Chasing the Game - Youth Soccer in America

Liron Unreich, Matt Tartaglia
  • 5.0 (15)
  • SOCCER

Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America is a weekly podcast for soccer parents, coaches, and players who want to understand how youth soccer development really works in the United States. Hosted by two dads, filmmaker Liron Unreich and investor Matt Tartaglia, the show covers everything from grassroots soccer to elite pathways like MLS NEXT and ECNL. Combining data, real experience, and expert insights from academy directors, college coaches, and former pros, each episode explains what families truly need to know. Weekly episodes focus on the core aspects of youth soccer: player development, coaching culture, college recruiting, tryouts, travel costs, and the challenges of youth sports parenting in today’s competitive environment. For families navigating youth soccer’s complex system, Chasing the Game offers practical advice, credible voices, and relatable stories from two dads working to make sense of American player development, one episode at a time.

  1. Mental Health. The Hidden Cost of Elite Youth Soccer Academy Pressure

    18H AGO

    Mental Health. The Hidden Cost of Elite Youth Soccer Academy Pressure

    In elite youth soccer, kids are under constant evaluation. That pressure changes how they play, how they learn, and how they feel about the game. In this episode of Chasing the Game. Youth Soccer in America, we’re joined by Dr. Jonathan Jenkins and Dr. Kimberly O’Brien, authors of Mentality Wins, to break down the mental toll of academy pressure, fear of mistakes, comparison culture, and how parents and coaches can support confidence without lowering standards. This conversation is for soccer parents and coaches navigating tryouts, feedback, burnout, and the car ride home. EPISODE SHOW NOTES: What we cover Why constant evaluation changes how kids playFear of mistakes vs confidence and flowThe “2% edge”. Why mental skills matter more than physical differencesComparison of culture and identity in elite youth soccerHow feedback helps or harms developmentThe cognitive triangle. Thoughts, feelings, behaviorsPractical tools parents and coaches can use immediatelyHow to keep kids in love with the game while still competing About our guests Dr. Jonathan Jenkins is a sports psychologist who has worked with professional teams, including the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox, and is part of the Harvard Medical School teaching community. Dr. Kimberly O’Brien works at the intersection of athlete mental health and performance and has been affiliated with Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard programs. Together, they are the authors of Mentality Wins, a practical framework built around four pillars. Focus, Flow, Finish, and Flourish. Resources Mentality Wins book and resources: https://www.mentalitywins.com (00:00) - The Hidden Cost of Elite Youth Soccer (02:05) - Constant Evaluation and Playing Afraid (06:48) - The 2% Difference. Mental Not Physical (11:32) - Fear of Mistakes and Performance Anxiety (16:10) - Comparison Culture and Identity (21:05) - Feedback That Builds or Breaks Kids (26:18) - The Cognitive Triangle Explained (31:44) - Parents, Coaches, and the Sideline Problem (36:52) - The Car Ride Home. Comfort or Solutions (42:30) - Focus, Flow, Finish, Flourish (49:10) - Applying the Mental Game at Home and Training (57:40) - What Parents and Coaches Should Take Away Click here to view the episode transcript.

    1h 9m
  2. From Street Football to Spotlight. Maintaining the Hunger

    JAN 21

    From Street Football to Spotlight. Maintaining the Hunger

    Episode 12. From Street Football to Spotlight. Maintaining the Hunger Peguy Luyindula joins Chasing the Game for a rare, real comparison between a football culture built on everyday play and the U.S. youth soccer environment built around structure, fees, and outcomes. A 17-year pro with stops at Lyon, Marseille, PSG, the France national team, and MLS (New York Red Bulls), Peguy walks us through what actually shaped him. Not facilities. Not rankings. The street, the repetitions, and the standards. In this conversation: Why “playing anywhere” (even with rocks and cans) matters more than perfect conditionsThe moment football stops being a “game” and becomes a jobCoaching as a responsibility, training coaches, and setting a real club standardThe pay-to-play reality, and how “parents as clients” can quietly distort developmentWhat he’d tell soccer parents who want growth without breaking their kid’s love for the sport If this brings up something you’re dealing with right now, share it with another parent. Or send it to a coach you trust. (00:00) - Start (00:04) - Cold open. why this guest matters (00:36) - Peguy intro. PSG, Lyon, Marseille, France, MLS (01:40) - Interview begins (03:18) - Street football roots. how it started (09:26) - Playing anywhere. cans, rocks, tennis balls (14:52) - First big moment. scoring. belief (15:31) - When football becomes work (20:28) - Coaching as responsibility. train coaches. set standards (24:42) - Europe vs U.S. youth soccer culture (36:55) - Pay-to-play and the U.S. maze (40:23) - Parents as clients. business pressure vs development (49:58) - It’s not a game when you become a pro (01:01:45) - Host wrap. access, environment, and the hunger Click here to view the episode transcript.

