The Inside Scoop with Anytime Soccer Training - Discussing Youth Soccer from Around the World

I make the case for a controversial idea in youth soccer: that great coaching isn't about finding the most passionate, experienced person — it's about building a process so strong it doesn't depend on them. I break down why "hope" isn't a system, how modular, McDonald's-style methodology could let modestly motivated volunteers deliver real quality, and what this means for the future of affordable, scalable club coaching.

I get into what it's really been like raising two soccer kids — the early mornings, the balance between pushing and living vicariously, and the small daily habits that shaped who they've become as players and people. Along the way, I share how those lessons turned into Anytime Soccer Training. Thanks

Going back to the beginning of this journey — to something I stumbled onto almost by accident when my sons first started playing, that most parents and players never think to do. It wasn't a coaching secret or expert advice — I found it through trial and error, and it ended up making more of a difference than anything else we did. In this episode I break down what it is, why it works, and why it's so rarely talked about — plus the pushback I got from some coaches for doing things differently.

Every coach knows the problem: the game ends, the moment's gone, and the feedback that actually changes how a kid plays never makes it past the parking lot. On this episode of The Inside Scoop, I sit down with the founder of Impressive Play to talk about why he skipped the stats dashboard and video tagging tools everyone else is building — and went with voice AI instead. We get into how it actually works, what "good" post-game data looks like for a coach in the hour after the final whistle, the mistakes teams make when they roll it out, and how you use AI without losing the relationship side of coaching — the read-the-room stuff no stat line will ever capture. If you're a coach, club director, or soccer parent tired of feedback that sits in a folder and never changes Tuesday's practice, this one's for you. 

I sat down with pro footballer Erik McCue, who's played in Thailand, Sweden, and the U.S. — and asked him what actually separates European soccer from ours. His answer surprised me: in Sweden, his team runs 1-2 full video sessions a day, breaking down every training rep like game film. In the U.S., that happened maybe twice a week. We talk about what it's like installing a new tactical system with a new coaching staff, why raw athleticism gets you noticed here but barely matters there, and what he now tells young American players trying to make the jump overseas.

Everyone thinks they've found the fix for pay-to-play. Free training centers. A revamped ODP. Sounds great on paper.But what if the "fix" actually makes things worse?I've spent years building something in this space, and I still don't have all the answers — but I know enough to see when a good-hearted idea is about to backfire. In this episode, I get honest about the incentive nobody wants to admit exists, the parts of my own thinking I'm still working through, and the alternative I keep coming back to that has nothing to do with bigger budgets or bigger buildings.This one's less "here's the answer" and more "here's what's actually been sitting with me" — and I want to hear where you land on it too.

It happened again. Two years ago, a tournament got rained out halfway through. No third game. No refund. No champion. Just a bunch of disappointed kids standing on a wet field.This time I decided to get answers. I sat down with Dutch Schotemeyer, a coach and tournament director who's run over 300 events in Southern California, and I asked him straight up: what's supposed to happen when the rain stops play? Is there a backup plan? Should there be one?What he told me is going to change how I pick every tournament from now on — the fine print in registration nobody reads, why the field matters more than you think, and how directors actually decide who "wins" when a tournament never finishes.If you've ever paid good money and walked away with a soaked, disappointed kid and zero answers — this one's for you.Check out Dutch's tournaments:

I keep hearing that pay-to-play soccer needs to be "fixed," but I think most of that conversation misses what parents are actually buying. This isn't a necessity — it's a lifestyle choice, closer to walking into a BMW dealership than a Honda one. Parents pick up side hustles to afford the uniforms, the hotels, the "experience," and clubs know cutting those costs risks the very thing families are paying for. I compare it to luxury car shopping, break down why clubs aren't exactly incentivized to trim the fat, and admit where I think clubs actually could do better. Curious what you think after hearing this one.

My guest Goran has lived more soccer cultures than almost anyone I've talked to — born in Croatia during wartime, raised through a Bundesliga club's academy in Germany, thrown into American club soccer in Dallas, then training at a high-intensity academy partnered with FC Barcelona in Argentina. We go country by country on what actually changes: the fitness-heavy grind in Germany, the small-group technical focus in Argentina, and everything in between. He also tells me about Teach Me Too, his "Airbnb for private lessons" that connects parents with vetted coaches and college players. If you want a real picture of what youth soccer looks like outside the US, this one's it.

