Chasing the Game - Youth Soccer in America

Liron Unreich, Matt Tartaglia
  • 5.0 (31)
  • Soccer
  • Updated Weekly

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 parenting in youth sports 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. Harris Faulkner Gets a World Cup Crash Course

    4h ago

    Harris Faulkner Gets a World Cup Crash Course

    Harris Faulkner Gets a World Cup Crash CourseA six-time Emmy-winning Fox News anchor is heading to France vs. Senegal with her daughters and needs soccer rules for parents before the World Cup. Harris Faulkner knows pressure. Live television. Breaking news. Election nights. But soccer brings a different challenge: stoppage time, offside, VAR, red cards, chanting fans, and two teenage daughters watching every reaction.So Liron and Matt give her the Chasing the Game version of a World Cup crash course. Not the expert version. The parent version. Enough to follow the match, understand the drama, and maybe say one smart thing at the perfect time.In this episode: Why the World Cup is the easiest way into soccerWhat parents should know before sitting in a stadiumWhy does the clock count up and stoppage time feel strangeHow offside and VAR work without ruining the gameWhat yellow cards, red cards, and substitutions meanWhy France vs. Senegal carries real World Cup historyWhy Mbappé and Mané matterThe soccer lines that might impress your kids once (00:00) - Parent in Need (01:13) - Harris Faulkner Joins (03:37) - Soccer or Football (06:12) - How to Be a Fan (08:17) - Why the World Cup Works (11:22) - France and Senegal History (12:21) - Kickoff and the Clock (16:10) - Offside and VAR (19:49) - Cards and Substitutions (23:39) - Mbappé and Mané (28:04) - Soccer Lines That Work (33:10) - The Coachable Parent Click here to view the episode transcript.

    38 min
  2. Why Your Kid Looks Better in Training Than Games

    Jun 10

    Why Your Kid Looks Better in Training Than Games

    Why does a youth soccer player look technical in training, then struggle when the game starts? That question drives this conversation with Christian Silva, founder of Silva Academy and a former professional player. Christian pushes past the easy labels parents hear all the time: technical, confident, talented, improving. His point is sharper than that. A player can look great in a session, beat cones, win drills, and still not understand when or why to use the skill in a real game. Liron and Matt talk with Christian about what technical ability actually means, why the skill is not just the move, why supplemental training has to connect back to the team environment, and why parents often misread confidence. Christian also explains why yelling from the sideline can hijack a player’s decision-making, why watching full games still matters, why highlights can distort development, and why the best soccer parents may need to ask more questions before chasing another trainer, team, badge, or shortcut. This episode is for every parent who has watched their kid look great in practice and then wondered why it did not show up on game day. (00:00) - Why training and games can look so different (02:24) - Christian Silva on the real development gap (05:55) - The stop moving lesson from Germany (08:30) - What technical actually means (10:30) - The skill is not the skill (12:30) - Supplemental training and game transfer (17:00) - How to judge progress in a match (20:10) - Benchmarks, foundations, and catching up (23:00) - Why training has to come alive in games (25:00) - How parents can hijack decision-making (28:20) - Pay-to-play, access, and open systems (32:30) - Too many programs, not enough clarity (35:00) - Knowing your own kid (38:00) - Tryouts, benchmarks, and control (40:30) - The reality of chasing pro soccer (42:40) - Confidence as controllables (45:20) - Why watching full games still matters (50:45) - Rapid fire: scanning, adversity, and questions (52:10) - Final takeaways for parents View full transcript

    56 min
  3. Youth Soccer Exposure: What Parents Misunderstand

    Jun 3

    Youth Soccer Exposure: What Parents Misunderstand

    A post can open a door, but it can also distort what families think progress looks like. In this episode, Liron and Matt talk with David Rodriguez, founder of Footy Access, about one of the most loaded words in youth soccer: exposure. Parents want their kids seen. Players feel the pressure. Clubs understand the value. Platforms create visibility. But being posted is not the same thing as being developed, recruited, or ready. David explains how Footy Access thinks about coverage, why families cannot pay to have a player featured, when social media can help, and why a young player still has to hold up when the camera is off. In this episode: Why David started Footy Access after seeing a gap in youth soccer mediaWhy views and followers can become misleading metricsHow Footy Access sources stories, rankings, and player coverageWhat exposure actually means for players, clubs, and familiesWhy social media is not a replacement for showcases, scouts, or developmentWhy parents cannot pay to have a player featuredWhen posting helps a player and when it becomes noiseWhy families need a clearer “North Star” before chasing visibility (00:00) - Social Media Pressure (02:30) - How Footy Access Started (05:45) - Views Are Not the Goal (07:15) - Sourcing the Story (08:55) - Highlights, Rankings, and Scouts (11:28) - Keeping Coverage Positive (15:31) - What Exposure Means (18:49) - The Business Model (21:18) - Not Pay-to-Play (25:32) - How Players Get Validated (28:56) - What Parents Misunderstand (32:21) - Pro Dreams and the North Star (40:01) - When Posting Becomes Too Much (52:02) - Final Takeaways Click here to view the episode transcript.

