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PODCAST

Chat By The Pitch

Chat By The Pitch is a youth soccer podcast focused on player development, coaching culture, and the family experience in the modern game. Hosted by Ian Babcock, the show connects parents, coaches, and club leaders with local, national, and global voices shaping youth soccer today. Each episode dives into the real decisions families face—team selection, development pathways, mental performance, coaching environments, and the gear and tools that support long-term growth. The conversations are honest,

sports soccer

All Episodes

01:00:48

Tracey Leone: How Neighborhood Soccer Sparked a World...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/08/21

Join Chat By The Pitch for Part One of an in-depth conversation with Tracey Leone—assistant coach for the University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer program, former U.S. Women’s National Team player, and 1991 World Cup champion. Tracey shares her journey from pickup soccer in Dallas to becoming one of UNC’s standout players. We explore how neighborhood games shaped her love for the sport, the influence of her family and legendary coach Anson Dorrance, and her perspective on today’s youth soccer

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49:55

Inside the Mind of Kean Barclay: Coaching with Purpose

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/08/14

Join Chat By The Pitch for an inspiring conversation with Kean Barclay, Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Columbia State Community College and Director of Coaching at Clarksville Soccer Club. From playing in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to coaching internationally in Ireland, Bolivia, and Scotland, Kean’s journey has shaped a coaching philosophy built on resilience, culture, and player growth. We explore building strong team culture, the unique role of junior colleges in player development, and balancing

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00:46:35

Unlocking Success with Akeem Gordon at VMR Academy:...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/08/07

Join Chat By The Pitch for an inspiring chat with Akeem Gordon, founder of VMR Academy (Vision Meets Reality) and a former football player turned elite speed and agility trainer. From his journey playing college football and pro stints in the NFL and CFL, Akeem pivoted to training athletes in Texas, specializing in soccer players' mechanics, acceleration, and mindset. We dive into assessing young athletes, building proper running form, the role of high-energy coaching, and advice for parents on

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00:52:29

Warren Cottle & Christine Ellis on Youth Soccer:...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/07/31

Join Chat by the Pitch for an inspiring conversation with Warren Cottle, Director of Coaching and Player Development at North Texas State Soccer Association, and Christine Ellis, social media manager for Soccer Innovations. In this episode, Warren and Christine share their passion for youth soccer development, focusing on fostering a player-centric culture. They discuss the transformative Soccer for Success program, the importance of ball mastery at young ages, and the pitfalls of prioritizing

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00:53:17

The Developer’s Way with Nate Baker: Shaping Futures

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/07/24

In Part 2 of Chat by the Pitch with Nate Baker, founder of The Developer’s Way, we dive deeper into the broken U.S. youth soccer system and how to fix it. Nate discusses the dehumanization of players, treated as “slabs of meat” with expiration dates rather than “slabs of clay” to be molded into masterpieces. Through personal stories, like his daughter’s resilience on stage, Nate illustrates how coaches and parents can champion small wins to build lasting values. He shares insights on creating

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00:48:32

The Developer’s Way with Nate Baker: Shaping Players

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/07/17

Join Chat by the Pitch for Part 1 of an inspiring conversation with Nate Baker, founder of The Developer’s Way and director at Achilles Football Club in Washington, D.C. Nate shares his journey from a youth soccer player captivated by the 1994 World Cup to a coach redefining U.S. soccer culture. We dive into the overuse of “development” in youth sports, exploring how a culture vision rooted in values, combined with a playing vision and game vision, creates a path to unlock players’ endless

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00:42:41

Part 2: “Dan Abrahams on Game Face, Match Scripts &...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/07/10

In Part 2 of our series with Dan Abrahams, we go deep on practical tools for parents and coaches: game faces, match scripts, divergent questions, and creating mentally resilient players. If you've ever wondered how to truly support your child emotionally on and off the pitch, this episode is your blueprint.🔑 Key Talking Points• What a "Game Face" is and why even Premier League stars use them• The power of match scripts and why three cues are better than ten• How divergent questioning

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00:38:03

Part 1: Dan Abrahams on Youth Soccer Culture

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/07/03

In Part 1 of our powerful two-part conversation, we welcome renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to Chat By The Pitch. With over 30 years in high-performance sport and clients ranging from Premier League stars to F1 drivers, Dan breaks down how our culture around youth soccer is failing young athletes. From misguided sideline behavior to a broken obsession with early winning, Dan gives us a blueprint for healthier environments focused on joy, development, and lifelong participation.🔑 Key

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00:50:55

Small Club, Big Vision: PAYD and Rey Torres in Focus

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/06/26

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Rey Torres, founder of PAYD FC (Professional Academy of Youth Development), to unpack the heart behind one of Mesquite’s most intentional independent clubs. From his own journey as a player to his philosophy as a coach, Rey explains how he’s building PAYD not just to win, but to shape lives through culture, consistency, and a commitment to development.We dive deep into what makes PAYD different—from how they blend personal training

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00:42:08

SportXplore Travel: Fixing Youth Soccer Travel One...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/06/19

In this powerful episode of Chat By The Pitch, we welcome Victor Jaramillo of SportXplore Travel to peel back the curtain on one of the most frustrating parts of youth sports: the "stay to play" tournament model. Victor breaks down how families are being squeezed by hotel schemes, what really goes on behind those “official travel partner” links, and how clubs, coaches, and parents can push back without risking their players' spots. Whether you're new to the travel game or a

