fall in love with the ball first, not the sport

• Importance of repetition: one child + one ball

• Early comfort becomes confidence and leadership

Culture & Science

• What Latin and Asian cultures do differently

• Neuroscience behind early learning

• Why games don’t teach foundational skills

• Why parent involvement shapes long-term potential

Practical Application

• Simple at-home routines for ages 2–6

• How to support older kids who start later

• What clubs can do to reinforce early development

• Building better collaboration between parents and coaches

💬 Quotes from Tom Byer

“Parents are the most important link in the development chain.”

“Kids fall in love with the ball first — not soccer.”

“If you want to push the ceiling, you have to raise the floor.”

“The best coach in the world can’t fix a weak foundation.”

“Culture develops players long before coaching ever does.”

“Most of what we call development is really just selection.”

“For young players, one child and one ball is more valuable than any game.”

“Ball mastery is the great equalizer — it gives every child a chance.”

“We keep trying to build superstructures on top of shaky foundations.”

“Real development starts years before a kid ever joins a team.”

🔗 Connect with Tom Byer

Website: soccerstartsathome.thinkific.com

Book: Soccer Starts at Home

Instagram: tom.byer

X: @TomSan106

📣 Follow Chat By The Pitch

Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

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Email: chatbythepitch@gmail.com

Links: linktr.ee/ChatByThePitch

#ChatByThePitch #TomByer #SoccerStartsAtHome#BallMastery #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment#TechnicalTraining #SoccerParents #GrassrootsSoccer#YouthSports #SoccerDevelopment #FootballEducation

In Part 2 of our two-part series with Juan Martinez — founder of JMS Soccer and president of DKSC — we move beyond the academy structure and dig into the deeper layers of development that parents rarely see. Juan opens up about the realities of North Texas soccer culture, the misconceptions around “connections,” and how he uses his network not as a selling point, but as a responsibility to serve disciplined players who put in the work.

Juan explains what it really takes for an athlete to earn his recommendation, why truth and accountability matter more than hype, and how he keeps kids grounded while helping them chase college, national team, or professional opportunities. We also explore character development, moral skills, parental influence, pathways beyond club soccer, and why the dream must belong to the player — not the parent.

If you’re a soccer parent trying to understand the real pathway from ages 12–14 to college or pro, Part 2 delivers the unfiltered truth.

📌 Key Talking Points

• The misconception around “connections” and what they actually mean

• North Texas as a cutthroat, highly competitive soccer market

• Parents fearing their child won’t be recruited if they’re not at the “right” club

• How Juan uses his network to help players — quietly, without promoting it

• Why Juan will not recommend a player who lacks work ethic or attitude

• Examples of Juan contacting major programs on players’ behalf

• “Real talk”: asking players if they want honest feedback

• Keeping kids humble — correcting body language, temper, effort

• Why character skills and moral skills matter as much as soccer skills

• Teaching athletes to write letters to themselves about who they want to be

• How attitude directly affects how teammates experience you

• The pathway funnel: dual citizenship, national teams, international scouts

• Why discipline and daily habits determine whether a pathway even exists

• Educating parents on timing, contracts, rights, and player value

• Helping players navigate college offers strategically

• Why most pathways depend on player drive, not parental desire

• Homeschool vs. private school comparison for elite training

• Why JMS Academy will not become a full school

• JMS Fit/Futuro as expansion for players not ready for full academy

• How success is defined: players going pro, earning scholarships, leadership qualities

💬 Guest Quotes

• “It’s very cutthroat. North Texas soccer is cutthroat.”

• “Most of the time people don’t even know that I’m doing that.”

• “I’m not sticking my neck out for just anybody.”

• “If you’re not technically sound… if you don’t use both feet… I can’t recommend you.”

• “I want to serve as many kids as possible, but in the right way.”

• “I don’t have a plan to grow the wrong way — I want to grow the right way with the right people.”

• “Everyone has a shelf life. Once I stop coaching, I want to use all my resources to honor God.”

• “Kids aren’t being creative anymore because we make every decision for them.”