    1h 3m
  3. What Does an MLS Academy Director Actually Do? Inside Youth Soccer Development with Sean McCafferty (NY Red Bulls)

    JAN 14

    What Does an MLS Academy Director Actually Do? Inside Youth Soccer Development with Sean McCafferty (NY Red Bulls)

    What does an academy director actually do at a professional club — and why do MLS academies sometimes lose games on purpose? In this episode of Chasing the Game, we sit down with Sean McCafferty, Academy Director of the New York Red Bulls, to unpack how elite youth soccer development really works in the United States. Sean takes us inside the Red Bulls academy system and explains: Why development matters more than winning at younger agesWhat parents misunderstand about MLS NEXT and professional academiesHow players are evaluated beyond talent: decision-making, mentality, and adaptabilityWhy playing up an age group and facing adversity accelerates growthHow MLS NEXT Pro changed the pathway to the first teamWhat parents should actually prioritize when choosing a club for their childThis conversation is especially for parents navigating the pressure, confusion, and noise of U.S. youth soccer. Sean brings clarity, patience, and perspective from 25 years inside the game — as both an academy leader and a parent himself. If you’ve ever wondered: “Why isn’t my kid playing more?”“Should we change clubs?”“Are we chasing false progress?”This episode is required listening. (00:00) - Welcome, why this episode is for parents (00:39) - Sean McCafferty, England to New York, coaching lens (02:44) - What an academy director actually does (05:28) - Scouting and selection, what gets a kid noticed (09:00) - Training culture, standards, and daily environment (15:00) - Development vs winning, teaching the game (27:00) - Minutes, roles, playing up, and roster reality (32:42) - Red Bull global network, Salzburg, Leipzig, Brazil (33:00) - Tournaments and the travel culture (45:08) - Growth spurts, late bloomers, and patience (55:12) - Cost, pay to play pressures, what families face (01:01:00) - What actually makes a player, scanning and decisions (01:11:30) - Closing thoughts and advice for families Click here to view the episode transcript.

    1h 15m
  4. What We Learned? Are We Building an American Brand of Soccer?

    JAN 7

    What We Learned? Are We Building an American Brand of Soccer?

    Episode 10 is our season recap: what we learned after nine weeks of interviews with people inside the U.S. youth soccer system. We went in thinking it was about leagues and badges. What did we come out with? Terms such as incentives, communication, minutes, touches, pressure, and the parent role. In this recap, we distill the key lessons from conversations with Luis Robles, Patrick Ouckama, Noah Gins, Ben Olsen, Brando and Billy, and Morten Gahn. What we learned MLS NEXT is dynamic, but families often do not get the “why” behind changes.The U.S. cannot be Europe-lite. Culture is not a tactic you can import.Pay-to-play is the operating reality for most non-MLS academies, which changes expectations and incentives.We may be calling too many kids “elite,” creating confusion and false promises.Roster math is not a hot take. Someone is always frustrated about minutes.Early talent is not destiny. Where you start is not the same as how you climb.Touch volume matters, and “good training” is hard for parents to evaluate.Burnout is often due to pressure, not just physical workload.Parents must adapt as the player grows, and that separation is challenging. (00:00) - Episode 10 recap: what we learned (double digits) (03:10) - Luis Robles: MLS NEXT is dynamic, but communication lags (06:53) - Patrick Ouckama: culture + why the US can’t be “Europe-lite.” (09:10) - Noah Gins: youth soccer is a business (pay-to-play reality) (12:38) - Are we calling too many kids “elite”? The funnel problem (16:10) - Roster math + scarcity: where the minutes go (19:33) - Patience + Morten’s staircase: where you start vs how you climb (25:30) - Touches + what “good training” even looks like (28:24) - Supplemental work: tutor analogy, FOMO, and the noise (34:35) - Burnout: it’s often pressure (not just volume) (36:44) - Parents evolve: separation, new role, and supporting the kid (47:59) - Tournaments, showcases, and the travel economy (MLS NEXT Fest, EDP) (56:46) - World Cup 2026 + MLS growth: what it could unlock next (59:14) - Season 2 teaser: mental, physical, directors, girls' game Click here to view the episode transcript.

