In this episode, I’m sharing a bit about what it means to be a parent trainer —and why I think so many of us fall into that category without even realizing it. I talk about the balance between pushing too hard and not doing enough, why deliberate practice still matters, and the role tech can play in all this. Plus, I share one simple tip for getting high-quality training without spending a dime—something I wish more parents knew about.
Jul 28, 2025•31 min
Hey everyone — Neil Crawford here, founder of Anytime Soccer Training and host of The Inside Scoop.In this episode, I sit down with Gloria Stitt, co-founder of https://ussoccerparent.com/, and a soccer mom with an incredible story. Her son’s journey took him from futsal courts in New York City all the way to playing in Madrid, Spain.We dive into:⚽ How soccer is part of her Hispanic heritage🌍 The key differences between U.S. and international development💡 Real, heartfelt advice for parents navi...
Jul 03, 2025•23 min
Hey guys, it’s Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training, and welcome back to The Inside Scoop . Today I’m sitting down with the incredible Gloria Stitt — co-founder of a new website called ussoccerparent.com , a much-needed resource for families navigating the wild world of youth soccer. In this episode, Gloria shares her personal story as a soccer mom whose son went from futsal in New York City all the way to playing in Madrid, Spain. We talk about how soccer is woven into her Hispanic...
Jun 29, 2025•37 min
Hey guys, it’s Neil Crawford here—founder of Anytime Soccer Training and host of The Inside Scoop. I just wrapped up a great interview with Gloria Stitt, co-founder of the new site www.USSoccerParent.com . This is just a quick preview, but we talked about why they built the site and how it’s designed to help parents navigate the youth soccer journey with more clarity and confidence. Full episode coming soon…stay tuned!...
Jun 27, 2025•2 min
Hey, it’s Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training. In this quick episode, I’m tossing out a random idea that popped into my head during a Facebook group convo. No research, no promises—just something I wanted to say out loud and see if it sparks any thoughts. Give it a listen, then let me know what you think.
Jun 26, 2025•19 min
Hey, it's Neil Crawford here with a quick freestyle episode of The Inside Scoop . This one’s just me thinking out loud — no script, just opinion. A friend of mine posted a great graphic from the Croatian Football Federation encouraging players to rotate positions. I love the idea in theory , but I had to jump on the mic and share a few personal thoughts. We’ll talk about: Why I prefer my sons to start in the spine (6, 8, 10) What I think games are and aren’t good for How training — not just play...
Jun 10, 2025•18 min
Hey, it's Neil Crawford here with a quick freestyle episode of The Inside Scoop . This one’s just me thinking out loud — no script, just opinion. A friend of mine posted a great graphic from the Croatian Football Federation encouraging players to rotate positions. I love the idea in theory , but I had to jump on the mic and share a few personal thoughts. We’ll talk about: Why I prefer my sons to start in the spine (6, 8, 10) What I think games are and aren’t good for How training — not just play...
Jun 10, 2025•42 min
Hey, it’s Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training. This is a follow-up to the last episode where we talked about the classic tryout dilemma: Team A or Team B? In that show, I walked through how I help my own kids think through those choices. This time, I’m diving deeper — unpacking how I personally evaluate teams, what I actually look for in a training environment, and how I turn these moments into teachable life lessons. I also share my take on why I don’t obsess over what kids say th...
Jun 02, 2025•54 min
In this episode, I share a real conversation I had with a soccer dad wrestling with a common tryout dilemma — should his child join the more competitive A team or stick with the solid B team? I break down how I think through these choices with my own kids: focusing less on titles, leagues, or promises, and more on training environment, realistic commitment, and what we actually control as parents. If you're a parent trying to help your child navigate team choices, this one’s for you. Let’s get b...
May 29, 2025•32 min
In this episode of The Inside Scoop , I (Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training) dive into one of the biggest headaches for parents— tryout season . What if we could standardize it? What if there was a clear window for tryouts, offers, and decisions—just like college recruiting? I explore a proposal that some states are already testing and raise questions about why this isn't the norm nationwide. Could it work if everyone agreed? What’s stopping it now? This isn’t a rant—it’s an open ...