• “Always count on change — we’re always reinventing and trying to get better.”

• “You keep everybody humble — you never let them get bigheaded.”

• “If it’s not their dream, you’re wasting your time.”

• “Know your child. If it’s their dream, it’s worth it. If it’s yours, it’s not.”

• “If your child isn’t touching a ball every day, they’re not falling in love with the sport yet.”

• “I’ve seen so many parents running the race for their kids — and it never works.”

• “Being part of a player reaching their goal… that’s the most fulfilling thing.”

• “They do all the work, all the sacrifice. I’m just part of their journey.”

Connect with JMS Soccer / JMS Academy

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jms_academy_official?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14SapicW9hP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

📩 Email: jmsoccer2911@gmail.com

Connect with Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

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📧 Email: chatbythepitch@gmail.com

🔗 linktr.ee/ChatByThePitch

#JMSAcademy #JMSSoccer #JuanMartinez #NorthTexasSoccer

#YouthSoccerDevelopment #PlayerPathways #CollegeSoccerRecruiting

#ProSoccerDreams #SoccerParents #SoccerMindset #CharacterDevelopment

#YouthSoccerTraining #SoccerCulture #HomeschoolAthletes

#EliteSoccerTraining #ChatByThePitch #DFWSoccer #DecisionMaking

#SoccerJourney #NextLevelSoccer

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Juan Martinez — founder of JMS Soccer and President of DKSC — opens up about the journey behind JMS Academy, his daytime elite training environment built for disciplined, goal-driven young athletes. Juan walks through how JMS started in 2018, why it shut down during COVID, and how it returned in 2023 with a renewed mission: character, mental toughness, individualized development, and a one-stop shop of services for players chasing big goals.

Juan breaks down the full structure of the academy day: early drop-offs, morning training, strength and conditioning with Juan Robles, nutrition habits, multiple school blocks, afternoon sessions, tactical work, recovery routines, and the mental side of the game. He shares how he intentionally builds an environment focused on quality over quantity, creativity over rigid systems, and long-term growth over short-term results.

For any parent curious about homeschool-based soccer development, elite training routines, or what it really takes for a player to chase a college or professional pathway — this conversation gives a raw, detailed look inside JMS Academy’s first year.

📌 Key Talking Points

• Juan’s origins: Classic League player in the late 80s/early 90s; coaching since 2005

• Why JMS was originally created in 2018

• The impact of COVID shutting JMS down and the decision to relaunch

• “Empty the Bucket”: the philosophy behind JMS

• Why JMS is a one-stop shop for character, mental toughness, and recruiting

• How “Seleção” inspired Juan’s approach to identifying elite players

• The launch of JMS Academy in August

• JMS Academy is not a school — it is a training program with academic support

• How homeschool programs fit into the model (Texas Tech K-12, iPrep, etc.)

• The structure of the daily schedule (7 AM–5 PM, Monday–Friday)

• Morning technical sessions and strength/conditioning with Juan Robles

• Nutrition routines inspired by Brazil: daily fruit/snack breaks

• Classroom blocks, supervision, and the expectation of discipline

• Why school comes first and how academic accountability works

• Weekly training themes: Mental Monday, tactical Wednesdays, competitive Fridays

• How JMS avoids overtraining and emphasizes recovery

• The five facets of development: mental, technical, tactical, physical, social

• The role creativity and pickup play in player growth

• Why Juan keeps the program focused on individual development over team structure

• Current group size (12 players) and commitment to quality

• The goal of eventually growing to ~20 athletes

• Balancing self-motivation, discipline, and personal goals

• How Juan’s network (college, Mexico youth national team, agents, international scouts) supports players

• How JMS educates families on sacrifice, commitment, and realistic pathways

• Why Juan intentionally avoids selling himself as a “gatekeeper”

💬 Guest Quotes

• “J-M-S stands for Juan Martinez Soccer, but it's more than just soccer.”

• “I realized I had built a good network of college recruiting and international scouts and didn’t want that to go in vain.”

• “One of the sayings for JMS that I use is ‘empty the bucket.’”

