Episodios

  • Born to Play: Ted Kroeten on Free Play, Language, and Youth Development
    Dec 25 2025

    Joy of the People founder and longtime coach Ted Kroeten joins Chat By The Pitch to break down what truly develops creative, intelligent players — and why most of the U.S. youth soccer system gets it upside down. Ted’s “soccer as a language” philosophy reframes how kids learn, why free play must come before instruction, and how mixed-age, low-pressure environments cultivate game intelligence no coach can teach.

    From the failures of super clubs and the youth sports industrial complex to Joy of the People’s bold commitment to no tryouts, no cuts, and no overcoaching, Ted delivers one of the clearest visions of what American development could be if we trusted kids to play again.

    If you care about player development, coaching, or burnout in youth sports — this episode will challenge everything you think you know.

    Key Talking Points

    • Ted’s journey from late-start player to coaching leader and founder of Joy of the People

    • Why he walked away from the elite club model and the youth sports industrial complex

    • “Soccer as a language” — acquisition vs learning, Chomsky, Krashen, and immersion

    • What kids learn in free play that coaches cannot teach

    • Why Joy of the People operates with no tryouts, no cuts, no pressure

    • How mixed-age play, different surfaces, and alternate balls accelerate creativity

    • Overload vs underload: reading effort, joy, and false intensity in players

    • Why early free-play kids lag at first—but surpass others by U16–U19

    • The danger of over-rewarding performance and creating kids who only love winning

    • Building a true community model where every kid matters and development lasts

    Quotes from Ted Kroeten

    • "When I saw kids in play learning things I could not teach them, I knew there was something in play."

    • "Unstructured play, street play, free play has developed the top players in the world."

    • "We’ve been teaching soccer only with rules and techniques, not allowing acquisition to occur."

    • "The best way to learn a complex language is not a teacher — it's immersion."

    • "Kids who fall in love with explicit training programs are in danger of burning out."

    • "We don’t have tryouts. We have a mix of everyone — and they bloom on their own timeline."

    Episode Chapters

    00:00 — Ted Kroeten’s Late Start and Multi-Sport Roots

    03:10 — Coaching at the Highest Levels and Seeing the Cracks

    06:00 — Walking Away from the Youth Soccer Industrial Complex

    08:30 — Founding Joy of the People and the Decision to Prioritize Play

    11:45 — Watching Kids Learn What Coaches Can’t Teach

    14:30 — Poverty of the Stimulus and Why Play Accelerates Learning

    18:00 — Soccer as a Language: Acquisition vs Instruction

    22:45 — Chomsky, Krashen, and Immersion on the Field

    27:30 — The Panenka Penalty and Non-Verbal Soccer Communication

    31:30 — Why Cone Work Fails Under Real Pressure

    35:00 — What Parents Miss When They Watch Training

    38:30 — Early Attempts at Free Play — and Why They Failed

    42:45 — Building a Community Hub with the City of St. Paul

    46:30 — Kids “Not Knowing How to Play” and What That Revealed

    50:45 — Removing Tryouts, Cuts, and External Pressure

    55:30 — What Joy of the People Looks Like Day to Day

    59:30 — Losing Games Early to Win Long Term

    1:03:30 — Why Joy and Belonging Come Before Results

    Connect with Ted / Joy of the People

    🌐 Website: https://www.joyofthepeople.org/

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_o_t_p/

    ✖️ X: https://x.com/JOYofthePEOPLE

    👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyofthepeople/


    Follow Chat By The Pitch

    ✖️ X: @ChatByThePitch

    📸 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

    📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

    🎧 Subscribe & Review — it helps

    Más Menos
    43 m
  • From Spain to an ACL Tear: The Turning Point in Kassandra’s Journey
    Dec 18 2025

    In Part 2, Kassandra Ruelas takes us deeper into her journey — from rediscovering her love for the game under Coach Temas, to the fate-driven path that led her to Vial/Villarreal, to leaving home for Spain as a teenager. She shares what life, training, and tempo looked like overseas, how Spanish clubs develop players through structure and intelligence, and what it felt like to finally find her rhythm abroad.

