Chat By The Pitch
by Ian Babcock
The youth soccer podcast for parents trying to make sense of their kid's game.Host Ian Babcock is a soccer dad, not a former player. He got into the game the same way most parents do: his kids started playing and nobody handed him a manual. Chat By The Pitch is the manual he wishes he'd had.Every episode is a real, unscripted conversation with the people who shape a young player's experience: club directors, coaches, former pros, sports psychologists, agents, college recruiters, and families who have been through it. The questions are the ones you are asking in the car on the way home. Is my kid on the right team? What does "development over winning" actually look like? How much is too much? When should we worry, and when should we just let them play?Guests include academy coaches from England, a FIFA agent, futsal and academy founders, sports psychologists, and families who have walked the road from rec soccer to the pro game.What you will not hear: hot takes, highlight packages,
Episodes
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Player Pathways: David Ortiz on FC Dallas, Spain, Colombia, and the Futsal National Team
In the fall of 2020, David Ortiz was pushing carts at Walmart. A year later, he was wearing the crest at a FIFA Futsal World Cup. David came up through FC Dallas from U8 to U17, trained with the first team at 16, and then chased a professional career across two continents — a year and a half in...
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Bridging the Gap Between Rec and Club Soccer: Josh Meadows on Good Sport Initiative
Rec soccer in Denton has more than a thousand kids. Club soccer is waiting on the other side. And in between, Josh Meadows kept finding the same thing — kids on wait lists, kids on the bench, kids quietly drifting to another sport. Josh is the founder of Good Sport Initiative (GSI), a community...
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Soccer Parenting Decisions: FIFA Agent Mario Iveljic on Making the Smart Move
A professional club sends Mario Iveljic a request: a number six who wins the ball, covers ground, plays long diagonals, and connects. Not a good player. A profile. In Part 2, the licensed FIFA agent and author of Make the Smart Move turns to the soccer parenting decisions that shape a player's…
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Youth Soccer Player Pathways: FIFA Agent Mario Iveljic on Club, College, and Pro
Mario Iveljic grew up playing with a number 10 so smooth he'd just stop and watch. That kid may not have finished four years of college. Mario, by his own admission not the most talented guy, went further. That gap is why Mario — a licensed FIFA agent at Chicago's Mag Mile Sport, an attorney, and...
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Play From Your Heart: Scott Martin on Losing Everything and Coming Back to the Game
In 1993, Scott Martin was driving to a Nike camp with new Ray-Bans and the music turned up — still playing, coaching a nationally ranked college program, with everything in front of him. A month later, he woke up from a coma without his hands. Scott, author of the memoir Play From Your Heart,...
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Player Pathways: Roman Torres on FC Dallas, JUCO, and the Road to Pro Soccer
Zero college offers in his U18 year. A first-round MLS SuperDraft pick a few years later. Released after one pro season — and still chasing it. Roman Torres has lived nearly every turn of the youth soccer player pathway, and he’s only 24. Roman grew up in Dallas, starting on a rec team at the Y...
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Obsessed With the Process: Chris Rich on Building an Elite Eight Program
Chris Rich has passed on talented recruits because of what he saw from their parents on the sideline. The UNC Greensboro head coach explains what else he's watching. In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Chris opens up the college soccer recruiting process from the coach's side of the table. He...
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The Medal in the Trash: Preston Pomykal on Winning, Losing, and Respect
A parent pulled a second-place medal out of a trash can and brought it to Preston Pomykal, disgusted that his son had thrown it away. Preston asked her three questions about how the boy behaved on the field — then told her he had no problem with the trash can. Part 2 of the conversation moves…
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Youth Soccer Player Development: Preston Pomykal on Raising Two College Players and a Pro
A Hall of Fame ballplayer was asked about his favorite little league memory. His answer was about his mom, and an ice cream cone. His worst memory was the car ride home with his dad. That story changed how Preston Pomykal parented — and it's the one he says every soccer parent needs to hear. In...
