Let us know the topics of interest to you! Filmed LIVE on Day 1 of the ECNL Boys National Playoffs in Redmond, Washington, the Breaking the Line team sits down right on the fields to discuss all things ECNL Playoffs. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken are joined by ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney to give insights about everything surrounding the ECNL Boys Playoffs: how many teams get in, the formatting, why there's only Champions League for most age groups, ...
Jul 03, 2025•58 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line team returns for its newest episode diving into a topic of discussion at every ECNL club and across the youth soccer landscape: high school soccer vs. club soccer. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken discuss why the ECNL refuses to make a mandate regarding high school soccer, how clubs navigate high school and club seasons, and just some of the many reasons and scenarios why a player may choose to p...
Jun 12, 2025•53 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking the Line is back with ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken and the team hits two topics this week that every soccer parents should be paying attention to. In Episode 119, Breaking the Line first sets out to break some myths about the odds of becoming a pro soccer player. Three out of every four parent believes their child has the skills to turn pro in whatever sport they play. The reality is, only 1% of all youth...
May 28, 2025•59 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! In a Part 2 of an incredible discussion surrounding coaching within youth soccer, Breaking the Line welcomes ECNL Coaching Methodology Advisor Doug Lemov for an incredible discussion on coaching philosophy, how to develop coaches, how to effectively use training sessions and more. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken dive into all of these topics, diving deeper into topics from Breaking the Line Episode 117, and expanding...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The ECNL's Breaking the Line team is back another episode, expanding on a topic introduced when discussing the ECNL Pyramid. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken discuss what it is like being a youth soccer coach in American today. The pair touch on a variety of topics in the episode: the sacrifices coaches make in their personal lives, how much influence do coaches really have on results, the differences in coaching youn...
May 01, 2025•1 hr
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The ECNL's leadership team emerges from the incredibly hectic spring for the latest episode of Breaking the Line, where ECNL Regional League Commissioner Chris Leahey joins ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken to discuss all of the major changes within the ECNL platform and what it means for players, parents, coaches and clubs. Building off of Breaking the Line Episode 114, the ECNL has let the dust settle from the club c...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line team returns with Dr. Drew Watson, a friend of the podcast and the ECNL's Chief Medical Officer. In March, the ECNL launched the Center for Athlete Health a Performance, a research and education hub designed to identify, develop and share best practices in long-term youth athlete health, development and performance, and spearheaded by Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson joined Breaking the Line this week to discuss the founding of this Center a...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line team is back from Las Vegas and a lot has changed since early February. In Episode 114, Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken sit down to discuss the changing youth soccer landscape. Clubs are in peak tryout season, and with that comes plenty of questions about club visions and player pathways. As a player and parent, how do you know which club is right for you? What about a club is important, and what is just white noise? That convers...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking The Line, the ECNL Podcast, went live and in-person at the ECNL Coaching Symposium at the Circa Resort in Las Vegas, NV for a historic podcast featuring executives from US Soccer. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken sat down with Emily Cosler, US Soccer Senior Director of Strategy, and Matt Crocker, US Soccer Sporting Director. Together, the four conducted an incredible discussion surrounding US Soccer: what doe...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking The Line, the ECNL Podcast, went live and in-person at the ECNL Coaching Symposium at the Circa Resort in Las Vegas, NV for a historic podcast featuring some of the biggest names in soccer and leadership. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken sat down with former North Carolina Head Coach, USWNT Head Coach, and Hall of Famer Anson Dorrance, former Manchester United and Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon, founder of Winning ...
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line crew is back with their newest episode, this time with a topic that came straight from a listener question. A parent from Richmond, Va., asked Breaking the Line: "Is there an ideal blueprint for an ECNL club?" The question specifically cited the success of local club Richmond United, and to tackle this discussion, we went straight to the source. In Episode 111, Jay Howell, Executive Director of Richmond United, joined Breaking the ...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The first Breaking the Line episode of 2025 features special guest Mike Cullina, CEO of US Club Soccer. Cullina and the Breaking the Line crew open the episode with a topic on the forefront of everyone's minds: birth year regulations. The three provide an update to the discussion about what comes next for clubs and leagues regarding roster cutoff dates for birth year, why that decision was made, what does it mean for players and clubs and when will thos...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line team is back with their newest episode as we head into the holiday season and features a special guest, ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney. Kutney and the crew open the episode with the inaugural ECNL Boys East Coast Super Cup, where eight teams from four East Coast conferences battled it out in Cary, NC to lift the Super Cup trophy. The team chats about how the Super Cup was formed, what the competition was like and the importanc...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! It’s post-Thanksgiving and the Breaking the Line team are back for a brand-new episode on all things college soccer. The NCAA Men’s and Women’s College Cups are in full swing and we dive into examining which teams are still alive chasing a trophy. On the women’s side, more than 80 ECNL alumni are competing across four teams, while eight teams made up of more than 35 alumni are alive on the men’s side. The College Cup sparked an interesting discussion on...
Dec 04, 2024•42 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Unlock the secrets of the ECNL showcase season alongside Christian Lavers, Doug Bracken, and Ashley Willis as they dissect the perfect blend of timing and location that makes these events a recruiting hotspot. Discover why warm climates open doors for teams from colder areas, and learn how 80% of Division I recruits trace their roots back to this league. The hosts discuss the strategic planning behind competitive schedules and how aligning teams based o...