People assume soccer's cheaper abroad because parents there grew up playing, so they just make better coaches. I don't think that's it. Coaching is its own skill — playing the game doesn't hand it to you for free, same as it wouldn't in baseball or football. What's actually different is culture: those parent-coaches stay at the same club for years, like volunteer firefighters, and get better through repetition. I break down why that myth is wrong and what I think it'd take to build something similar here.

Most players go years without an honest read on where they stand — not because coaches are unkind, but because nobody's built the yardstick. I break down an idea I've been chewing on: start with proven, established players, work backwards to define what "good" actually looks like technically, tactically, physically, and mentally, then use that to calibrate real feedback and real improvement plans. Got your own way of measuring where a player stands? Come share it on the show.

People love the idea that solidarity payments and training compensation will fund grassroots soccer and motivate coaches — but does it actually work that way? I break down how these FIFA systems really function, why the payoff is more lottery than income, and what US soccer is still missing to build a real professional pipeline.

This episode, I pushed back on the idea that executive salaries are driving up youth soccer costs. Less than 2% of Americans make half a million a year, and that money's concentrated in tech and finance — not soccer admin. I also drew a line between this debate and the corporate CEO pay debate, which is really about wage-sharing, not pricing.Bottom line: if we want to fix soccer costs, we need to look at club P&Ls, real demand for paid training, and the volunteer-vs-paid divide — not just point fingers at executives. I asked listeners to send data or push back if they disagree.Also plugged the Anytime Soccer Training relaunch — 5,000+ videos, travel passports, global races. Free to join at anytime-soccer.com.

Everyone has a theory about why youth soccer costs so much. This week, I'm taking those theories apart — one by one. First up: the claim that executive salaries are quietly draining parents' wallets. I went looking for the truth. What I found might surprise you.

If I had to pick just one thing to improve in American youth soccer, this would be it. Watching Spain beat Argentina got me thinking about why players over there hit a wall we just don't have, while ours can coast for years without anyone saying a word. In this episode, I dig into the one missing piece — and what it would actually take for US clubs to get better at it.

I sat down with Benjamin Ifada, whose soccer journey took him from playing in Nigeria to England and France before landing here in the US, where he now coaches at Legends Football Club.We trace how each of those systems shaped the way he sees the game — how talent gets found, how players get developed, and where parents fit into the picture.Benjamin doesn't hold back on what he thinks US youth soccer gets wrong, and offers some pointed ideas on what he'd change if he ran the show. It's a rare chance to hear an outsider's view on a system most American soccer parents have never had to question.

This week I sat down with my son after a tough World Cup run and asked him a simple question — his answer sent me down a rabbit hole. I ended up connecting the dots between engagement psychology, an old fast food trick from the 90s, and why so many youth development plans miss the point entirely. Plus: an update on new training content I just filmed, and a play-space idea I can't stop thinking about.

I take a hard look at a question I get asked a lot: why doesn't England have the same paid private team system we do here in the US?I dig into how their national pathway actually works, who's really footing the bill for player development, and where the money goes when an academy prospect gets sold for millions.Along the way, I uncover some surprising gaps between how the two systems are funded — and why one path might be setting kids up better than the other. It's a side of youth soccer economics most American parents never see.

I start this episode close to home — walking through how I explain "value" to my own two sons. It comes down to a simple ratio: what you get versus what you pay. Real value creation happens when that gap keeps widening over time.From there, I break the idea into a few core pieces and use them to examine some of the reform proposals circulating in youth soccer today.The central question I'm wrestling with: do these ideas actually generate new value, or do they just shift it from one group of families to another? I share a couple of examples that shifted my own perspective, then close with the one bar I think every serious proposal needs to clear before it deserves a real conversation.

Everyone has a theory for fixing American soccer after the World Cup exit. Parents. Pundits. Ex-players. Talking heads on every panel. All-star teams. Corporate-backed academies. Pro/rel. I've heard them all — and I used to nod along too.Then I ran them through a framework I built to test whether an idea actually creates value, or just sounds good while moving money around.What I found changed how I look at every "solution" being pitched for US soccer right now. I break it all down in this episode — and I don't think you'll hear these ideas the same way again.

A soccer club walks up to me. Fifteen minutes. They want to improve player development and enjoyment.Most consultants would give them a PowerPoint. I'm giving them something different.It starts with philosophy. Then structure. Then the part most clubs get completely wrong—and it changes everything about how they operate.If you run a club, coach a team, or just wonder how youth soccer programs actually work, this one's for you.Listen in.