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Coach the Players in Front of You: Andy Cook on Systems vs. Individuals
Andy Cook took a left back, put her at number nine, and she scored 22 goals and won a league. That’s not a hunch — that’s a coaching philosophy. In Part 2, Andy Cook gets into the part of youth soccer player development that doesn’t fit on a session plan: culture, trust, and reading the player in...
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Youth Soccer Player Development: Spotting Talent Early with Andy Cook
Andy Cook coached Beth Mead at 14 and Leah Williamson at 15. He wasn’t looking for tactics or trophies — here’s what he was actually watching for. In Part 1, UEFA A licensed coach Andy Cook takes Ian Babcock through a youth soccer player development story that starts with a season ticket at...
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From Houston to Denmark: The Cappis Family on Christian Cappis’ Path to Pro
Turning down MLS. Walking away from an SMU scholarship. A trial at Bayern. Jay and Carey Cappis share how Christian Cappis bet on development — and won. In Part 2 of this conversation, the Cappis family walks Ian Babcock through Christian’s player pathway from club soccer in Houston to the...
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The Cappis Family: How Soccer Parents Raise a Pro Without Pushing
What does it actually take to raise a professional soccer player — without pushing? Jay and Carey Cappis, parents of U.S. pro Christian Cappis, open up the family playbook. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Ian Babcock sits down with the Cappis family to talk soccer parenting and youth...
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Why Pay-to-Play Youth Soccer Is Failing American Players with Alex Lubyansky
Is pay-to-play youth soccer actually developing players — or just monetizing false hope? Alex Lubyansky says it's the latter, and he's building the proof. Alex is the General Manager and Head Coach of Detroit Metro FC, a completely free, senior-level football club run on the European model — on...
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From Small Club to D1: Jada Davis on Betting on Yourself in Youth Soccer
She didn't commit to soccer until the summer before her junior year — and still earned a Division I scholarship from a small club no college coach was watching. Former NCAA Division I player Jada Davis joins Chat By The Pitch to break down youth soccer player development from both sides of the...
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Be Present, Not Behind the Phone: AI Sports Cameras XbotGo
What if you could capture every second of your kid's game — and actually be present to watch it? That's the promise Gabriel Roxas brings to Chat By The Pitch. Gabriel, PR manager for AI sports camera company XbotGo, joins Ian Babcock to talk about making game-day videography accessible to every...
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Hanna Barker: Texas to Serie A The Long Way
Hanna Barker turned a recovering ACL into a college career that ended with Freshman of the Year — then chased the pro game across four countries. In Part 2, Hanna and Ian trace the player pathway from college to the pros and the long road of playing abroad. She breaks down roles over positions…
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Hanna Barker: The Kid Who Couldn't Be Stopped
Before she was a winger for Napoli Women in Serie A, Hanna Barker was just a kid in Farmers Branch, Texas, kicking a ball around at her dad’s games. In Part 1, Hanna and Ian go back to the beginning — the youth soccer years that built everything that came later. She shares why she stayed at one...
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It's Hard Being Good: John Keagan on Mindset, Development, and Reaching Your Potential
What separates good players from great players? In Part 2 of this conversation, Everton FC's John Keagan dives into the mindset, work ethic, and personal responsibility required to reach your full potential in soccer and in life. From early college commitments and the transfer portal to player...
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Inside Everton Football College: A Different Pathway to the Game
What happens when a professional club creates a pathway that combines elite soccer development with education? In this episode, Ian sits down with John Keagan from Everton FC to discuss the club's Football College Program, how players transition from academy environments, and why education…
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Kristie & Mark Brooks on Soccer Parenting
What does good soccer parenting actually look like? In Part 2, Kristie and Mark Brooks move beyond the Spain story and share the parenting lessons they learned while helping their son Easton chase soccer at a high level. We talk about pressure, parent behavior, coach relationships, letting kids...
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Kristie & Mark Brooks on the Spain Soccer Process
What does it really take for a teenager to move to Spain and chase a soccer dream? In Part 1, Kristie and Mark Brooks share the real story behind helping their son Easton move overseas at 14 to pursue soccer in Spain. From visas, FIFA cards, training environments, and team culture to the…
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Easton Brooks Soccer Journey
What does it really look like for a 14-year-old American player to move to Spain and chase the dream of professional soccer? In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Easton Brooks to discuss his journey from local soccer in Texas to training and competing in Spain against...