    56 min
  4. From D.C. United to Nottingham Forest: What Youth Soccer Coaches Really Do

    May 27

    From D.C. United to Nottingham Forest: What Youth Soccer Coaches Really Do

    What does a youth soccer coach do when parents are not watching? This week on Chasing the Game, Liron is joined by Patrick Ouckama and Phil Gordon, whose coaching path has taken him from D.C. United to Nottingham Forest. That journey gives Phil a rare view of two very different soccer environments: the American youth system and the English academy world. The conversation keeps returning to something most parents do not always see clearly. Coaching is not just the session. It is the planning before training.The conversations after practice.The hard roster decisions.The scouting meetings.The staffing behind the player.The hours spent thinking about development long after the whistle blows. Phil talks about the dedication required to coach well, what changes when you move into a Premier League academy environment, and why staffing and structure matter so much in player development. For American soccer parents, this episode offers a useful look behind the curtain. Not because England has all the answers. Not because Nottingham Forest is a magic model. But seeing how another environment supports players and coaches can help us ask better questions about our own. In this episode, we cover: - What parents often miss about the work coaches do- Why coaching is much more than running a training session- How Phil’s path moved from D.C. United to Nottingham Forest- What the UK academy environment feels like from the inside- Why staffing, scouting, and support roles matter in development- The difference between coaching in the U.S. and England- How geography changes the academy experience in the UK- What American players bring, and where they can still grow- Why parent-coach relationships can shape the development experience- How families should think about college, contracts, and long-term pathways (00:00) - What Coaches Really Do (03:00) - Phil Gordon’s Coaching Path (06:00) - Work Ethic From The U.S. (09:00) - What Parents Don’t See (12:00) - Rosters, Playing Time, Hard Choices (15:00) - Parents And Coaches Together (18:00) - What Changed In England (21:00) - Staffing, Scouts, And Infrastructure (25:00) - Geography And Academy Options (29:00) - American Athleticism, European Technique (33:00) - Watching The Game Differently (36:00) - College, Contracts, And Choices (42:00) - What Has To Give (45:00) - The Dedication Behind The Job View full transcript

    54 min
  5. Not Every Soccer Path Has to Be Perfect

    May 20

    Not Every Soccer Path Has to Be Perfect

    Most soccer families are told the same thing: specialize early, chase the biggest league, get seen, and don’t fall behind. But Don Farr and his son Ryan tell a different story. Ryan played multiple sports, stayed connected to high school soccer, took a post-grad year at Northwood, and then became a standout freshman at Stony Brook. His path was not clean. It was not obvious. And that is exactly why it matters. This episode is about the decisions families make when there is no perfect answer. Academy or high school. D1 or D3. Exposure or fit. Scholarship or affordability. Dream big, but stay honest. In this episode: Why all three Farr brothers ended up with different soccer outcomesWhat high school soccer still gives players in certain communitiesWhy Ryan chose Northwood instead of jumping straight into collegeThe shock of entering a more professional soccer environmentThe real value, and limits, of showcasesWhy ID camps are often misunderstoodHow families should think about scholarship money and actual college costWhat Ryan learned from his freshman year at Stony Brook (00:00) - America, Land of Soccer Opportunity (02:20) - Meet Don and Ryan Farr (03:45) - Falling in Love With the Game (06:10) - Three Brothers, Three Soccer Paths (09:20) - High School Soccer Still Matters (12:05) - Choosing Northwood Over a D1 Offer (15:10) - Finding a Position and a Purpose (18:15) - The Post-Grad Year That Changed Everything (23:55) - Inside the Northwood Environment (27:20) - D1, D3, and What Parents Actually Feel (31:20) - Showcases, Exposure, and Being Seen (35:40) - What Coaches Notice Beyond the Ball (38:55) - The Money Side of College Soccer (42:10) - Ryan’s Freshman Breakthrough (45:00) - Keeping the Pro Dream Alive (48:05) - The Truth About ID Camps (51:00) - What Parents Should Take Away Click here to view the episode transcript.

    53 min
  6. Youth Soccer Keeps Changing. Can Your Player Keep Up?

    May 13

    Youth Soccer Keeps Changing. Can Your Player Keep Up?