A conversation with a friend made me realize something I should've figured out years ago.As a parent trying to give my kids every advantage, I've been obsessing over the obvious stuff. But after breaking down what actually separates developing players from the rest, I found there are just a few key things that matter.And most people get them completely wrong.I've organized them into a framework—three big areas that drive real development. One of them probably surprises you. One of them you might be overlooking entirely.There's also a system I use to evaluate whether your kid is actually getting what they need to improve. It's simple. It works. And it changes how you look at training.But that's what the episode is for.All I'll say: stop chasing the shiny things. The real drivers of development are less glamorous than you'd think, more powerful than you'd expect, and completely within your control as a parent.Listen to find out what they are.

Last episode, I proposed renaming "club soccer." But I realized I left something out.In this episode, I break down my value equation: what you receive divided by what you pay. Simple. But when you apply it to youth soccer, things get complicated. There's tangible value—training hours, coach ratios, field time. And perceived value—everything else parents think they're getting.Understanding the difference changes how you evaluate any program.

Here's what's been bugging me: we compare youth soccer costs all the time, but we're using the wrong words—which means we're making the wrong decisions.I'm talking about "club soccer." That label is masking what you're actually buying. And I've got a better name for it.In this episode, I break down why renaming it matters, how it changes the value equation, and why this simple shift could completely change how parents think about what they're paying for.Stick around—it'll reshape how you evaluate youth soccer costs.

I sat down with Andy Barrero, Director of Coaching at OC Premier Academy Futsal, and discovered something that completely shifted how I think about player development.Here's what I learned: futsal isn't just a fun indoor alternative—it's one of the most underrated tools for building elite ball-handlers and tactical thinkers. The smaller court, faster pace, and constant pressure force players to make split-second decisions with the ball at their feet.If you're coaching youth soccer or raising a player who wants to compete at the highest levels, this conversation reveals why futsal belongs in every development pathway—and what most academies are missing.

I sat down with Andy Barrero, Director of Coaching at OC Premier Academy Futsal, for a fascinating look at how youth soccer development differs between the US and South America.Andy shares his firsthand insights on the cultural and environmental factors that shape players on both continents — from how the game is introduced at a young age to the role futsal plays in technical development. It's a conversation that gives coaches, parents, and players a lot to think about.The Inside Scoop Podcast with Neil CrawfordGuest: Andy Barrero, Director of Coaching — OC Premier Academy Futsalocpremieracademy.com

I'll be honest with you — I don't have all the answers on this one.I've been asking questions about pay-to-play for a while now, and the more I dig in, the more I realize how complicated it actually is. On this episode I'm thinking out loud, trying to understand why youth soccer costs so much more in the US than in countries like England or Germany — and whether the comparisons people make online are even fair.We talk through the difference between structured and unstructured soccer, volunteer-based programs versus paid coaching, and what academy systems look like at different levels around the world. But I'm genuinely still learning here — and I need data. Real numbers. Coaching costs, training hours, actual P&L from lower division clubs abroad.If you know how this works in other countries, reach out. I want to get this right.

I sat down with Andy Barrero, Director of Coaching at OC Premier Academy, to break down everything you need to know about futsal — and why it might be the missing piece in your child's development.We cover the basics: what futsal actually is, how the court and ball are different, what shoes to wear, and why goalkeepers don't wear gloves. Andy also explains what he calls the "Spidey senses" effect — how playing futsal trains players to read the game so well that when they step onto a full-size soccer field, everything slows down.If you're in the OC area or want to learn more about their program, connect with OC Premier Academy here:

In this episode I'm responding to a comment from our Anytime Soccer Training Facebook group that puts most of the blame on MLS and closed-circle systems for the problems in youth soccer. And honestly, there are some valid points there. We do need a stronger federation, a more open pyramid system, and better accountability across the board.But the more I dug into it, the more I realized — this is a lot more complicated than pointing the finger at one organization.Yes, MLS has influence. But club soccer's high costs aren't primarily driven by league structure. They're driven by what parents want and expect. Paid coaches. Multiple training days per week. National league competition. That demand exists regardless of how the system is set up at the top.I also talk about why bringing in more professional academies doesn't solve the cost problem for the average family, how the lack of a clear ranking system lets clubs market themselves without real accountability, and why those international comparisons you see online are almost always missing key context — coaching compensation, training frequency, facility costs, season length all matter before you can make a fair comparison.There's room to improve the system, no question. But a lot of what's driving costs comes down to cultural expectations around what youth sports should look like in America — and that's the harder, messier conversation nobody wants to have.