    1h 2m
  5. Youth Soccer Development: Winning, and the Staircase Analogy

    12/17/2025

    Youth Soccer Development: Winning, and the Staircase Analogy

    Youth soccer focuses on development, but our systems still prioritize results. In this episode of Chasing the Game – Youth Soccer in America, we sit down with Morten Grahn, former director of the NYCFC Soccer Academy, to discuss a harsh truth in American youth soccer: elite environments are not designed to develop every player, yet early success is often mistaken for a sign of long-term potential. Morten uses a strong staircase analogy to explain why being higher in the system doesn't necessarily mean a player is better at progressing or more prepared for what’s next. We discuss how parents, coaches, and clubs often conflate rank within the system with proper development, and how that misunderstanding can influence decisions for years. We cover:• Why quietly winning can overshadow real development in youth soccer• How elite programs rely on structured plans rather than feelings• Why most players aren’t “rockets” — and why that’s normal• How challenge, struggle, and even not playing can be key to growth• What parents should really watch for in competitive environments This episode is for parents navigating academies, tryouts, and performance pressure, and for anyone questioning whether the current youth soccer model truly supports long-term growth. Chasing the Game aims to bring clarity and honesty to a system that often feels unclear. This conversation doesn’t give easy answers, but it helps families think in a better way. (00:00) - Intro – Why results still run youth soccer (02:45) - Winning vs development (06:30) - How elite systems really work (10:15) - Not everyone is built to be developed (14:40) - The staircase analogy explained (19:30) - Where players are vs how well they climb (24:10) - Why most players aren’t rockets (29:20) - Challenge struggle and not playing (34:15) - Frameworks over feelings (39:10) - Environment shapes outcomes (44:00) - What parents often misunderstand (49:20) - Rethinking opportunity and fairness (54:10) - Long term development vs short term success (58:30) - Rethinking how we evaluate players (01:02:10) - Advice for parents inside elite systems (01:05:40) - What development actually asks of families Click here to view the episode transcript.

    1h 11m
  6. U.S. Youth Soccer: The Next Generation Starts Here

    12/10/2025

    U.S. Youth Soccer: The Next Generation Starts Here

    The next chapter of American youth soccer is being built by a new generation. Not administrators. Not executives. Players. Young adults. People who lived the system from the inside and are now fixing the gaps they experienced firsthand. In this episode, we talk with Brando Babini and Billy Pavlou, founders of Youth4Youth FC and Next Level USA, two programs reshaping development through supplemental training, real match minutes, and near-peer mentorship. As parents inside the youth system, we see the pressure, confusion, and lack of clarity that families face. This conversation explains why the future depends on new leaders who understand both the player’s world and the parent’s world. We cover: • Why supplemental training exists and how to use it the right way • Why match minutes matter more than ever • Mistakes parents make without realizing • How mentorship fills the emotional gap in youth soccer • Differences between youth clubs such as NYCFC, Red Bulls, Met Oval, and Kickers • What exposure and recruiting actually look like today • Why the U.S. is primed for soccer innovation This is the next generation of U.S. youth soccer. It starts with people like Brando and Billy. (00:00) - Start (00:09) - Remote intro and audio joke (00:33) - Present and future of youth soccer, why these guests (00:46) - Introducing Billy Pavlou and Brando Babini (04:44) - Brando’s path through NYC academies and founding Youth4Youth FC (08:34) - Billy’s journey from Australia to New York and starting Next Level USA (14:28) - What supplemental training really means (19:56) - Club identities in NYC and how they shape players (27:21) - Who drives supplemental work, parents or players (29:25) - Relationships with MLS NEXT and top clubs, guest play rules (35:50) - Youth4Youth mentorship model and near-peer support (44:34) - Showcases, college recruiting and real exposure (48:50) - Burnout, pressure and where it actually comes from (53:39) - Social media, player profiles and the showcase effect (58:30) - Why the US is fertile ground for soccer startups (01:02:24) - Rapid fire: skills, clubs, parents and advice for 12-year-olds ‘View full transcript’

