The Bear and the Ball

Join us on "The Bear & the Ball" podcast as host Nick Webster interviews Claire Smith from Soccer Stars, a comprehensive, developmental experience for children ages 1 to 12+. Soccer Stars recently partnered with Cal South to create our new Cal South Pathways program. Claire shares insights on using soccer to foster self-confidence and physical literacy in children. Tune in for an inspiring discussion about the impact of sports on youth development!

The FIFA World Cup is just 500 days away, and Los Angeles will play host to the biggest party in America. The Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission (LASEC) attracts, secures, and supports high-profile sports and entertainment events in L.A., and they'll be driving the fan experience in 2026.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Jason Krutzsch explains how LASEC will support FIFA and gives us a sneak peak of what we can expect when the World Cup lands in Southern California.

The "beautiful game" has many variations but perhaps the most exciting is 5v5 soccer. On this week's "The Bear & the Ball," host Nick Webster chats with Andrew Vorce, the president of one of the nation's largest 5v5 organizations which has recently partnered with Cal South.Andrew talks about his journey through soccer, the origins of his 5v5 company, and how they can help you easily start hosting your very own 5v5 tournaments.

Earlier this week, the Cal South team invited our members to discuss U.S.Soccer's announcement that the Birth Year vs. School Year registration debate is officially back on the table. After we first put out a survey to the full membership to gather feedback, we then held a special online town hall meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10th to hear directly what our members had to say about this topic.In this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," you'll hear the voices of the membership (along with Cal South staffers) from that very meeting, as they discuss the pros and cons of both sides of the debate, as well as their concerns and hopes for how this very important subject will potentially play out.

As the founder of Unozero, Sam Garzon is taking on the big boys, namely, Nike, Adidas, and Puma. With a deep love of "the beautiful game," Sam has designed and produced some of the most desirable cleats in soccer.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Sam talks about his journey from Venezuela to America, and what was the inspiration behind creating the Unozero brand.

Gianni Buttice is a national treasure. Not only is he an expert in the world's most popular fantasy game, Fantasy Premier League but he also helps run Street Child United, an NGO that does unbelievable work throughout the world.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Gianni describes the secrets of how to climb the FPL ladder along with his work in creating World Cups for homeless children. With the next edition landing on American shores in 2026, Los Angeles could be a prime host city for an event that truly changes lives.

Gemma Thompson has lived the dream. As a young girl, she loved Manchester United and by writing a match report for the team, she won a competition that would change her life.Embedded with the Red Devils for over two decades, Gemma witnessed firsthand the winning of European trophies, Premier Leagues, and so much more.She developed close relationships with the players and the legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. In this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Gemma speaks about her incredible journey with one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Bradley Mulvey is the founder and CEO of FirstStrikeSoccer.com. Since arriving in the USA from Glasgow, Scotland, Mulvey has reinvented 1-on-1 training. His methods have produced top-class youth, collegiate, and pro players.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," host Nick Webster discusses Bradley's soccer journey, and the four pillars of creating players that represent the best versions of themselves, namely, technical, tactical, physical, and most importantly, mentally strong individuals.

Brazilian-born midfielder Marcelo Sarvas has had a fantastical journey within “the Beautiful Game,” beginning in his hometown of Sao Paulo, playing for the legendary Corinthians. From there, stops on teams in Sweden, Poland, and Costa Rica eventually led him to the United States, where he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in David Beckham's final year with the team.In his first of four seasons playing with the Galaxy, Sarvas won the MLS Cup and got a close-up understanding of what it takes to play at the most elite levels through his conversations with Beckham. In this episode of “The Bear & the Ball,” Sarvas, who just signed a two-year contract to play indoor soccer with the Empyre Strikers of the MASL, takes us through his journey from playing to coaching, with some truly invaluable insights along the way.

Get on the Bus's mission is to make soccer accessible by giving as many kids as possible the opportunity to participate in GOTB so that they can use what they learn on and off the field to become positive contributors to their communities.Tim Ryerson is the creator and executive director of one of the truly great programs that enable kids to play "The Beautiful Game". In today's episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Tim talks about the program, how it all began, and takes us into his own personal history with soccer.