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Ray Power – Why Modern Soccer Coaching Must Change
In Part 2, Ray Power and Ian Babcock continue the conversation by diving into coaching methodology, player development systems, training environments, and the importance of continuing coach education. Ray breaks down why static drills and long lines hurt player development, why game-like...
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Ray Power – Why Parents Need Soccer Education Too
In Part 1 of this conversation, Ray Power joins Chat By The Pitch to talk about youth soccer development, coaching philosophy, parent education, and why keeping kids in love with the game matters more than early results. Ray shares his journey from teacher to professional coach educator, how...
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Inside Captains University – How Leaders Are Built
Part 2 is where everything connects. After hearing the journey, Anja Koehler breaks down how leadership is actually built—not assumed. Through Captains University, she’s created a system around something most players are expected to figure out on their own. Confidence. Communication....
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Anja Koehler – The Journey That Built Captains University
This one starts with the story—but it’s not the clean version. Anja Koehler walks through what it actually looked like to become a leader—being overlooked, losing confidence, earning it back, and figuring it out in real time. From youth soccer to becoming a Division I captain, this is the part…
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The Game Didn't End — It Evolved: How Losing The Ball Led Orhan To Build Reeplayer For Every Player's Story Part 2
Part 2 of this reissued conversation shifts into the details that matter when making a decision. We break down pricing, how different systems are built, and where things like AI and analytics actually stand today. There’s a lot of noise in this space — and this episode helps cut through it by...
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The Game Didn't End — It Evolved: How Losing The Ball Led Orhan To Build Reeplayer For Every Player's Story Part 1
This is a reissue of Part 1 of my conversation with Orhan from Reeplayer — brought back because the questions around camera systems are picking up again with the new season starting. In this episode, we focus on the foundation — why youth soccer still struggles to consistently capture games, what...
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At Ulete & PFA – Why Futsal Changes Everything
In Part 2, the focus shifts to how players are actually developed with futsal. Pablo Da Silva breaks down futsal—what it really is, why it matters, and how it translates directly to the outdoor game. From faster decision-making to total field awareness, this is where development becomes real. If...
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From Vision to Reality – Ulete Sports
What does real player development actually look like? In Part 1, Ian sits down with John Davis and Pablo Da Silva from Ulete Sports to break down what they’re building—and why it’s different. This conversation dives into culture, community, and creating an environment where players can actually...
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Alpha Forms Residency With Erin Medina – Inside the Daily Development Model
What does a full day in a soccer residency program actually look like—and how is it different from the traditional youth soccer model? In Part 2 of this conversation, Ian Babcock and Erin Medina go deeper into Alpha Forms Residency, breaking down the daily schedule, training structure, and how...
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Alpha Forms Residency with Erin Medina – Rethinking Youth Soccer Development
What does real player development actually look like—and why are so many systems missing it? In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Erin Medina, COO of Forms Residency and Forms Academy, to break down a completely different approach to youth soccer development. From her...
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Gordon Jago – Why Dallas Cup Matters (Rereleased)
With the Dallas Cup just weeks away, this episode hits a little different. This is a tribute to Gordon Jago—a true pioneer of the game and one of the key figures behind what the Dallas Cup has become today. From his journey as a player and coach to helping build one of the most respected youth...
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Soccer for Success Part 2 | Expanding the Model
In Part 2 of Soccer for Success, we go deeper. This conversation moves beyond curriculum and into implementation — how Dallas ISD built a no-cost, district-wide pathway from elementary Spark programs to middle school leagues and high school UIL competition. We break down how Spark works (grades...
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Soccer for Success in Dallas ISD | Building Confidence Through PE
Soccer for Success is reshaping how youth soccer development happens inside school systems. In this episode, leaders from Dallas ISD and the US Soccer Foundation break down how a 10-lesson, standards-aligned curriculum is equipping PE teachers, training coaches, and reaching nearly 50,000…
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Ballers ID: Invest in the Player, Not the Hype With Gregg Megaw
In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, I sit down with Gregg Megaw, founder of Ballers ID, to talk about investing in the full player — not the hype. We break down individual development, 1v1 training, decision-making, culture, confidence, and why true growth takes time. Gregg explains why small...