    This episode also uncovers the hardest chapter of her career: tearing her ACL overseas, navigating the injury alone during a national blackout, and learning her younger sister tore her ACL the same week. Kassandra opens up about her recovery, her mindset, and what she hopes players and parents take away from her story.

    Key Talking Points

    • Finding joy again at Sting and the season that rebuilt her confidence.

    • Earning the first-ever North Texas Player Training Week invite in Spain.

    • How fate connected her to Vial after a controversial point error.

    • The Spanish development model: daily structure, zones, rondos, and tempo.

    • What life looked like: gym, training, Spanish class, film, late-night sessions.

    • Being “the foreigner” and the pressure of integrating into a new culture.

    • Highest levels she reached in Spain and how licensing works for minors.

    • The game where her ACL tore on a routine change of direction.

    • No trainer onsite, calling Christian at 4 a.m. Texas time for support.

    • The national blackout that blocked access to her MRI results.

    • Learning her sister tore her ACL days later.

    • Returning home for surgery and beginning the long recovery.

    • Rebuilding mentally while rediscovering who she is beyond soccer.

    • Leaving the door open for Spain but embracing uncertainty.

    • Message to parents: support but let players own conversations.

    • Message to players: attitude and curiosity separate you.

    Quotes from Kassandra

    • “Coach Temas brought the love back for the game.”

    • “Being the first North Texas player selected — I knew I had to go back.”

    • “I was jumping the entire night when they announced I was going to Spain.”

    • “In Spain, the ball does the work. The tempo is smarter, not just faster.”

    • “I spoke Spanish, but I was still the foreigner. That pressure stays with you.”

    • “I knew the moment it happened — something was wrong with my knee.”

    • “I was alone in the locker room with no trainer. I just wanted my mom.”

    • “The blackout hit the day my MRI came in. I couldn’t talk to anyone.”

    • “Two days later, my sister tore her ACL too. It didn’t feel real.”

    • “Right now I’m learning who I am outside of soccer.”

    • “Curiosity and attitude — those two things take you farther than talent.”

    Connect with Kassandra

    📸 Instagram: Kass_1123

    Follow Chat By The Pitch

    🐦 X: @ChatByThePitch

    📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

    📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

    #ChatByThePitch #NorthTexasSoccer #DFWSoccer #GirlsSoccer #ACLRecovery #PlayerJourney #WomensSoccer #YouthSoccerStories #SoccerMentality #PlayerDevelopment #TexasSoccer #SoccerCommunity

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Reeplayer: Greater access to footage gives every young athlete the opportunity to develop and be seen. Reeplayer is committed to making footage accessible to teams, families, and athletes of all backgrounds.

    Reeplayer

    Soccer Innovations: Award-Winning Soccer Equipment & Accessories

    Soccer Innovations

    TeamPlayr: Find and join the perfect youth
soccer team

    TeamPlayr

    Más Menos
    39 m
  • Growing Up in North Texas Soccer: The Journey of Kassandra Ruelas
    Dec 11 2025

    In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian sits down with North Texas player and administrator Kassandra Ruelas to unpack what it really looks like to grow up inside one of the most competitive girls’ soccer markets in the country. From yelling “goal” as her first word to playing with the boys and eventually earning a chance to play in Spain, Kassandra’s story is a masterclass in soccer IQ, resilience, and family support.

    Kassandra talks about the pressure of DFW girls’ soccer, the unspoken politics of youth sports, and what it feels like to be overlooked and benched after being named captain—and why she refused to let that season define her. She shares how her mom’s sacrifices, her cousins’ professional careers (including stints in Mexico and with the Dallas Sidekicks), and training with the boys gave her the tools to navigate setbacks without losing her love for the game.