The comments from my last episode were too good to ignore so I came back for a follow-up. I also had a quick correction to make — I said "game model" last time, I meant "gaming program." Not the same thing.I push back on the idea that this situation is automatically a culture problem. It may just be a communication problem — and those are very different things. One is fixable, the other is a reason to leave. Don't conflate the two until you know more.I also get into what I actually believe the coach's role should be — and I break down nine things that need to be in place for a club to have real standards. Not just the word on a website, but things you can actually point to and measure.If your club can't check most of those boxes, what you have isn't standards — it's just rules that get enforced when it's convenient.

A parent from our Youth Soccer Guest Player Facebook group asked a question I hear more than you'd think — their daughter is on a top-level ECNL team, not getting minutes, likely not making the playoff roster, and wants to guest play somewhere without the coach finding out.I break down why that's harder than it sounds — player cards are owned by clubs and administered by governing bodies like US Club Soccer and USYSA, so the coach is almost always in the loop. I cover the gray areas: dual registration, unsanctioned tournaments, futsal, and a loophole through state associations that may or may not still exist.I also share my honest take — if you're writing a check to a club, you deserve clarity upfront on what's guaranteed and what isn't. Playing time isn't a right, but transparency is.https://www.anytime-soccer.com/free-resource-hub

Every soccer parent has faced it — someone jumps in the Facebook group and tells you your kid should "just have fun." Push back even slightly and suddenly you're the villain.I'm not backing down.In this episode, I share the exact questions I ask every time someone tries to tell me I'm doing it wrong. Not to judge — but to find out if we're even talking about the same thing.Do you train your own child? At what age did you start? How many hours a week? How many years have you been doing it?Because without those answers, the conversation is noise.Can you answer the questions?

The NCAA just got sued — and everything is changing.In this episode of The Inside Scoop, Neil Crawford sits down with Dave Morris, founder of College Athletic Advisor, to break down the latest NCAA rule changes and what they mean for high school soccer players and their families right now.From JUCO pathways to Division 1, 2, and 3 recruiting, Dave explains how these shifts could impact your child's college journey — and why most parents have no idea how any of this actually works until it's too late.If your child has dreams of playing college soccer, this is the conversation you can't afford to miss.

When I started this journey as a soccer parent, I had no idea what I was signing up for financially. Now, a few years in, I think I finally get it — and it's not a simple answer. In this episode I walk through both sides of the equation: the demand side, where American culture around opportunity is driving prices up, and the supply side, where consolidation is locking out competition. Once you understand both, the picture gets a lot clearer.Free resources mentioned in this episodehttps://www.anytime-soccer.com/soccer-club-cost-calculatorhttps://www.anytime-soccer.com/free-resource-hub

Your kid comes off the field holding their knee. You've heard them say it before — my knees are killing me. But this time, something feels different.In this episode of The Inside Scoop, Neil Crawford sits down with Jason Goumas — physical therapist and founder of New Direction Wellness & PT — to break down one of the most common and most misunderstood conditions affecting young soccer players: Osgood-Schlatter disease.Jason explains what it actually is, why soccer players are hit harder than any other sport, and the signs parents need to watch for during their child's growth spurts. He also tackles the question every parent faces — should your kid play through the pain or stop completely?If your child has ever complained about knee pain after practice or a game, this conversation could change how you handle it.

I get a lot of questions about how the program is structured, so I dedicated this episode to breaking it all down. I explain what QR and FR mean in the video system — Quick Review and Final Review — and walk through the curriculum logic: how we introduce one move at a time, build in interval-based repetition, and systematically review everything so your child gets maximum touches in minimum time. I also share why the program focuses on structured repetition over lengthy verbal instruction, why we don't have extensive demo videos, and how this system is designed to last your child 10 to 15 years without repeating a single video.

Everyone has an opinion about how expensive youth soccer has become — but before you join the conversation, there are questions you need to answer first. I break down what every soccer parent should know before deciding whether the cost is worth it, a ripoff, or somewhere in between

A soccer parent asks how to structure a 3-hour-per-week summer program for his daughter's team. Neil breaks down how to layer foundational ball mastery and juggling for all players while adding position-specific 1v1 skills for forwards and midfielders — giving coaches and parents a simple, practical framework to keep girls sharp all summer long.

What does it really take to get noticed by a professional scout?In this episode of The Inside Scoop, Neil Crawford sits down with Chris Robinson — Director of The Scouting Game and a veteran of over 30 years in professional soccer, including nearly a decade recruiting for Chelsea FC's academy.Chris breaks down what scouts are actually evaluating when they watch your child play, the traits that get players noticed, and the hard truths most parents aren't ready to hear. If your kid has dreams of playing at the next level, this conversation could change how you see the entire process.Chris is also the author of The Scouting Game: An Insider's Guide to Talent Spotting Football's Next Stars — a must-read for any serious soccer family.