• “Every program we have started from a simple idea.”

• “We are not a school — we’re more of a training program trying to create a professional environment.”

• “School is very, very important… if you don’t take care of your school, you’re not going to be able to come and do academy training.”

• “We check continuously on their work. We’re not a school, but we provide the environment.”

• “We didn’t want to put a standard GPA… players learn differently.”

• “It’s not that everybody’s going to be a professional, but if you chase that dream and get college paid for, that’s a good investment.”

• “Decision-making is the number one skill.”

• “We want to make sure we’re holistically developing all players in all five faces.”

• “We don’t want to kill the creativity.”

• “They’re not robots — there are different ways to solve pressure and situations.”

• “We try to switch it up… so it doesn’t become the same routine.”

• “Our goal is to keep it as individual-based as much as possible.”

• “Quality versus quantity — we felt that would produce a lot more fruit.”

• “Everything we do is for the players that are aspiring to become pro or get college paid for.”

• “I’m not the gatekeeper — I have a network.”

• “It's not me… it's the Lord opening doors for me, and I’m going to use those to help as many players as I can.”

Connect with JMS Soccer / JMS Academy

📷 Instagram: jms_academy_official

📘 Facebook: JMS2

📩 Email: jmsoccer2911@gmail.com

Connect with Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

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#JMSAcademy #JMSSoccer #JuanMartinez #EliteSoccerTraining #HomeschoolAthletes

#DFWSoccer #NorthTexasSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #YouthSoccerTraining

#SoccerParents #SoccerMindset #DecisionMaking #CreativePlayers

#SoccerAcademy #TrainLikeAPro #MentalMonday #SoccerEducation

#ChatByThePitch #YouthSoccerPodcast

In Part 2 of The Return on Investment Myth — Rethinking Youth Sports, Dr. Travis Dorsch returns to Chat By The Pitch to go even deeper into the real work of parenting athletes. From accountability and culture to failure and social media, Dr. Dorsch shares how parents can reflect, recalibrate, and reconnect with the reason they signed their kids up in the first place.

We talk about how good intentions can cross the line, why “culture is king,” and what clubs can do to build a healthier ecosystem for players and families alike. From letting kids fail to redefining success after COVID, this conversation is a master class in perspective, patience, and purpose for every parent, coach, and club leader.

💬 Key Talking Points

• Treating kids as kids — not miniature adults

• Setting boundaries between good intentions and over-involvement

• The power of an accountability partner for parents

• How culture outweighs budget in building winning teams

• Reflection as a missing habit for most sports parents

• Why parents must allow failure to build resilience

• Social media and the “Gucci parent” era

• Bringing back discipline and the value of the name on the back of the jersey

• Inclusion, respect, and cheering for the competition

• Helping parents feel unstuck and regain balance

• Volunteering and being a helper in club culture

• Three keys to supporting your athlete: show up, be present, celebrate both wins and losses

• Parent education that works vs. programs that don’t

• Defining success for communities and clubs

• How COVID reshaped youth sports and perspective

• Coaches as the “missing piece” for family balance

• The importance of humility and apology as a parent

• What today’s generation of athletes is teaching us about resilience

Quotes from Dr. Travis Dorsch

• “Our kids aren’t miniature adults — we have to stop treating them that way.”

• “Accountability partners on the sideline can save you and your kid a lot of pain.”

• “Culture is king — and it’s free if you do it right.”

• “Parents have the potential to be incredibly reflective, but most of us choose not to be.”

• “Failure is a safe space for learning if we let it be.”

• “Social media shows the best five percent of every season and hides the 95 percent of growth.”

• “Let’s cheer for our kid’s competitors the same way we cheer for our own.”

• “Show up. Be present. Celebrate success and failure alike.”

• “Competitive outcomes and character development aren’t mutually exclusive — you can have both.”

• “Be humble enough to apologize when things go sideways. We only get one shot at this as parents.”

Connect with Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Listen: Chat By The Pitch on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Dr. Travis Dorsch

🌐 Families in Sport Lab — Utah State University

▶️ TEDx Talk: “Should Parents Expect a Return on Investment?”

