Chasing the Game - Youth Soccer in America

Chris Mueller on What the Soccer Dream Demands

Chris Mueller on What the Soccer Dream Demands Chris Mueller was never the best kid on the field. He was on the B team at his Chicago club until he was 14, he was 4 feet

A Pro Soccer Offer at 15. A Family Decision.

A Pro Soccer Offer at 15. A Family Decision. If your child received a professional soccer offer at 15, would your family say yes straight away? Jonny Shore's family took

What U.S. Soccer Says Must Change in Youth Soccer

What U.S. Soccer Says Must Change in Youth Soccer How is U.S. Soccer trying to fix youth soccer? Its chief operating officer says the current system is "not acceptable,"

The Long Game. How Do You Keep Kids Loving Soccer?

The Long Game. How Do You Keep Kids Loving Soccer? How do you keep kids loving soccer when the game keeps asking them to carry more? This final episode of our Summer Best

What Does Player Development Actually Mean?

Parents hear the word development everywhere in youth soccer. Clubs say it. Coaches say it. Trainers say it. But if training does not transfer to the game, the word can h

Is Youth Club Soccer Worth the Cost?

For parents, that question is not only about fees. It is about sacrifice, access, pressure, private training, travel, college hopes, and whether the money is actually hel

The Youth Soccer Maze: Finding the Right Path

Summer is here, and so is our first Best Of episode. But this isn’t a greatest-hits collection. Instead of replaying our biggest social clips, we went back through 35 e

Winning Is Part of Development with Juan Santamaria

Winning is part of development. Juan Santamaria, Sporting Director and Vice President at Cedar Stars Academy, joins Chasing the Game to talk about competition, mentality,

Harris Faulkner Gets a World Cup Crash Course

Harris Faulkner Gets a World Cup Crash Course A six-time Emmy-winning Fox News anchor is heading to France vs. Senegal with her daughters and needs soccer rules for paren

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 Si

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 Acce

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 h

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

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

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

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. Mor

Youth Soccer Development: Why Clarity Matters | Christian Gonzalez

Youth Soccer Development: Why Clarity Matters | Christian Gonzalez What does a club really mean when it says it develops players? In this episode, Christian Gonzalez ge

What Builds a Pro Player? Talia Sommer on Parents, Pressure, and Playing With Boys

What actually shapes a player. Talent, training, mentality, environment, or the people around them? In this episode of Chasing the Game, we talk with Gotham FC rookie Ta

Can Your Kid Really Train in Barcelona?

Barcelona is the dream for a lot of soccer families. But what does that environment actually demand from a player, and what are parents really chasing when they look at S

Youth Soccer Parents: The Right Questions to Ask

Parents in youth soccer are often forced to make big decisions with partial information, mixed signals, and a lot of anxiety. Andrew May, whose coaching background includ