    For players, this conversation shows how to use the field as your therapy, build your game around intelligence instead of just being bigger, faster, stronger, and survive the hard seasons. For parents, it’s a real look at travel, pressure, and why the right coach matters more than any alphabet-soup league. For coaches, Kassandra offers a player’s-eye view on communication, favoritism, and how one honest conversation can change a career.

    Key Talking Points

    • How soccer has always been part of Kassandra’s life — her first word was “goal,” and the living room was a mini-pitch growing up.

    • The moment in middle school when soccer shifted from “fun with friends” to serious training, four-year plans, and future dreams on the pitch.

    • Growing up in a North Texas soccer family — cousins who played pro in Mexico and indoors with the Dallas Sidekicks — and the self-imposed pressure to honor their investment in her.

    • The Texas girls’ soccer environment: extremely competitive, with teammates and opponents now playing in the NWSL—and how that can mess with your head if you compare timelines.

    • How her mom’s support and sacrifices (driving 1.5 hours in traffic, always backing her choices) helped balance the pressure.

    • Soccer as therapy and creative outlet: using the game to disconnect from stress, reset emotionally, and express herself without overthinking.

    • Learning to separate “family” from “coach” with her three cousins: flipping the switch from joking in the car to professionalism on the field.

    • Kassandra’s club journey: Odyssey → Liverpool → Solar → FC Dallas → Texans → Sting → Al Nord Texas boys → heading to Spain to play with Villarreal.

    • Why DFW competition at U13+ felt tougher than most out-of-state tournaments (except maybe California) and how playing the same high-level players for years sharpened her game.

    • The hardest season: being told she’d be captain, then getting five minutes of game time, feeling overlooked, and wanting to quit—but choosing to control her work rate and attitude instead.

    • Esteban’s advice on politics and the rollercoaster of soccer—you can’t want the highs without accepting the lows.

    • How the DFW soccer community is a small world—one name can spark a 30-person chain of connections, from FC Dallas games to Starbucks encounters.

    • The difference between Texas-style “athlete building” and Spanish tactical football, and why playing with boys forced her to lean on IQ instead of brute force.

    • Why she turned down a DA opportunity because the coaching style didn’t fit her, even though the letters looked good.

    • A player’s perspective on alphabet-soup leagues, constant travel, and chasing logos vs. staying local, dominating your backyard, and finding the right environment.

    Quotes from Kassandra

    • “My first word was ‘goal’ during a game. Soccer has literally always been there—I can’t remember life without it.”

    • “If I’m not playing on the field, I’m not happy. It’s when I miss the game that I...

    Más Menos
    49 m
  • Tom Byer on Ball Mastery, Parents, and Player Development
    Dec 4 2025

    World-renowned development leader Tom Byer joins the show to break down where real soccer development truly begins — inside the home. Tom explains how early touches, simple routines, and parent involvement build confidence, coordination, and long-term potential. We explore culture, neuroscience, at-home training, and why the U.S. continues to struggle with building a true development identity.

    This episode gives parents, coaches, and clubs practical steps to build a stronger foundation for young players from the very beginning.

    Key Talking Points

    Tom’s Story & Global Impact

    • NY → Japan: How Tom built one of the world’s most successful technical programs

    • The beginnings of Soccer Starts at Home

    • Why Japan embraced ball mastery at massive scale

    Early Development Insights

    • Real development starts before organized soccer

    • Kids fall in love with the ball first, not the sport

    • Importance of repetition: one child + one ball

    • Early comfort becomes confidence and leadership

    Culture & Science

    • What Latin and Asian cultures do differently

    • Neuroscience behind early learning

    • Why games don’t teach foundational skills

    • Why parent involvement shapes long-term potential

    Practical Application

    • Simple at-home routines for ages 2–6

    • How to support older kids who start later

    • What clubs can do to reinforce early development

    • Building better collaboration between parents and coaches


    💬 Quotes from Tom Byer

    “Parents are the most important link in the development chain.”

