Advertise on podcast: The Inside Scoop with Anytime Soccer Training - Discussing Youth Soccer from Around the World

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. 🔗 River City FC: https://www.facebook.com/RCFC803/⚽ Find a UPSL Team Near You: https://premier.upsl.com/teams/📱 Anytime Soccer Training: www.anytime-soccer.com

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. 👉 https://www.soccer-near-me.com/books-and-authors/soccer-dad

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:💚 What we genuinely love about the state of US Soccer💔 What we'd send a breakup letter to — right now🌎 Why the "no soccer culture" argument doesn't hold up📈 The youth player numbers that prove America is a sleeping giant🔥 Why US players are more technically sound than people give them credit for About Coach Rory O'Neill:Rory is a grassroots coach turned MLS club coach at Keystone FC with international coaching experience across Argentina, Iceland, and Scotland. Find him on YouTube at @CoachRorySoccer. About The Inside Scoop:Hosted by Neil Crawford, Founder of Anytime Soccer Training — the platform behind over 5,000 youth soccer training videos and a community of 100,000+ players, parents, and coaches. Every episode is a real conversation from inside the beautiful game. 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review — it helps more soccer families find the show.📲 Follow Anytime Soccer Training for daily player development content.

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.

This is just a quick clarification on what people really mean when they bring up promotion and relegation in youth soccer. I share my perspective on how the idea gets misunderstood and what actually matters for kids and development.

I wasn’t always the parent I am now. For years, I thought I was helping my sons by stepping in, questioning coaches, pulling them from practice for outside games, and trying to “manage” their development myself. Looking back, I can see how often I got in the way of what their clubs were actually trying to build. I meant well, but I didn’t understand the bigger picture. This episode is me owning that—and pushing back on the way we, as parents, turn every club policy into a moral judgment. Guest playing is my example, but the pattern is everywhere. Three clubs can handle it three completely different ways and still genuinely care about development. I had to learn that the hard way. I talk about the “I’m paying, so I own the experience” mindset I used to have, why I held my older son back from an academy move even when it felt uncomfortable, and the real pressures clubs face when parent factions start pulling in different directions. My message to parents is simple but not always easy: Ask the right questions before you join. Once you commit, actually commit. And if the fit isn’t right, move on without burning the place down. For clubs, be painfully clear about your policies upfront so families know exactly what they’re signing up for. Different approaches aren’t moral failures. They’re just different. And if we want youth soccer to be healthier, we need less judgment and more partnership. If you want, I can make it even more raw, more conversational, or more punchy, depending on the tone you want for the episode.

 A coach's viral reel says if your club won't release your player card, they don't care about your child's development. I disagree — not because clubs are always right, but because we need to stop moralizing every disagreement in youth soccer. In this episode, I break down why clubs can have sincere reasons for their policies, why it shouldn't matter if you're paying or it's a free academy, and why the real problem isn't player cards — it's the us-versus-them mentality that's replacing communication with conflict.

Kids are jumping from rec to club way too early — and showing up without the basics. In this episode, Coach Jesse and I get real about what's broken in grassroots soccer: 👉 Why kids are leaving rec before they're ready👉 The frustration of coaching older players who never learned fundamentals👉 Funding gaps and field shortages killing quality programs👉 Why "club" doesn't automatically mean "better" If you've ever asked yourself "Should my kid stay in rec or move to club?" — listen to this one first.

I’m Neil Crawford, and in this episode I’m breaking down the real problem with scrimmages in youth soccer. Coaches love them, parents expect them, and players think they’re ‘the fun part’—but they’re quietly holding kids back. I’m pulling back the curtain on why endless scrimmaging stalls development, what actually builds skill, and how we can rethink training to help every player grow.” If you want, I can make it spicier, more conversational, or more research‑backed depending on the vibe you want for the episode.