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00:44:26

SportXplore Travel: Fixing Youth Soccer Travel One...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/06/12

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, we sit down with Victor Jaramillo, founder of SportXplore Travel, whose journey from soccer-loving kid in Mexico City to Texas entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. After a layoff pushed him out of the corporate world, Victor turned his lifelong passion for sports and community into a mission: to simplify, humanize, and save families money on youth soccer travel. We talk pay-to-play pitfalls, hotel nightmares, and how Victor is changing the

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00:41:42

The Foundation of Dallas Surf: Culture, Coaches &...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/05/29

In Part 2 of our conversation with Gavin Mole and Tony Cavalle from Dallas Surf, we dig into the strategy behind their mission to build a nationally respected soccer club. From their investment in academy coaches to setting clear college pathways for players, this episode is a blueprint on how to grow a club with purpose.Learn how Dallas Surf is using Surf Select, affordable access to training, professional-level video analysis, and structured progression to support both players and coaches in

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00:35:27

The Foundation of Dallas Surf: Culture, Coaches &...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/05/22

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, we connect with Tony Cavalle and Gavin Mole of Dallas Surf — a club that’s rapidly redefining youth soccer in DFW. Tony shares the origin story of Dallas Surf, while Gavin breaks down how the club is building its player DNA from the ground up. We talk structure, coaching education, technology, and the long-term vision that includes a unified coaching style and a full developmental pathway. Whether you're a parent, coach, or club leader — this is a blueprint

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00:44:20

DFW United SC: Leadership, Culture, and the Cost of...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/05/15

In Part 2 of our deep-dive with CJ Sutherland, founder of DFW United SC, we unpack the tough decisions facing independent clubs, including his partnership to bring ECNL-RL NTX to his players. CJ shares candid insights about the pressures of youth soccer today—from managing parent expectations to building a positive team culture while navigating an increasingly status-driven system.We explore why connection with players matters, how coaches influence kids beyond the field, and what it really takes to

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00:42:25

DFW United: Leadership, Culture, and the Cost of...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/05/09

🎧 Episode Description:What happens when a club decides to stop accepting mediocrity? CJ Sutherland, Director of Coaching at DFW United, joins us for a powerful, no-filter conversation about resetting standards, rebuilding culture, and facing the uncomfortable truths about youth soccer leadership. From confronting coach behavior to setting non-negotiables with parents, CJ breaks down what it takes to lead with purpose—and why anything less is unacceptable.🧠 Key Talking Points:• How CJ is

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00:59:11

“More Than a Club, It’s a Culture” — Jason Carney on...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/05/01

In Part 2 of our brutally honest series, Jason Carney returns to tackle what youth soccer should be built on: culture, character, and purpose. We dive deep into the concept of servant leadership, the myth of league labels, and how most clubs miss the mark on development by faking culture instead of building it.Jason shares how he’s implemented real accountability and authenticity at FC Portland—and how it's resonating with players, parents, and coaches. If you’ve ever asked “What’s the point of

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01:03:01

“More Than a Club, It’s a Culture” — Jason Carney on...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/04/24

In this eye-opening episode, Jason Carney—former pro coach and current Director of Coaching at FC Portland—breaks down what's really wrong with youth soccer in the U.S. We dig into his brutally honest book, US Grassroots Soccer: Great on Paper S**t on Grass, and explore how the adult obsession with results is crushing kids’ development.From game models and coaching culture to what parents should actually be asking clubs before joining, Jason delivers truth bombs every minute. If you’re a soccer

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00:49:32

The Game Didn’t End — It Evolved: How Losing The Ball...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/04/17

What happens when a former pro player builds a tech company to fix youth soccer’s biggest blind spot? In Part 2 of our convo with Orhan from Reeplayer, we dive deep into the why behind their mission, the flaws in AI-powered analytics, and the human-first approach shaping their future.This isn’t just tech—it’s heart, hustle, and a whole new way to watch the game.Key Talking Points• The real cost of “free” cameras and feeling stuck• Why Reeplayer refuses to do analytics—and what they do

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00:45:05

The Game Didn’t End — It Evolved: How Losing The Ball...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/04/10

As the producer of Chat By The Pitch, I’m thrilled to bring you an inspiring conversation with Orhan Basak Ajredinovski founder of Reeplayer. In this episode, Orhan dives into his personal journey—from playing youth soccer in Turkey and the U.S. to creating a groundbreaking camera system that autonomously records and live streams youth soccer games. We explore how Reeplayer is tackling the challenges of cost, accessibility, and tech complexity in youth sports, offering unlimited recordings for just

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01:07:31

The North Texas Edge: Why Classic League Stands Out...

Chat By The Pitch ·

2025/04/03

On this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian sits down with Suma, Joe, and Robb to unpack the inner workings of Classic League. From the psychology of refereeing to the evolution of player pool policies, we examine how this North Texas institution strikes a balance between tradition and innovation. Expect candid stories—like Robb’s $100 bet to become a ref—and insights into keeping soccer competitive, safe, and fun for kids. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or referee, this episode has something for

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