Nov 20, 2024•49 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Join us for an eye-opening conversation with ECNL Technical Advisor Ceri Bowley as we uncover the shifting paradigms in youth soccer development. Ever wondered how playing younger athletes against older opponents could radically enhance their skills? Ceri shares innovative strategies from Europe that focus on individual growth over team success, challenging traditional norms. We also dissect the intricacies of coach education, exploring why individualiz...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! What if a single competition could redefine club soccer? Discover the groundbreaking Super Cup for boys' teams in ECNL, designed to challenge clubs across multiple age groups with its unique format and culminating premier event held in Raleigh, North Carolina. Explore how this innovative approach not only celebrates top-performing clubs but also provides the flexibility to form representative teams, creating an unparalleled experience in youth soccer. W...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! What happens when young soccer players are encouraged to explore multiple positions versus specializing early? Our conversation sheds light on the importance of understanding a player's attributes and the role of the training environment in nurturing these talents. We explore how an early focus on specific skills can shape a player's progression and discuss the impact of transitioning from smaller-sided games to full 11v11 formats. The debate on whether...
Oct 09, 2024•59 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Can social media really make or break a soccer career? Join us on this episode of Breaking the Line as we tackle this provocative question and much more. We kick off with a heated debate on school year versus birth year age requirements and how these can shape the trajectory of young players. Next, we venture into the digital realm, scrutinizing the role of social media in soccer recruiting. Our discussion then pivots to the validity and influence of re...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Discover the secrets to mastering youth soccer coaching from the champions themselves! Join us as we chat with four of the most respected ECNL National Championship coaches: Douda Kante from Kansas Rush, Chase Miller from South Carolina Surf, Mike Aubrey from GTFC Impact, and Kelin Briones from San Diego Surf. Get ready to learn how these experts balance the delicate act of providing playing time while keeping a sharp focus on winning. From Chase's insi...
Sep 11, 2024•47 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! What if the future of college soccer was dramatically changing right before our eyes? On this episode of Breaking the Line, Christian Lavers, Doug Bracken, and Ashley Willis dissect the profound shifts stemming from the new NCAA settlement and the impending roster cap set to impact youth players by 2025. We scrutinize the potential upheaval of scholarship limits and what this means for all aspiring athletes. We continue by examining the intricacies of t...
Aug 28, 2024•54 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Ever wonder how a podcast can sustain its passion and energy over 100 episodes? Join us as we celebrate this remarkable milestone on Breaking the Line, the ECNL podcast. From navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to highlighting the triumphs of ECNL alums in the US Women's National Team's recent Olympic gold win, this episode is a rich tapestry of soccer history and personal stories. Hosted by the ever-engaging Dean Linke, we journey throug...
Aug 14, 2024•57 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Join us as we uncover the secrets behind the dominance of Southwest Conference clubs in the ECNL National and Regional League Championships. We bring you front-row tales of thrilling comebacks and the sheer joy of young players in moments of victory, capped by unforgettable Gatorade showers. Florida's soccer landscape is evolving, but how does it stack up against Southern California's talent hubs? We explore the critical differences in player developmen...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Join us in this special episode of Breaking the Line, where we sit down with soccer icon Charlie Stilitano. Charlie takes us on an unforgettable journey, sharing personal stories that highlight his innovative spirit—like pioneering the use of virtual imaging on the field. Don't miss this episode filled with rich memories and behind-the-scenes insights from one of soccer's most respected figures....
Jul 17, 2024•42 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! What fuels the underdog spirit in youth soccer playoffs? We spotlight the inspiring performances of teams from regions that barely made it to the postseason but went on to perform remarkably well. The conversation sheds light on the evolution of soccer culture in the U.S., balancing academic commitments, and the role of supportive college coaches in nurturing young talent. From the impressive upward trajectories of youth players joining professional tea...
Jul 03, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Prepare to unlock the secrets of soccer success and navigate the path to college recruitment like a pro! Ever wondered about the intricacies of recruiting in youth soccer? Our discussion is set to shed light on this complex arena, underscoring the differences between boys' and girls' recruiting landscapes and the critical role of balanced competition. Gain practical advice on choosing the right college fit and maintaining a healthy perspective on recrui...
Jun 19, 2024•56 min
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Following an enormous response from our previous episode where we discussed tryouts and relative age effect, this episode takes a deeper dive into the disputed topic with Dr. Drew Watson, the ECNL Chief Medical Advisor. Dr. Watson joins Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken in discussing relative age effect lasting outcomes across the youth soccer landscape. The honest discussion is capped off with the concept of biobanding, what is it, and how could it eff...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 95
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Unlock the secrets of navigating youth soccer tryouts with the expert guidance of ECNL’s Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken, not to mention the firsthand tales from our own Ashley Willis. From the ethics of recruitment to the emotional toll on everyone involved, get ready for a candid discussion on the pressures of tryout season, the sometimes overlooked importance of loyalty, and the strategies clubs use to minimize disruptions....
May 22, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 94
Let us know the topics of interest to you! Join us as we peel back the curtain on the complexities of club promotion, where it's not just about a single age group's success but the collective performance of an entire organization. In this discussion, we shine a light on the varying regional league performances and the weight of postseason victories in the journey to ECNL elevation. We also tackle the controversial birth year versus school year registration debate, a hot-button issue that hits cl...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 93
Let us know the topics of interest to you! The ECNL Podcast features ECNL President and CEO, Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President, Doug Bracken. Breaking the Line Podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with Lavers and Bracken about the new format of the podcast, and what listeners can look forward to as the podcast looks to pivot to having more candid conversations amongst themselves and other special guests as they discuss all things ECNL, as well as youth and professional soccer in here in the St...
Apr 24, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 92