    “Kids fall in love with the ball first — not soccer.”

    “If you want to push the ceiling, you have to raise the floor.”

    “The best coach in the world can’t fix a weak foundation.”

    “Culture develops players long before coaching ever does.”

    “Most of what we call development is really just selection.”

    “For young players, one child and one ball is more valuable than any game.”

    “Ball mastery is the great equalizer — it gives every child a chance.”

    “We keep trying to build superstructures on top of shaky foundations.”

    “Real development starts years before a kid ever joins a team.”


    🔗 Connect with Tom Byer

    Website: soccerstartsathome.thinkific.com

    Book: Soccer Starts at Home

    Instagram: tom.byer

    X: @TomSan106


    📣 Follow Chat By The Pitch

    Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

    X: @ChatByThePitch

    Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

    Email: chatbythepitch@gmail.com

    Links: linktr.ee/ChatByThePitch


    #ChatByThePitch #TomByer #SoccerStartsAtHome#BallMastery #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment#TechnicalTraining #SoccerParents #GrassrootsSoccer#YouthSports #SoccerDevelopment #FootballEducation

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Soccer Innovations: Award-Winning Soccer Equipment & Accessories

    Soccer Innovations

    Reeplayer: Greater access to footage gives every young athlete the opportunity to develop and be seen. Reeplayer is committed to making footage accessible to teams, families, and athletes of all backgrounds.

    Reeplayer

    TeamPlayr: Find and join the perfect youth
soccer team

    TeamPlayr

    Más Menos
    1 h y 7 m
  • The Truth Behind Pathways: How Juan Martinez Opens Doors for Players with JMS
    Nov 27 2025

    In Part 2 of our two-part series with Juan Martinez — founder of JMS Soccer and president of DKSC — we move beyond the academy structure and dig into the deeper layers of development that parents rarely see. Juan opens up about the realities of North Texas soccer culture, the misconceptions around “connections,” and how he uses his network not as a selling point, but as a responsibility to serve disciplined players who put in the work.

    Juan explains what it really takes for an athlete to earn his recommendation, why truth and accountability matter more than hype, and how he keeps kids grounded while helping them chase college, national team, or professional opportunities. We also explore character development, moral skills, parental influence, pathways beyond club soccer, and why the dream must belong to the player — not the parent.

    If you’re a soccer parent trying to understand the real pathway from ages 12–14 to college or pro, Part 2 delivers the unfiltered truth.

    📌 Key Talking Points

    • The misconception around “connections” and what they actually mean

    • North Texas as a cutthroat, highly competitive soccer market

    • Parents fearing their child won’t be recruited if they’re not at the “right” club

    • How Juan uses his network to help players — quietly, without promoting it

    • Why Juan will not recommend a player who lacks work ethic or attitude

    • Examples of Juan contacting major programs on players’ behalf

    • “Real talk”: asking players if they want honest feedback

    • Keeping kids humble — correcting body language, temper, effort

    • Why character skills and moral skills matter as much as soccer skills

    • Teaching athletes to write letters to themselves about who they want to be

    • How attitude directly affects how teammates experience you

    • The pathway funnel: dual citizenship, national teams, international scouts

    • Why discipline and daily habits determine whether a pathway even exists

    • Educating parents on timing, contracts, rights, and player value

    • Helping players navigate college offers strategically

    • Why most pathways depend on player drive, not parental desire

    • Homeschool vs. private school comparison for elite training

    • Why JMS Academy will not become a full school

    • JMS Fit/Futuro as expansion for players not ready for full academy

    • How success is defined: players going pro, earning scholarships, leadership qualities


    💬 Guest Quotes

    • “It’s very cutthroat. North Texas soccer is cutthroat.”

    • “Most of the time people don’t even know that I’m doing that.”