I got a great question from one of our members that I think a lot of you can relate to — how do you actually set up a smart, balanced training plan for your kid without spending hours picking videos every week?In this episode, I break down exactly how to approach training plans inside Anytime Soccer Training now that the platform has evolved. I walk through how to balance all the skill areas — ball mastery, juggling, passing, 1v1, turns, finishing — without just burning through one category at a time. I also share my take on structuring things week-by-week so that missing a session doesn't throw your whole plan off track.Plus, I answer a quick question on managing user profiles and subscriptions inside the platform.If you've ever felt overwhelmed by where to start or unsure how to keep things progressing — this one's for you.

Every club in my area says the same thing — high quality, low cost, player-centered. So how do you actually choose? In this episode, I share how I'm thinking through it, what my non-negotiables are, and the one thing I look for that at least points me in the right direction.

Today's question in the Anytime Soccer Training Facebook group was a familiar one: winning or losing at the youth level has little to no correlation with development — true or false? In this quick gut-reaction episode, I explain why I think "no correlation" is a cop-out, what it actually means to define development in a youth soccer context, and why if you're going to dismiss the scoreboard you'd better replace it with something just as measurable. I also get into the elephant in the room most coaches won't touch — the accountability piece — and lay out the specific markers I'd want to see instead.

I saw a post that said you can't develop Ronaldinhos unless you let kids try Ronaldinho things — and while part of me agrees, most of me pushes back hard. In this quick audio diary, I explain why I don't believe structured, sanctioned games are the place for kids to upskill, and why "be creative, try stuff" can quietly become code for a lack of accountability. If you haven't practiced the move a thousand times on your own, the game isn't the stage to debut it — and I'll tell you exactly what I'd rather see instead.

Every soccer family knows MLS Next. Everyone's heard of ECNL.But there's another path. One that's producing college players, developing elite talent, and not draining your bank account in the process.James Jordan — Founder & Head Coach of River City FC — has been quietly building something. And in this episode, he pulls back the curtain."College soccer is extremely hard. And if you're not prepared mentally for it, it's going to be a struggle for you.""I go from all-conference to bench. For a lot of kids, that takes some adjusting — I had a fairly big ego at that point."Most families never even know this option exists. Now you do.

David Murray knew nothing about soccer when his daughter Scout started playing. Fifteen years later, she had a Division I scholarship. In this episode, David holds nothing back — the mistakes, the pressure, the loneliness on the sideline, and the truth about what the journey actually costs a family.

This isn't about finding better drills. I tried that. It didn't move the needle the way I expected.What actually changed things for my kids was building a process — a repeatable, structured approach to solo training that eliminated the guesswork, kept the reps high, and protected our relationship along the way.In this episode, I'm breaking down that process from the ground up. The framework behind it. The principles that make it work. And the mistakes I see most soccer families making that are costing their kids thousands of touches every single season.

I just got off a conversation with a private trainer that completely challenged how I think about player development — and honestly, my take might surprise you.I believe 98% of players need to do 98% of the same things, 98% of the time. No complex individual plans. No obsessing over personalized feedback. Just one thing that moves the needle more than anything else.But here's the thing — there IS a point where everything changes. Where that simple rule completely breaks down and the game gets a lot more complicated.Most parents skip straight to that part. And it might be costing their kid.Want to know where that line is? Tune in.

This week, Neil Crawford sits down with Coach Rory O'Neill — grassroots coach turned MLS club coach at Keystone FC — for a fun, candid Valentine's Day episode all about US Soccer. What do we love? What would we break up with? And is American soccer actually as far behind as people think?Coach Rory brings a unique perspective — having coached in Argentina, Iceland, and Scotland before returning to the US — and his takes might surprise you.In this episode:

I'll be honest — I don't have a coaching license and I never played the game. But I've spent years thinking deeply about how I'd want my teams to play. In this episode, I share my game model and coaching philosophy, imperfections and all, hoping other coaches will push back and help me get it right.

Before I keep sharing opinions, I want you to understand where I'm coming from. In this episode, I lay out the fundamental principles that shape everything I say — so you can filter my advice through the right lens.

A parent asked me to prep them before their demo, so I hit record instead. In this episode, I break down the core principles behind Anytime Soccer Training — the connection between competency and confidence, why the parent is the most important coach, and how the curriculum is structured. I also get real about what no online program can promise, including individual feedback and guaranteed engagement.