Former USMNT player Maurice Edu is one of the most outstanding players of his generation. A product of Cal South and our Olympic Development Program, his journey to the professional ranks is truly inspirational.In this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Maurice talks about the steps, the adversity, and ultimately the triumph of realizing his dream of becoming an international and playing on the world's biggest stages.

Filmmaker, producer, director, and lover of "the Beautiful Game," George Valencia has been making a difference for decades providing opportunities for kids that didn't previously exist. As the founder of the Sound of Gol Foundation, George has created the animated character, La Golda, that has opened up conversations in areas that were once untouched.Now he embarks on his most ambitious project ever: sending young Latinas to England and Watford FC to further their coaching careers. For many of these young, brave women, it is their first trip to Europe, and what they bring back to their club is nothing short of life changing.

Juan Guzman Jr. is one of the most respected referee educators in the country. His Referee Education program with Cal South is considered by many to be the best. In this episode, we talk about how and why to become a referee, and we also delve into the new Cal South program designed around RESPECT for officials as incidents of referee abuse continue to grow. (We can't forget VAR either!)

"The Bear and the Ball" is back from its summer hiatus to begin Season 4 with more stories, features, and opinions on "the beautiful game" from Southern California to the world. In this episode, Michael Chin, the new Technical Director of Cal South, talks about his predecessor, the legendary Steve Hoffman, and how Hoffy helped develop Chin into the coach he is today. We also talk about the Olympic Development Program and Cal South's Coaching Education efforts.

Our podcast, "The Bear & the Ball," is hitting the road this summer taking in the magic of the UEFA European Championships. Henry Winter is one of the most esteemed soccer writers in the world and his insights into the game are second-to-none. Our host Nick Webster sat down with Henry outside the media hub in Gelsenkirchen prior to England taking on Serbia.

Buford Mobley is your typical soccer dad. He didn't know too much about the game but he knew his son loved soccer and so he jumped in with both feet.The journey he and his son went on was fascinating and involved many lessons, good and bad, that he now shares on his monthly magazine, "The Soccer Parent Lifestyle".On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," learn from Buford as he highlights some of the mistakes that parents often make without even realizing it.

Imagine watching Ronaldinho versus Kaka and you're only a few feet away from these two legends of the game. This is the dream which is now a reality thanks to the visionary mind of Yuri Moreira.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Yuri talks to host Nick Webster about the dramatic growth of the game and how the next decade may look.

Toni Owens is the CEO and founder of Evolve1 and has a passion for the mental side of sports. Elite athletes see, understand, and react to the game in a way that sets them apart. Evolve1 trains athletes to develop these "invisible skills" using an intuitive, personalized E1 mental training delivered on a daily basis.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Toni and host Nick Webster look at the science and business of mental health in the soccer environment.

From the rugby fields to paving the way to college and playing the sport of your dreams, CaptainU's Danny Carlton has seen it all. A Manchester native who was part of the Manchester United Academy program while being a Liverpool supporter, Danny excels in high performance and development environments.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Danny and host Nick Webster talk about how challenging it is for parents and scholars to find the right college at the right time.About CaptainU:CaptainU is the new Official College Recruiting Software to Cal South and its youth soccer community. CaptainU, a self-managed recruiting software tool within the Stack Sports ecosystem, provides athletes with the best way to contact college coaches and find high-quality college camps. CaptainU empowers athletes to take their game to the next level through recruiting and discovery tools to connect with clubs, events, and colleges. More than 3.5 million high school athletes, college coaches, club coaches, and tournament directors have used CaptainU tools to network, build relationships, and build championship teams. CaptainU was founded in 2008 and continues to power the recruiting journey for all levels – including National Champion college programs, national governing bodies, and state-level partners –across all college sports. To learn more about CaptainU, visit CaptainU.com.

Michael Erush is the Men's Head Coach for the Cal State LA Golden Eagles and the Boys' Varsity Head Coach at Harvard-Westlake School. He has also played for the Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, and Miami FC, as well as stints with clubs overseas during his career.His journey to becoming a Head Coach at the collegiate level is a fascinating story and showcases the commitment and patience needed to reach the elite levels. Michael joins host Nick Webster on this episode of "The Bear & the Ball" to discuss his journey and what it takes to succeed in coaching college soccer.