    • “I’m not sticking my neck out for just anybody.”

    • “If you’re not technically sound… if you don’t use both feet… I can’t recommend you.”

    • “I want to serve as many kids as possible, but in the right way.”

    • “I don’t have a plan to grow the wrong way — I want to grow the right way with the right people.”

    • “Everyone has a shelf life. Once I stop coaching, I want to use all my resources to honor God.”

    • “Kids aren’t being creative anymore because we make every decision for them.”

    • “Always count on change — we’re always reinventing and trying to get better.”

    • “You keep everybody humble — you never let them get bigheaded.”

    • “If it’s not their dream, you’re wasting your time.”

    • “Know your child. If it’s their dream, it’s worth it. If it’s yours, it’s not.”

    • “If your child isn’t touching a ball every day, they’re not falling in love with the sport yet.”

    • “I’ve seen so many parents running the race for their kids — and it never works.”

    • “Being part of a player reaching their goal… that’s the most fulfilling thing.”

    • “They do all the work, all the sacrifice. I’m just part of their journey.”


    Connect with JMS Soccer / JMS Academy

    📷 Instagram:...

    Más Menos
    45 m
  • How JMS Trains the Next Generation of North Texas Talent With Juan Martinez
    Nov 20 2025

    In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Juan Martinez — founder of JMS Soccer and President of DKSC — opens up about the journey behind JMS Academy, his daytime elite training environment built for disciplined, goal-driven young athletes. Juan walks through how JMS started in 2018, why it shut down during COVID, and how it returned in 2023 with a renewed mission: character, mental toughness, individualized development, and a one-stop shop of services for players chasing big goals.

    Juan breaks down the full structure of the academy day: early drop-offs, morning training, strength and conditioning with Juan Robles, nutrition habits, multiple school blocks, afternoon sessions, tactical work, recovery routines, and the mental side of the game. He shares how he intentionally builds an environment focused on quality over quantity, creativity over rigid systems, and long-term growth over short-term results.

    For any parent curious about homeschool-based soccer development, elite training routines, or what it really takes for a player to chase a college or professional pathway — this conversation gives a raw, detailed look inside JMS Academy’s first year.

    📌 Key Talking Points

    • Juan’s origins: Classic League player in the late 80s/early 90s; coaching since 2005

    • Why JMS was originally created in 2018

    • The impact of COVID shutting JMS down and the decision to relaunch

    • “Empty the Bucket”: the philosophy behind JMS

    • Why JMS is a one-stop shop for character, mental toughness, and recruiting

    • How “Seleção” inspired Juan’s approach to identifying elite players

    • The launch of JMS Academy in August

    • JMS Academy is not a school — it is a training program with academic support

    • How homeschool programs fit into the model (Texas Tech K-12, iPrep, etc.)

    • The structure of the daily schedule (7 AM–5 PM, Monday–Friday)

    • Morning technical sessions and strength/conditioning with Juan Robles

    • Nutrition routines inspired by Brazil: daily fruit/snack breaks

    • Classroom blocks, supervision, and the expectation of discipline

    • Why school comes first and how academic accountability works

    • Weekly training themes: Mental Monday, tactical Wednesdays, competitive Fridays

    • How JMS avoids overtraining and emphasizes recovery

    • The five facets of development: mental, technical, tactical, physical, social

    • The role creativity and pickup play in player growth

    • Why Juan keeps the program focused on individual development over team structure

    • Current group size (12 players) and commitment to quality

    • The goal of eventually growing to ~20 athletes

    • Balancing self-motivation, discipline, and personal goals

    • How Juan’s network (college, Mexico youth national team, agents, international scouts) supports players

    • How JMS educates families on sacrifice, commitment, and realistic pathways

    • Why Juan intentionally avoids selling himself as a “gatekeeper”

    💬 Guest Quotes

    • “J-M-S stands for Juan Martinez Soccer, but it's more than just soccer.”

