Inspiring Athletes: The Art of Development at Atlético Dallas Youth

Join Chat By The Pitch for an engaging conversation with Lana Van Deusen, Angel Cuevas, and Sebastian Östergren from Atlético Dallas Youth. These experienced leaders share their journeys, from military service to international coaching influences, and discuss what it takes to build a positive club culture in North Texas. They break down player development, retaining talent, fostering love for the game, and creating pathways for every level. Tune in for inspiring insights on mentoring young athletes, balancing ambition with life skills, and growing soccer communities. Subscribe on Spotify and follow @ChatByThePitch on X!

Key Talking Points

• Building a positive club culture and breaking from traditional North Texas norms

• Player retention through communication, mentorship, and support systems

• Game models, coaching frameworks, and adapting styles for growth

• Handling late bloomers, growth spurts, and emotional development

• College pathways, alumni involvement, and preparing players for life beyond soccer

Tune In to Learn

Discover how Lana, Angel, and Sebastian transform teams, inspire players, and navigate the challenges of U.S. youth soccer.

Quotes from Guests

• “I've never had a player stop playing soccer.” – Sebastian Östergren

• “We want to help our players and our families be leaders within our communities.” – Sebastian Östergren

• “Soccer isn't gonna be there for most of these people beyond high school.” – Lana Van Deusen

• “It's about building those people for the next generation of soccer players.” – Angel Cuevas

• “We have to find different ways to cater to everyone.” – Sebastian Östergren

• “Creating a culture where they wanna come back to.” – Lana Van Deusen

• “We think that soccer should be for everyone.” – Sebastian Östergren

• “Over communicate... parents are our customer.” – Angel Cuevas

Connect with Guests

🌐 Website: atleticodallasyouth.com

Follow Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X: @ChatByThePitch

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#ChatByThePitch #AtleticoDallasYouth #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCulture #CoachingJourney #CollegePathway #NorthTexasSoccer #SoccerForAll #Mentorship #CommunityLeaders #GameModel #InspirePlayers

Mentioned in this episode:

Soccer Innovations: Award-Winning Soccer Equipment & Accessories

Soccer Innovations

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% OFF WITH CODE IAN50) at Soccer Coach Weekly

Soccer Coach Weekly

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