Dave Simeone is the Director of Education Programming for the United Soccer Coaches, the largest coaching organization in the world. Over many decades Dave has seen the game of soccer continue to grow and his insights, wisdom and knowledge are second to none.On this episode of Cal South's "The Bear & the Ball" podcast, Dave talks with host Nick Webster about game models, data, and how the game of football continues to evolve.

Judged by his football peers, the local and international media, and the countless number of young Japanese over the space of 24 years, Tom Byer has forever changed the way soccer is taught and played throughout Japan. Now his name and reputation are attracting great interest from other parts of Asia.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Tom and host Nick Webster discuss the foundations of playing the sport, and... it all starts at home!

As commissioner of the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), Yan Skwara has overseen a steady growth in the league as more players understand that there is a true pathway to the collegiate and professional playing levels.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Yan and host Nick Webster talk about the history of the league and how it has grown from a small Southern Californian league to become the preeminent amateur destination for adult players.

United by the inclusive spirit of soccer, Women in Soccer's mission is to increase the agency and representation of women and marginalized individuals working in "the beautiful game" through community building. Whether you're on the field, or cheering from the stands, work in the business, want to be in the business, or are a passionate change-maker, Women in Soccer (WIS) is here to support you.Founder Courtney Carroll Levinsohn talks with "The Bear & the Ball" about this mission and how it is changing the game throughout the United States and beyond.

Kassie Gray grew up in San Jose, CA, playing soccer from the young age of 5. She played club soccer for Los Gatos United and high school soccer at Leigh High School. She joined the Olympic Development Program at age 12 where she climbed the ladder from District Team to State Team to Regional Team, and eventually made the U18 National Team. Kassie's passion was always the camaraderie with her teammates. Married to former MLS star, Kelly Gray, Kassie has a unique perspective on life as a soccer wife, mom, and trendsetter within the game of soccer.

The United Soccer League is one of the most innovative, progressive leagues in world soccer. Their esteemed USL Academy program has already provided opportunities for players to attain their dreams of playing at the next level.On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Liam O'Connell and Carrie Taylor, Technical Directors of the USL Academy pathway, discuss the growth and future plans of their Academy program.ABOUT USL ACADEMY:With the launch of USL Academy, United Soccer League now has an elite youth platform to offer to its clubs in the Championship, League One, and League Two. As such, these clubs can now develop a more clearly defined path for top youth prospects in their area to reach the professional level and sign directly with their senior team while improving local quality and community.The USL Academy brand is composed of four key components: Standards, USL Academy Contracts, USL Academy Cup, and USL Academy League.For more about USL Academy, visit here.

For 6 years, Sarah Teegarden Harkes traveled around the world competing at the highest level. She consistently trained and challenged herself to improve physically and mentally, learning how to be resilient, a team player, and a leader. A graduate from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, she learned valuable skills in leadership, management, strategy, and innovation. She represented Wake Forest University, where she was a varsity soccer player, and captain. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Sarah describes her journey.

The world of soccer continues to change at lightning speed. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," host Nick Webster talks with DarkHorse.AI CEO Billy Brush about how artificial intelligence will revolutionize the way in which scouts may access data in order to discover players that may sometimes fall under the radar. DarkHorse.AI provides a professional, edit-free reel in one click. As he has written on his website, “When we learned we could help parents and players create a professional reel that's shareable to multiple college coaches with the push of a button everything clicked. As Steve Jobs' said, 'It's a tool for the athlete's heart. And when you can touch someone's heart, that's limitless.'"