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Seeing the Next Level Changes Everything
Seeing the Next Level Changes Everything In Part 2 of this conversation, Ian and Jonathan dig deeper into exposure, access, and perspective in youth sports. Jonathan explains why seeing the next level in person — middle school, college, or professional — can motivate kids without pressure, while...
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Healthy Sports Parents: Why Most Kids Quit Before They’re Ready
In Part 1 of this conversation, Ian sits down with Jonathan Corone, creator of Healthy Sports Parents, to unpack the emotional, cultural, and behavioral challenges parents face in youth sports. Jonathan shares how his own daughter’s experience — and a moment on the sidelines watching a parent…
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Human First, Athlete Second: Development Over Scores in Youth Soccer
In this solo episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock reflects on years of learning as a soccer parent, coach, and constant student of the game. This episode challenges the obsession with early results and reframes success around development, environment, communication, and joy. Ian explores…
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John O’Sullivan on Parenting Without Pressure in Sports
In Part 2 of this conversation, John O’Sullivan dives deeper into the realities of pressure, anxiety, early specialization, and the myths that continue to shape youth sports in unhealthy ways. We unpack why the so-called 10,000-hour rule doesn’t hold up, why development is never linear, and why...
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Let the Journey Belong to the Kid: John O’Sullivan on Development and Ownership
In Part 1 of this conversation, John O’Sullivan joins Chat By The Pitch to break down what truly drives healthy development in youth sports. John shares his journey from long-time soccer coach to founder of Change the Game Project, explaining why burnout, fear-based coaching, and adult agendas...
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Inside Salient Touch FA: Session Design & Player Evaluation
In Part 2, Ian Babcock continues the conversation with Dominique Molina and Antonio Perez, founders of Salient Touch Football Academy, diving deep into how real development is executed day to day. This episode breaks down session design, open enrollment, punch cards vs. consistency, defending...
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From Park Sessions to Facilities: The Salient Touch Origin Story
From Park Sessions to Facilities: The Salient Touch Origin Story In Part 1 of this conversation, Ian Babcock sits down with Salient Touch Football Academy founders Dominique Molina and Antonio Perez to unpack how Salient Touch was built—from a bumpy public field to a multi-location technical...
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Ted Kroeten: The Future of U.S. Soccer Through Joy of the People
In Part 2, Ted Kroeten goes deeper into the mechanics of free play, why traditional training misreads how kids actually learn, and how small-sided chaos builds problem-solvers, communicators, and creators. From one-v-one misconceptions to futsal culture, mixed-age environments, and why American...
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Born to Play: Ted Kroeten on Free Play, Language, and Youth Development
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...
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From Spain to an ACL Tear: The Turning Point in Kassandra’s Journey
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...
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Growing Up in North Texas Soccer: The Journey of Kassandra Ruelas
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...
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Tom Byer on Ball Mastery, Parents, and Player Development
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,...
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The Truth Behind Pathways: How Juan Martinez Opens Doors for Players with JMS
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…
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About this show
The youth soccer podcast for parents trying to make sense of their kid's game.Host Ian Babcock is a soccer dad, not a former player. He got into the game the same way most parents do: his kids started playing and nobody handed him a manual. Chat By The Pitch is the manual he wishes he'd had.Every episode is a real, unscripted conversation with the people who shape a young player's experience: club directors, coaches, former pros, sports psychologists, agents, college recruiters, and families who have been through it. The questions are the ones you are asking in the car on the way home. Is my kid on the right team? What does "development over winning" actually look like? How much is too much? When should we worry, and when should we just let them play?Guests include academy coaches from England, a FIFA agent, futsal and academy founders, sports psychologists, and families who have walked the road from rec soccer to the pro game.What you will not hear: hot takes, highlight packages,
Hosted by
Ian Babcock