#YouthSports #ParentingInSports #SportsCulture #SportsParenting #DrTravisDorsch #ChatByThePitch #CultureIsKing #PlayerDevelopment #FamilyInSport #ResilientAthletes #ParentEducation #YouthAthletes #SportsEcosystem #FailureIsLearning #ParentCoachPlayer #SportsPsychology #CommunityCulture #AthleteMindset #PodcastDFW #YouthDevelopment

In Part 1 of The Return on Investment Myth — Rethinking Youth Sports, Dr. Travis Dorsch joins Chat By The Pitch to explore what families are truly getting from youth sports. As a professor at Utah State University and founding director of the Families in Sport Lab, Dr. Dorsch shares how his research — and his own parenting journey — reveal the tension between performance, pressure, and purpose.

We unpack why so many parents chase the wrong outcomes, how goal misalignment drives kids out of the game, and what it really means to “invest” in your child’s sport journey. From NIL deals to the cost of club soccer, Travis challenges families to define success differently — not in scholarships or stats, but in the lessons that last a lifetime.

💬 Key Talking Points

• Why parents should expect a return on investment — but not the kind they think

• The dangers of chasing scholarships and pro dreams too early

• Goal alignment: how parents, coaches, and players get out of sync

• What keeps kids in the game past age 13

• The problem with commodifying young athletes

• Systems thinking: placing the child at the center of the sport ecosystem

• Communication tips for the car ride home

• What questions parents should ask after every game

• Modeling behavior and emotional control on the sidelines

• How family dynamics shape athlete development

• “Snowplow” vs. “scaffolding” parents

• Defining success beyond wins and goals

• Building lifelong movers instead of short-term stars

🗣 Quotes from Dr. Travis Dorsch

• “Parents should expect some form of return on their investment — but the real question is how we define that return.”

• “When parents define success as scholarships or contracts, the pressure skyrockets for everyone.”

• “Goal alignment is everything. If parents and kids aren’t chasing the same thing, conflict is inevitable.”

• “The child needs to remain at the center. When parents or coaches make it about themselves, that’s when problems start.”

• “If we can just get kids to come back next season, we’re winning.”

• “You can’t name Christian Pulisic’s U12 record — because it doesn’t matter. What mattered is that he kept playing.”

• “Parents are role models first. Kids don’t just hear us — they watch how we act.”

• “Ask better questions on the ride home. Not ‘Did you win?’ but ‘What was the most exciting thing you did today?’”

• “Work hard, listen to the coach, and have fun — that’s our family mantra.”

• “Youth sport is a vehicle to raise better humans, not just better athletes.”

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Connect with Dr. Travis Dorsch

🌐 Families in Sport Lab — Utah State University

▶️ TEDx Talk: “Should Parents Expect a Return on Investment?”

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In this episode, Tom Boyce, co-owner of Crossbar and London Calling TX, shares how these two soccer spaces are redefining culture in North Texas.

From weekday pickup and late-night leagues to homeschool sessions and family-friendly weekends, Crossbar has created a space where adults can play, relax, and connect while their kids grow up around the game.

Tom and Ian dive into:

• How the adult-first, kid-friendly model changes the soccer experience.

• The “winner-stays-on” pickup system that keeps games competitive and fun.

• Why Denton’s cash-rollover challenge became a local legend.

• The crossover between Crossbar and London Calling in growing community culture.

• How partnerships with leagues, gyms, and coaches expand opportunity across DFW.

This episode is a reminder that soccer isn’t just a sport — it’s a community heartbeat.

⚽ Key Talking Points

• Crossbar’s mission: create adult-first soccer community centers where parents can play too.

• Locations: Dallas (formerly Richardson) and Denton, both with full-service bars and turf.

• League nights: Open, Co-Ed, and Over-30 divisions.

• Pickup culture: 5v5, first to two goals, winner stays — no cleats allowed.

• GoodRec and FieldSpace apps for sign-ups and scheduling.