May 29, 2025•15 min
Hey everyone, Neil Crawford here—host of The Inside Scoop and founder of Anytime Soccer Training. In this episode, I interview Frisly Colop, a soccer parent currently living in Mexico, to get his firsthand perspective on how youth soccer in Mexico compares to the U.S. We dive into the structure of training, the role of the community, cost differences, and what he’s observed as both a parent and a fan of the game. If you’ve ever wondered how soccer development looks outside the U.S., this episode...
May 23, 2025•59 min
Hey everyone, Neil Crawford here, founder of Anytime Soccer Training. In this episode of The Inside Scoop , I’m diving into one of the most talked-about — and misunderstood — issues in American youth soccer: pay-to-play . I recently watched a YouTube video titled “The Real (Optimistic) Truth About Pay-to-Play in America” and had a thoughtful exchange with the host. It sparked this episode because, while the video raised some valid points, many people miss a critical nuance when comparing the U.S...
May 23, 2025•38 min
Hey everyone, Neil Crawford here, founder of Anytime Soccer Training. This episode gets personal. I’m responding to a message from a fellow soccer parent about their child getting anxious and “forgetting their training” during games. That hit home for me—because I’ve been there with my own kids, and I know how helpless it can feel. In this episode, I open up about how I’ve approached those tough moments. I share how I break the game down into simple, specific actions—not just vague goals like “b...
May 18, 2025•39 min
Hey everyone, Neil Crawford here, founder of Anytime Soccer Training. This episode gets personal. I’m responding to a message from a fellow soccer parent about their child getting anxious and “forgetting their training” during games. That hit home for me—because I’ve been there with my own kids, and I know how helpless it can feel. In this episode, I open up about how I’ve approached those tough moments. I share how I break the game down into simple, specific actions—not just vague goals like “b...
May 18, 2025•54 min
This episode is not about offering solutions. Nope — it’s a full-on rant inspired by the tidal wave of advice, contradictions, and guilt trips parents get from every corner of the youth soccer world. We’re told: Don’t train your kid too early — unless you do. Winning doesn’t matter — but your team better be in a competitive league. Clubs don’t develop players — but also, stop moving clubs. Be hands-on — but don’t be that parent. Tryouts are scams — but pick the perfect team in 48 hours. So today...
May 11, 2025•21 min
This episode is not about offering solutions. Nope — it’s a full-on rant inspired by the tidal wave of advice, contradictions, and guilt trips parents get from every corner of the youth soccer world. We’re told: Don’t train your kid too early — unless you do. Winning doesn’t matter — but your team better be in a competitive league. Clubs don’t develop players — but also, stop moving clubs. Be hands-on — but don’t be that parent. Tryouts are scams — but pick the perfect team in 48 hours. So today...
May 11, 2025•25 min
Hey everyone, Neil Crawford here, founder of Anytime Soccer Training. In this episode of The Inside Scoop , I share an idea I’ve been thinking about—what if schools could partner with local soccer clubs to create affordable after-school programs that mirror the club soccer experience? It’s not something I plan to launch, but I wanted to think out loud, unpack the challenges, and hear your thoughts. If you care about accessibility, cost, and creative solutions for youth soccer, this one’s for you...
May 11, 2025•34 min
Hey everyone, Neil Crawford here with a quick update to my last episode. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to make starting with Anytime Soccer Training more intuitive — especially for new parents and coaches who feel overwhelmed by all the content. In this short episode, I walk through a new idea I’m hoping to roll out with the dev team — a simple, organized way to follow weekly training plans based on skill area. If you’ve ever wondered how to make individual training smoother without sacrifi...
May 11, 2025•16 min
In this episode, I answer a great question from a parent struggling to structure a training plan for their 6-year-old using Anytime Soccer Training. I share a straightforward, age-appropriate approach to avoid overwhelm, focus on foundational skills, and keep training fun. Whether you're a parent or coach, this episode will help you build a plan that supports consistent development without overcomplicating things. Tune in for practical tips!