    • “I realized I had built a good network of college recruiting and international scouts and didn’t want that to go in vain.”

    • “One of the sayings for JMS that I use is ‘empty the bucket.’”

    • “Every program we have started from a simple idea.”

    • “We are not a school — we’re more of a training program trying to create a professional environment.”

    • “School is very, very important… if you don’t take care of your school, you’re not going to be able to come and do academy training.”

    • “We check continuously on their work. We’re not a school, but we provide the environment.”

    • “We didn’t want to put a standard GPA… players learn differently.”

    • “It’s not that everybody’s going to be a professional, but if you chase that dream and get college paid for, that’s a good investment.”

    •...

    Más Menos
    44 m
  • Building Culture That Wins — Lessons from Dr. Travis Dorsch
    Nov 13 2025

    In Part 2 of The Return on Investment Myth — Rethinking Youth Sports, Dr. Travis Dorsch returns to Chat By The Pitch to go even deeper into the real work of parenting athletes. From accountability and culture to failure and social media, Dr. Dorsch shares how parents can reflect, recalibrate, and reconnect with the reason they signed their kids up in the first place.

    We talk about how good intentions can cross the line, why “culture is king,” and what clubs can do to build a healthier ecosystem for players and families alike. From letting kids fail to redefining success after COVID, this conversation is a master class in perspective, patience, and purpose for every parent, coach, and club leader.

    💬 Key Talking Points

    • Treating kids as kids — not miniature adults

    • Setting boundaries between good intentions and over-involvement

    • The power of an accountability partner for parents

    • How culture outweighs budget in building winning teams

    • Reflection as a missing habit for most sports parents

    • Why parents must allow failure to build resilience

    • Social media and the “Gucci parent” era

    • Bringing back discipline and the value of the name on the back of the jersey

    • Inclusion, respect, and cheering for the competition

    • Helping parents feel unstuck and regain balance

    • Volunteering and being a helper in club culture

    • Three keys to supporting your athlete: show up, be present, celebrate both wins and losses

    • Parent education that works vs. programs that don’t

    • Defining success for communities and clubs

    • How COVID reshaped youth sports and perspective

    • Coaches as the “missing piece” for family balance

    • The importance of humility and apology as a parent

    • What today’s generation of athletes is teaching us about resilience

    Quotes from Dr. Travis Dorsch

    • “Our kids aren’t miniature adults — we have to stop treating them that way.”

    • “Accountability partners on the sideline can save you and your kid a lot of pain.”

    • “Culture is king — and it’s free if you do it right.”

    • “Parents have the potential to be incredibly reflective, but most of us choose not to be.”

    • “Failure is a safe space for learning if we let it be.”

    • “Social media shows the best five percent of every season and hides the 95 percent of growth.”

    • “Let’s cheer for our kid’s competitors the same way we cheer for our own.”

    • “Show up. Be present. Celebrate success and failure alike.”

    • “Competitive outcomes and character development aren’t mutually exclusive — you can have both.”

    • “Be humble enough to apologize when things go sideways. We only get one shot at this as parents.”


    Connect with Chat By The Pitch

    🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

    📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

    📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

    🎧 Listen: Chat By The Pitch on Apple Podcasts


    Connect with Dr. Travis Dorsch

    🌐 Families in Sport Lab — Utah State University

    ▶️ TEDx Talk: “Should Parents Expect a Return on Investment?”


    #YouthSports #ParentingInSports #SportsCulture #SportsParenting #DrTravisDorsch #ChatByThePitch #CultureIsKing #PlayerDevelopment #FamilyInSport #ResilientAthletes #ParentEducation #YouthAthletes #SportsEcosystem #FailureIsLearning #ParentCoachPlayer #SportsPsychology #CommunityCulture #AthleteMindset #PodcastDFW #YouthDevelopment

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Soccer Innovations: Award-Winning Soccer Equipment & Accessories

    Soccer Innovations

    TeamPlayr: Find and join the perfect youth
soccer team

    TeamPlayr

    Reeplayer: Greater access to footage gives every young athlete the opportunity to develop and be seen. Reeplayer is committed to making footage...