On the latest episode of Cal South's "The Bear and the Ball" podcast, host Nick Webster will talk with IDA Sports co-founder Laura Youngson about her efforts to battle gender inequality throughout the world with Equal Playing Field. Laura Youngson is a social impact entrepreneur whose experience includes founding two companies, IDA Sports and Brunswick Aces. Laura has also worked as a senior policy advisor for the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, and further worked in sports event management for the London Olympics, the Street Child World Cup (Brazil), and the European Games in Baku. Laura is a STEM advocate, TED speaker, and four-time Guinness World Record Holder. She's always been drawn to the power sport had in bringing people together and in 2017, she set out to make a lasting mark in the game she loves.Equal Playing Field (EPF) is a grassroots, non-profit initiative to challenge gender inequality in sport and to promote sports development for girls and women globally, especially in marginalised country contexts.https://www.idasports.com/https://equalplayingfield.com/home

"We Are Soccer" is described as the premier soccer show for fans of all ages, discussing professional soccer, youth soccer, and everything in-between. Its host Craig Hearn chats with guests and provides comments on soccer from all leagues around the world, all while having fun. "We Are Soccer" brings you the news from the world of soccer and breaks it down in easy to understand segments. In this episode of "The Bear & the Ball" podcast, our own host Nick Webster chats with Craig about the collegiate and professional game.

Sunil Gulati has been described as the most influential figure in U.S. Soccer. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Sunil talks about the future growth of the game, and the upcoming super-events that will dominate world soccer over the next decade.

Mental performance is a skill. Just like bouncing a ball and swinging a bat, it takes practice to hone. And just like any other skill, while some are more naturally gifted than others, everyone can master it with practice. Join Nick Webster and Mike Clark on this episode of "The Bear & the Ball" as they embark on a voyage of mental performance discovery.

Portland Community Football Club is THE MODEL that clubs should follow. Affordable, inclusive, and designed to be an experience where all feel welcome. Founder and Executive Director Kaig Lightner is simply remarkable and has created a club that changes lives while advocating for "the beautiful game". In this episode of "The Bear and the Ball," Nick and Kaig discuss the real issues that truly matter to players and parents.

Susana Melendez is a nutrition expert. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Susana and Nick discuss everything about food. What to eat, what to drink, and how to deal with the voices that we hear surrounding food.

John O'Sullivan is a well-respected author, coach, player, and lover of "the beautiful game." In this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Nick and John discuss the fear that surrounds youth soccer, from missing out on THAT college scholarship to not making the JV soccer team.

Portland Community Football Club is THE MODEL that clubs should follow. Affordable, inclusive, and designed to be an experience where all feel welcome. Founder and Executive Director Kaig Lightner is simply remarkable and has created a club that changes lives while advocating for this beautiful game. In this episode of "The Bear and the Ball," Nick and Kaig discuss the real issues that truly matter to players and parents.

LINDA FLANAGAN is a freelance journalist, researcher, and former cross-country and track coach. A graduate of Lehigh University, Flanagan holds master's degrees from Oxford University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and was an analyst for the National Security Program at Harvard University. She is a founding board member of the New York City chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance. On this episode of Cal South's "The Bear and the Ball," Nick and Linda go deep into how we can make youth sports fun, and take out the all-consuming pressure of trying to get to the next level.

Peter Frintzilas is a technology executive and the CEO of TeamSnap, the application that every parent can't do without when it comes to the match day soccer experience. On this episode of the Bear and the Ball, Nick talks with Peter about the origins of TeamSnap and where it may go in the future.

Shay Haddow is an expert coach and speaker on confidence and mindset for female athletes. Having worked with hundreds of young female athletes and college teams from across the country, she's empowered girls from all walks of life to strengthen their self-belief to play and live confidentlyAs the founder of Alpha Girl Confidence Academy, host of the Alpha Girl Confidence Podcast, and author of the best-selling book “She the Confident: The Mindset Advantage for Female Athletes,” Shay is widely regarded for her insights on confidence and mindset by soccer parents and coaches around the country.

Don Williams has been helping aspiring soccer players get to the promised land of college soccer for decades. In this episode of "The Bear and the Ball," he breaks it all down. The process is a lot easier than it's made out to be, however, there are some hurdles that must be jumped correctly.If you want to go to college and play soccer, if you are a parent that thinks your child can play soccer, this is the episode for you.

Bryan Alcantara is a coach educator for U.S. Soccer delivering education for USSF Grassroots candidates. He's also a dad who's passionate about his daughter enjoying the game and is constantly thinking about how the game is the teacher; however, data, whether you like it or not, is also a teacher. As a director for Track160, one of the most innovative platforms on the market today, Bryan and Nick spar on the age-old question "what tells the truth - the eye or the data" on this episode of "The Bear and the Ball."