    Youth soccer keeps changing. Most families are still searching for fixed answers. In this episode, Filippo Giovagnoli challenges some of the deepest assumptions parents have about development, culture, tactics, pathways, and what actually creates players. This is not a conversation about nostalgia or romantic ideas about European football. It is about adaptation. The modern game moves faster. Players have less time. Duels matter more. Decision-making matters more. Grit matters more. And the players who survive are often the ones who keep evolving. We talk about: Why winning duels is not just physicalWhy tactics too early can hurt developmentWhy “soccer culture” alone solves nothingWhy American soccer is improving faster than people thinkWhy parents misunderstand data and pathwaysWhy adaptability may matter more than raw talentWhy intrinsic motivation changes everythingWhy Europe is not one simple blueprint For parents, the real question becomes uncomfortable: (00:00) - Start (00:03) - Not About Nostalgia (01:38) - Filippo’s Football Path (05:01) - Seeing Talent in America (08:33) - Why Duels Matter (11:32) - U.S. Development Is Catching Up (13:59) - Pro Clubs and Local Academies (15:31) - Europe Is Not One Answer (19:00) - Why Parents Get Lost (21:30) - Culture Is Not Enough (24:31) - The Pro Dream and College Reality (27:28) - The Dangerous Educated Parent (32:27) - What the Numbers Miss (37:31) - Desire Has to Come From Inside (42:31) - Too Much Tactics Too Early (49:59) - Grit Is the New Talent Are we helping our kids adapt to the modern game, or preparing them for a version that no longer exists?

    56 min
  7. First Pro Contract at 18: Why It’s Not a Career | Chris Platts

    May 6

    First Pro Contract at 18: Why It’s Not a Career | Chris Platts

    Your First Contract Is Not a Career A pro contract at 18 can look like the finish line. In this episode, Dr. Chris Platts explains why it is often just the start of the hardest stretch. For soccer parents, the pressure is familiar. The badge. The academy. The scholarship. The contract. Each one can start to feel like proof that the path is working. But Chris’ research with young players shows a more complicated reality. Families often make major decisions without first asking the simplest question: what are we actually trying to achieve? This conversation is about the years after the first contract, the risk of staying in the wrong environment, why late developers get missed, and how parents can become the anchor without trying to control every step. In this episode: Why “making it” needs a clearer definitionWhat parents and players may not agree onWhy the first pro contract is not the endpointWhy 18 to 23 can define a player’s careerHow academy systems can miss late developersWhy bigger clubs are not always better environmentsWhen paying to play becomes a red flagHow parents can ask better questions before big decisions (00:00) - What Does Making It Mean? (01:13) - Chris Platts’ Research Lens (04:10) - Define The Goal First (08:13) - Parents And Players Need Alignment (11:42) - The First Contract Problem (14:23) - Why Late Developers Get Missed (18:21) - The 18 To 23 Window (21:09) - Brand Attachment And Hard Choices (24:26) - What Good Environments Actually Do (27:06) - Short-Term Thinking In Academies (30:15) - Why It Is All Plan A (35:51) - Paying To Play Red Flags (38:56) - Is The Bigger Badge Better? (42:04) - Parents Need Better Information Click here to view the episode transcript.

    48 min
  8. Too Much Noise in Youth Soccer: What Actually Builds Players

    Apr 29

    Too Much Noise in Youth Soccer: What Actually Builds Players

    Too Much Noise in Youth Soccer:What Actually Builds Players There has never been more around youth soccer players. More training. More clubs. More private sessions. More advice.And somehow, many players are still missing the basics. In this episode, Brian Chun and Edson Elcock join Liron and Matt to talk about what actually builds players and what just creates noise. They break down why simple training still matters, why repetition is disappearing, and why development cannot be outsourced to a trainer, a club, or a system. This conversation challenges both parents and players to rethink what progress really looks like. In this episode: • Why youth soccer has too much noise • What players lose when everything is structured • Why simple training still wins • The role of repetition and failure • Why parents cannot outsource development • The 14–16 age plateau explained • What honest coaching really looks like (00:00) - Cold Open: The Work Before the Pathway (01:25) - Meet Brian Chun and Edson Elcock (05:12) - The Noise in Youth Soccer (10:26) - Why Simple Training Still Wins (11:17) - Repetition Without Purpose (13:20) - Cones vs Real Pressure (15:00) - Creativity and Free Play (20:58) - Are Kids Told the Truth? (22:30) - Parents and Sugarcoating (25:36) - Learning Failure Early (29:30) - The 14 to 16 Plateau (35:21) - Reading Players as a Coach (40:00) - Development Cannot Be Outsourced

    43 min
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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 parenting in youth sports 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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