    Más Menos
    47 m
  • The Real ROI of Youth Sports: Lessons from Dr. Travis Dorsch
    Nov 6 2025

    In Part 1 of The Return on Investment Myth — Rethinking Youth Sports, Dr. Travis Dorsch joins Chat By The Pitch to explore what families are truly getting from youth sports. As a professor at Utah State University and founding director of the Families in Sport Lab, Dr. Dorsch shares how his research — and his own parenting journey — reveal the tension between performance, pressure, and purpose.

    We unpack why so many parents chase the wrong outcomes, how goal misalignment drives kids out of the game, and what it really means to “invest” in your child’s sport journey. From NIL deals to the cost of club soccer, Travis challenges families to define success differently — not in scholarships or stats, but in the lessons that last a lifetime.

    💬 Key Talking Points

    • Why parents should expect a return on investment — but not the kind they think

    • The dangers of chasing scholarships and pro dreams too early

    • Goal alignment: how parents, coaches, and players get out of sync

    • What keeps kids in the game past age 13

    • The problem with commodifying young athletes

    • Systems thinking: placing the child at the center of the sport ecosystem

    • Communication tips for the car ride home

    • What questions parents should ask after every game

    • Modeling behavior and emotional control on the sidelines

    • How family dynamics shape athlete development

    • “Snowplow” vs. “scaffolding” parents

    • Defining success beyond wins and goals

    • Building lifelong movers instead of short-term stars


    🗣 Quotes from Dr. Travis Dorsch

    • “Parents should expect some form of return on their investment — but the real question is how we define that return.”

    • “When parents define success as scholarships or contracts, the pressure skyrockets for everyone.”

    • “Goal alignment is everything. If parents and kids aren’t chasing the same thing, conflict is inevitable.”

    • “The child needs to remain at the center. When parents or coaches make it about themselves, that’s when problems start.”

    • “If we can just get kids to come back next season, we’re winning.”

    • “You can’t name Christian Pulisic’s U12 record — because it doesn’t matter. What mattered is that he kept playing.”

    • “Parents are role models first. Kids don’t just hear us — they watch how we act.”

    • “Ask better questions on the ride home. Not ‘Did you win?’ but ‘What was the most exciting thing you did today?’”

    • “Work hard, listen to the coach, and have fun — that’s our family mantra.”

    • “Youth sport is a vehicle to raise better humans, not just better athletes.”


    Connect with Chat By The Pitch

    🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

    📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

    📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

    🎧 Listen: Chat By The Pitch on Apple Podcasts


    Connect with Dr. Travis Dorsch

    🌐 Families in Sport Lab — Utah State University

    ▶️ TEDx Talk: “Should Parents Expect a Return on Investment?”


    #YouthSports #ParentingInSports #SportsCulture #PlayerDevelopment #SportPsychology #YouthAthletes #TravisDorsch #FamiliesInSport #SportsParenting #ChatByThePitch #SoccerCulture #SportsEcosystem #PlayerCenteredDevelopment #NIL #ReturnOnInvestment #ParentCoachPlayer #YouthDevelopment #SportsEducation #AthleteMindset #PodcastDFW


    Mentioned in this episode:

    Reeplayer: Greater access to footage gives every young athlete the opportunity to develop and be seen. Reeplayer is committed to making footage accessible to teams, families, and athletes of all backgrounds.

    Reeplayer

    TeamPlayr: Find and join the perfect youth
soccer team

    TeamPlayr

    Thanks to Soccer Coach Weekly for supporting the podcast. Plan - Fast - Coach - Smart (GET YOUR 50%...

    Más Menos
    48 m