May 09, 2025•25 min
Hey, it’s Neil Crawford, host of The Inside Scoop and founder of Anytime Soccer Training. Today’s episode is a little different — I’m responding to a text from a fellow "parent trainer" that had me thinking. We’re talking about what it really looks like behind the scenes when parents support their kids in soccer development, how the so-called "crazy parent" label gets thrown around, and why it’s not always what people assume. I’ll also share why I think we need more honest conversations about th...
Apr 27, 2025•22 min
Hey everyone, it's Neil Crawford here, host of The Inside Scoop . This episode is a behind-the-scenes snippet of a fun conversation I had with pro scout Chris Robinson. Chris shared some of his thoughts on the relative age effect and a few other hot topics in the world of scouting. It was a really interesting chat, and I’m excited to give you a glimpse into how scouts think about player development. Let’s dive in!
Apr 27, 2025•23 min
Hey everyone, it’s Neil Crawford. In today’s episode, I’m responding to a great message I got from a listener who’s feeling a little frustrated with their club’s setup. We’re talking about how to bring up concerns — like training time, competition level, or even suggesting something like Anytime Soccer Training — without being labeled "that parent." I’ll share a few real-world tips and how I would approach a club director if I were in your shoes. Let’s get into it.
Apr 26, 2025•27 min
Hey everyone, it's Neil Crawford here. In today’s episode, I’m answering a great question I got from a parent who asked how their child can perform better in rondos — especially with tryouts right around the corner. I break down why individual technical training actually does help your rondo game, even though it might not seem like it at first. We talk about how things like first touch, passing, and decision-making are the real foundation, and why doing well in a rondo has a lot more to do with ...
Apr 26, 2025•29 min
Winning Mindset Program with Thomas Dooley
Apr 25, 2025•18 min
Hey, it’s Neil Crawford, host of The Inside Scoop. In this episode, I dig into a term we hear all the time— soccer IQ —but rarely define clearly. What does it really mean? Why do so many players lack it? And what can we actually do about it? I also share how I'm helping my own son improve in this area—and why most clubs aren't teaching it like they should. Let’s break it down and challenge some assumptions.
Apr 22, 2025•34 min
Hey, it’s Neil Crawford, host of The Inside Scoop. In this episode, I dig into a term we hear all the time— soccer IQ —but rarely define clearly. What does it really mean? Why do so many players lack it? And what can we actually do about it? I also share how I'm helping my own son improve in this area—and why most clubs aren't teaching it like they should. Let’s break it down and challenge some assumptions.
Apr 21, 2025•44 min
In this episode, I sat down with Juan Martinez, the President and Executive Director of DKSC, to get real about what it actually costs to run a competitive youth soccer club. We talked about his journey into coaching, the early days of DKSC, and then dove into the numbers—things like coaching salaries, field rentals, admin fees, and how fast it all adds up. Juan shared how his club tries to stay sustainable while keeping things affordable for families, and we even touched on the pay-to-play deba...
Apr 20, 2025•59 min
In this episode, I share a conversation that really stood out—a 14-year-old player reached out to me directly, signed up for Anytime Soccer Training on his own, and started doing the work. What impressed me even more was his question: “Is it okay to take a rest day?” That simple question sparked this episode. We talk about why rest is not only okay—but necessary—and how it fits into long-term development. I also revisit a core message from an earlier episode: "Goals are what you want. Standards ...
Apr 10, 2025•20 min
Here’s a short, punchy podcast title and description written in the first person, perfect for your episode with Chris Robinson: 🎙️ Title: Inside the Mind of a Premier League Scout — My Conversation with Chris Robinson 📝 Description: In this episode, I sit down with Chris Robinson, lead scout for a top EPL club, to dive deep into the world of scouting. We talk about his journey from player to talent identifier, how he spots potential, and what really matters when evaluating youth talent. Chris ...
Apr 06, 2025•1 hr 24 min
Hey coaches, Neil Crawford here—host of The Inside Scoop and founder of Anytime Soccer Training. In this episode, I’m responding to a great email from a fellow coach who’s been using Anytime with his team and had some thoughtful questions about instruction, skill moves, and how to best support players when you’re not able to demonstrate every move yourself. Here’s the thing—we’re all better coaches than we think. Even if you can’t bust out a Ronaldo chop on demand or demo a Ketta like a pro, wha...
Apr 06, 2025•32 min