Neil Crawford is a soccer dad, coach and founder of Anytime Soccer Training. Anytime Soccer Training is a comprehensive online soccer training app with thousands of 100% follow-along training sessions.Neil's passion is helping other parents navigate the youth soccer landscape by providing actionable tips and insight gathered from over a decade of coaching and training. On this episode of the Bear & the Ball, Neil tells us his story.

Skye Eddy discovered her passion for soccer at an early age. Her enthusiasm for the sport, combined with her keen interest in child development and education, paved the way for her unique contributions to the soccer community.Eddy's journey in soccer began with her own experiences as a player. She excelled in the sport and continued to develop her skills over the years. Her understanding of the game and her observations of the youth soccer landscape led her to recognize the crucial role parents play in a child's soccer experience.Realizing the need for guidance and support for parents navigating the complexities of youth soccer, Skye Eddy founded SoccerParenting.com. Her vision was to create a platform that not only offers resources and guidance but also fosters a community where parents, coaches, and players can come together to enhance the youth soccer experience.SoccerParenting.com provides a wealth of information, resources, and educational materials aimed at supporting parents in understanding the various aspects of youth soccer. It covers topics ranging from skill development and game strategy to navigating the emotional and psychological aspects of the sport for young athletes.On this episode of the Bear and the Ball, your host Nick Webster digs deep to discover the secret of soccer parenting.

The Bear and the Ball welcomes back the founder of the AST Academy, Jim Madrid. This week we delve into the power of building culture and affirmations.

Jim Madrid, the founder of Advance Sports Technology, AST, joins the Bear and the Ball to discuss the importance of one of the most powerful words in life, namely TRUST. Over the next few months, Madrid will dig deep into the AST fundamentals and principles for helping you, and your teams reach goals that they never thought would be attainable.This series is a MUST for players, coaches, and parents who are serious about changing their lives in a positive direction.

Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Derek is a lifelong south Florida sports fan, and has been working in soccer/sports as a graphic artist since 2008. His stops have included Miami FC (USL1), the Florida Marlins (MLB), Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL), and North American Soccer League, as well as creating custom logo designs for clubs and leagues across North America, such as Atlantic City FC, Boca Raton FC, New Orleans United, 1812 FC Barrie, the Florida Gold Coast League, and more.

Ryan Jorden has been the Head Coach of the UCLA Bruins for 4 seasons and in that time he has transformed the men's soccer program. Jorden has reached the top of the collegiate soccer tree and has done it the hard way earning every step of the ladder. On this episode of the Bear and the Ball, he talks about his journey from graduate assistant coach to starting a program with a blank page. He also discusses the make-up of a collegiate player. If you want to coach or play at this level, the next 50 minutes are a must for your development.

As CEO of Liverpool FC, Peter Moore oversaw one of the most successful periods of this historic club. Now based in Santa Barbara, Moore is building the foundations for a USL expansion team, Santa Barbara Sky FC. With a wealth of experience in the gaming and soccer world, Moore continues to feed his love of the beautiful game through multiple channels including the Netflix hit, Welcome to Wrexham. Moore talks about building the franchise, and his time at Liverpool.

Scott Juniper, the Head Coach of the University of Irvine women's soccer program has developed the reputation of a 'Giant Killer' as his Anteaters have beaten both USC and UCLA in the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament. Originally from England, Juniper has built a program that rivals the biggest and best in the United States. On this episode of the Bear and the Ball he talks about culture and mindset, and how players are prepared to compete.

Former USMNT star, Eric Wynalda has seen many different sides of the game as a player, coach, and broadcaster. Now as a parent, he has the joy of watching his children play. Recently his 14-year-old son was hospitalized after a violent play that has no place in youth soccer. Today on the Bear and the Ball, we discuss the root of violent play from the player, teammate, coach, parent, and administrator.If you love this game, you must pay attention because the game needs to change and that only happens through you.

Paul Spacey is the Director of Coaching for FC England, a small boutique club based on the westside of Los Angeles. In this episode of the Bear and the Ball, he talks about the philosophy of the club and how he can compete with some of the bigger names out there. His approach is highly relational and an example for all DOC's.