Chat By The Pitch

Youth Soccer Player Pathways: FIFA Agent Mario Iveljic on Club, College, and Pro

Mario Iveljic grew up playing with a number 10 so smooth he'd just stop and watch. That kid may not have finished four years of college. Mario, by his own admission not t

Play From Your Heart: Scott Martin on Losing Everything and Coming Back to the Game

In 1993, Scott Martin was driving to a Nike camp with new Ray-Bans and the music turned up — still playing, coaching a nationally ranked college program, with everything

Player Pathways: Roman Torres on FC Dallas, JUCO, and the Road to Pro Soccer

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 nea

Obsessed With the Process: Chris Rich on Building an Elite Eight Program

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

The Medal in the Trash: Preston Pomykal on Winning, Losing, and Respect

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 ab

Youth Soccer Player Development: Preston Pomykal on Raising Two College Players and a Pro

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 w

Coach the Players in Front of You: Andy Cook on Systems vs. Individuals

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 get

Youth Soccer Player Development: Spotting Talent Early with Andy Cook

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 lice

From Houston to Denmark: The Cappis Family on Christian Cappis’ Path to Pro

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 thi

The Cappis Family: How Soccer Parents Raise a Pro Without Pushing

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 playboo

Why Pay-to-Play Youth Soccer Is Failing American Players with Alex Lubyansky

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 Ge

From Small Club to D1: Jada Davis on Betting on Yourself in Youth Soccer

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 N

Be Present, Not Behind the Phone: AI Sports Cameras XbotGo

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, P

Hanna Barker: Texas to Serie A The Long Way

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 Ia

Hanna Barker: The Kid Who Couldn't Be Stopped

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

It's Hard Being Good: John Keagan on Mindset, Development, and Reaching Your Potential

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

Inside Everton Football College: A Different Pathway to the Game

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 Evert

Kristie & Mark Brooks on Soccer Parenting

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 hel

Kristie & Mark Brooks on the Spain Soccer Process

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 Easto

Easton Brooks Soccer Journey

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 Ba