• The cash-rollover pickup pot that’s become part of Denton soccer lore.

• Daytime blocks for homeschoolers, youth training, and open play.

• Community partnerships with gyms, coaches, and local soccer groups.

• Expansion plans: new outdoor turf and long-term franchise potential.

• “Happy parents = better players.” The ripple effect of Crossbar’s culture.

💬 Quotes from Tom Boyce

“We’re adult-first, but kids are always welcome. It’s a soccer community center.”

“If parents are comfortable, coaches can coach and kids can just play.”

“Pickup should be fun — 5v5, winner stays, no pressure, no cleats.”

“That cash pot in Denton? It started small, now it’s legendary.”

“We’re not here to nickel-and-dime. We’re here to belong.”

“Think the Cheers bar — but for soccer.”

📲 Connect with Tom Boyce

📷 Instagram: @crossbar.dallas

📷 Instagram: @londoncallingtx

🌐 Websites:

🔗 www.crossbardallas.com

🔗 www.londoncallingtx.com

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#ChatByThePitch #Crossbar #LondonCallingTX #DallasSoccer #DFWSoccer #AdultSoccer #PickupSoccer #IndoorSoccer #DentonTX #RichardsonTX #SoccerCommunity #SoccerParents #YouthSoccerParents #TexasSoccer #NorthTexasSoccer #SoccerCulture #FiveASide #CommunitySoccer

In Part 2 of our conversation with Brenden Lee, founder of Project 214, we go deeper into how futsal connects people, purpose, and personal growth. Brenden shares the next phase of his vision — from partnering with Vanta Athletics to bring rooftop futsal to downtown Dallas, to shaping a mentorship culture built on empathy and expression. He opens up about the challenges that shaped him, the role of mental health in coaching, and how Project 214 is evolving into a creative hub where players, parents, and mentors come together through the love of the game. This episode is equal parts inspiration, vulnerability, and vision — a reminder that sport is just the beginning. (138 words)

Key Talking Points

• Partnering with Vanta Athletics to launch rooftop futsal at Plaza of the Americas

• How futsal becomes a platform for mentorship and community impact

• Creating safe spaces for kids and families to connect beyond the game

• Blending art, culture, and sport into a creative ecosystem

• Building confidence and self-expression through the game

• The importance of mental health and self-awareness for coaches and players

• Lessons from personal struggles and rediscovering purpose through service

• Bridging generations and cultures through pickup play and shared experiences

• The rise of futsal facilities and grassroots energy across North Texas

• How Project 214 is inspiring the next generation to play, create, and belong

Tune In to Learn

How Brenden Lee is redefining what futsal means for Dallas — as a game, a community, and a space for healing, growth, and connection.

Quotes from Brenden Lee

• “Project 214 feels like servitude — a way to give purpose and connection to something bigger than me.”

• “I want kids to feel seen, heard, and safe — that’s what this project is about.”

• “Futsal is just the bridge; what we’re really building is community.”

• “Vanta Athletics shares the same ethos — it’s about people coming together through the game.”

• “Sometimes you have to shed old versions of yourself to find the authentic you.”

• “Sports culture rarely talks about mental health — but it’s okay to say you’re down and seek help.”

• “Project 214 was born from pain but built on love — that’s what makes it real.”

• “The World Cup will bring energy, but our goal is to sustain that culture long after.”

• “Every kid deserves a place to belong, to create, to express who they are.”

• “My greatest inspiration is the little kid version of me who just needed a hug and a chance to be seen.”

📲 Connect with Brenden Lee

📷 Instagram (Personal): @brendenlee17

📷 Instagram (Project 214): @project_2.1.4

🌐 Website: theproject214.com

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#ChatByThePitch #BrendenLee #Project214 #DallasFutsal #VantaAthletics #RooftopSoccer #FutsalCulture #FutsalTraining #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCommunity #SportsMentorship #CreativeCoaching #YouthSoccer #SoccerPodcast #TexasSoccer #MentalHealthInSports #GrowTheGame #StreetSoccer #DallasSoccer #PlayWithPurpose