    1h 9m
  7. Noah Gins: From Chaos to Structure in American Youth Soccer

    12/03/2025

    Noah Gins: From Chaos to Structure in American Youth Soccer

    This week on Chasing the Game, we sit down with one of the most influential figures in American youth soccer: Noah Gins, Founder and CEO of Albion. We break down structure, culture, college pathways, measurable development, retention, and what true “success” really means inside a U.S. club system that too often rewards the wrong things. If you’re a parent, coach, or player trying to understand why youth soccer feels chaotic and what a functioning system could look like. This episode brings clarity. Topics We Cover • How Noah built one of the most successful youth clubs in the country • Why U.S. development suffers from fragmentation and inconsistency • The four core pillars of success at Albion • Retention, culture, and long-term development • Why “beautiful soccer” and winning often conflict • College recruitment myths and real pathways • How clubs should define success vs. how parents define success • Albion’s long-term vision for U.S. youth soccer YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@chasingthegame-podcast Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2pNWkRKtCJ9DqN6dgGcbWN Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com Website – https://chasingthegame.us Instagram – https://instagram.com/chasingthegamepod TikTok – https://tiktok.com/@chasingthegamepod Click here to view the episode transcript. (00:00) - Intro: The Machine Behind U.S. Youth Soccer (00:39) - Noah Gins Joins the Conversation (02:56) - Noah’s Youth Career and Path to Pro Soccer (04:00) - Building Albion: Six Teams to National Recognition (08:47) - Expansion, Affiliates, and the Albion Model (13:02) - What Was Missing in Youth Soccer (17:10) - How Environment Shapes Playing Style (18:58) - Structure vs Freedom in Player Development (20:31) - The League Maze: MLS NEXT, ECNL, EA (22:34) - Could the U.S. Ever Unite Its Development System? (25:45) - Why the U.S. Needs Player Compensation (29:57) - Supplementary Training and the Secondary Market (32:51) - Technical Mastery: Juggling and Measurable Skills (35:05) - Multi Sport Athletes and Specialization (37:45) - Understanding the U.S. Player Pathway (39:36) - The Problem With Using the Word “Elite” (41:11) - High School Soccer vs Academy Soccer (44:14) - Parents, Communication, and Culture (46:26) - Global Influences: Brazil, Spain, and Beyond (51:53) - Social Media, Mentality, and Today’s Players (53:50) - Seeing Albion as a System: Local to National (54:20) - Defining Success and Albion’s Four Pillars (57:54) - Cracking the College Pathway and Scholarships (01:02:22) - Albion’s Long Term Vision and Role in U.S. Soccer

    1h 7m
  8. Ben Olsen: How Pressure, Culture, and Development Really Work in U.S. Youth Soccer

    11/26/2025

    Ben Olsen: How Pressure, Culture, and Development Really Work in U.S. Youth Soccer

    In this episode, Ben Olsen provides one of the most honest breakdowns of youth soccer development in the U.S., covering how kids handle pressure, the differences he observes inside MLS NEXT academies, and why the American system often struggles with player development, culture, and long-term growth. Ben speaks openly about the realities of pay-to-play, how parents influence development, the gap in soccer IQ between U.S. players and the global game, and what coaches look for as kids transition from club soccer to college recruiting and ultimately the pro pathway. For parents navigating ECNL, USYS, MLS NEXT, high school soccer, or the college pathway, this episode offers clarity on how elite environments truly operate and what really matters for your child’s development. Key Takeaways Why the U.S. youth soccer system creates unique pressure at early agesWhat American players lack compared to global development culturesHow to build real soccer IQ outside of trainingWhat parents often misunderstand about development vs. competitivenessThe cultural differences between U.S. club soccer and pro academiesHow MLS clubs evaluate young players and what separates the ones who advanceWhy joy and intrinsic motivation matter more than early “success”Website: https://www.chasingthegame.us (00:00) - Intro (00:40) - Ben’s Early Experiences in U.S. Youth Soccer (03:15) - Pressure, Competitiveness & Player Development (07:10) - What Parents Get Wrong About Youth Soccer (11:30) - What Real Development Looks Like Inside MLS NEXT (15:45) - Culture, Joy & The Global Game (21:20) - Navigating Club Soccer Expectations (27:50) - Ben’s Advice to Parents & Players (32:40) - Wrap-Up

    52 min
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out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America is a weekly podcast for soccer parents, coaches, and players who want to understand how youth soccer development really works in the United States. Hosted by two dads, filmmaker Liron Unreich and investor Matt Tartaglia, the show covers everything from grassroots soccer to elite pathways like MLS NEXT and ECNL. Combining data, real experience, and expert insights from academy directors, college coaches, and former pros, each episode explains what families truly need to know. Weekly episodes focus on the core aspects of youth soccer: player development, coaching culture, college recruiting, tryouts, travel costs, and the challenges of youth sports parenting in today’s competitive environment. For families navigating youth soccer’s complex system, Chasing the Game offers practical advice, credible voices, and relatable stories from two dads working to make sense of American player development, one episode at a time.

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