Hey, it’s Neil Crawford here, host of The Inside Scoop and founder of Anytime Soccer Training. This week, I’m diving into the controversial topic of “parent education” in soccer. What does it really mean? Is it as essential as we think, or is it just a misunderstood buzzword? I’ll share my perspective, highlight challenges, and suggest a fresh way of framing the discussion. It’s a thought-provoking episode, and I’d love to hear your take. Tune in and let’s dig into it!...
Jan 28, 2025•59 min
For many years, I’ve said that you can do anything you put your mind to. It’s a belief I’ve carried with me, and I’ve always wanted to pass that message on, not just to my sons but to all the kids out there who need to hear it. I want to leave a lasting impression on them—that no matter where you start, no matter the obstacles, you can make it happen if you believe in yourself and keep pushing forward. Growing up in a small town where soccer wasn’t even a thing, I never imagined I’d be here, cre...
Jan 25, 2025•2 min
In this episode of Inside Scoop, host Neil Crawford sits down with Jay Carney, a distinguished soccer coach from England who's been living in the U.S. for over 20 years. Jay's book, US, US Grassroots Soccer: Great on Paper, S-H-I-T on Grants, caught Neil’s attention, and they discuss key insights from the book, Jay's journey in soccer, and his experiences in both the U.S. and England. Jay reflects on his childhood in Bolton, near Manchester, where soccer was a street game played with friends, of...
Jan 24, 2025•46 min
In this edition of the Inside Scoop, I’m answering a coach's question about specific winger finishing drills mentioned in a previous podcast. I explain how I customize training for my own kids and offer practical tips for using Anytime Soccer Training’s video drills. Whether you're training alone or with a group, I share how to adapt the drills to suit the players’ needs. I also discuss how to make training more efficient and how to incorporate various setups, like adding a keeper or using targe...
Jan 22, 2025•19 min
🚨 Podcast Preview! 🚨 Hey soccer parents and coaches, I sat down with Jay Carney, author of US Grassroots Soccer: Great on Paper, SHIT on Grass . We discussed bold ideas for reforming youth soccer, from long-term development to club accountability, inspired by successful systems like England's. The full interview drops this week—don’t miss it! Let’s get better together. 💪⚽ Referral Link https://amzn.to/3E229bf Interview: https://youtu.be/K9Hn8wDPw2s?si=tkFDQLKHODr6D-j4#YouthSoccer #USSoccerRef...
Jan 21, 2025•4 min
Hi, I’m Neil Crawford, host of The Inside Scoop and founder of Anytime Soccer Training—the only program with over 5,000 training videos covering every major soccer skill. In this episode, I share an email I received from a youth coach looking for advice on keeping his team motivated to train at home and develop the skills needed to succeed on the field. This topic hits close to home because I’ve faced similar challenges as a parent and coach. I’ll break down the email, share my personal experien...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Welcome to The Inside Scoop Podcast , the podcast dedicated to helping parents support their young players' soccer development. In this episode, Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training, tackles a listener’s question about how to structure at-home training sessions using the program effectively. Neil shares insights on balancing volume, variety, and progression in training, tailoring sessions to fit your child’s personality, and leveraging custom playlists to keep practice engaging and ...
Jan 18, 2025•9 min
Welcome to The Inside Scoop , the podcast dedicated to helping parents support their young players' soccer development. In this episode, Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training, tackles a listener’s question about how to structure at-home training sessions using the program effectively. Neil shares insights on balancing volume, variety, and progression in training, tailoring sessions to fit your child’s personality, and leveraging custom playlists to keep practice engaging and producti...
Jan 18, 2025•37 min
Today, I’m reacting to a post from our Anytime Soccer Training and Youth Soccer Coaching Facebook groups about prioritizing winning over development. I’ve discussed this before, but let’s dive into it again. The post claims the "winning vs. development" debate is a global issue—even at top academies. Here’s the thing: this whole debate is oversimplified. There’s much more going on than just winning vs. development. Let’s dig in! Facebook Post...
Jan 18, 2025•30 min
In this episode, I sit down with Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Fusion Soccer Club, to explore his journey in coaching and his passion for player development. Greg shares how his club navigates California’s unique soccer landscape, the lessons learned from overcoming COVID challenges, and the influence of his experiences abroad in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary. We dive deep into the philosophy and practical approaches behind Livermore Fusion’s player development, ...
Jan 17, 2025•46 min
In this episode of The Inside Scoop , I dive into the foundational concepts that shape youth soccer development. My goal is to help you, as a parent, better understand the key definitions like philosophy, game models, and tactics. By clarifying these terms, I hope to reduce confusion and encourage collaboration within the soccer community. I share why simplicity and standardization are essential for reducing execution risks in youth soccer programs. Drawing from my personal experiences, I’ll exp...
Jan 10, 2025•33 min
In this episode of The Inside Scoop , I dive into the foundational concepts that shape youth soccer development. My goal is to help you, as a parent, better understand the key definitions like philosophy, game models, and tactics. By clarifying these terms, I hope to reduce confusion and encourage collaboration within the soccer community. I share why simplicity and standardization are essential for reducing execution risks in youth soccer programs. Drawing from my personal experiences, I’ll exp...
Jan 10, 2025•33 min
In this episode, I sit down with Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Fusion Soccer Club, to explore his journey in coaching and his passion for player development. Greg shares how his club navigates California’s unique soccer landscape, the lessons learned from overcoming COVID challenges, and the influence of his experiences abroad in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary. We dive deep into the philosophy and practical approaches behind Livermore Fusion’s player development, ...
Jan 10, 2025•45 min
Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Soccer Club, shares one of his biggest tips for parents starting their child's soccer journey. ⚽❤️ #YouthSoccer #ParentTips
Jan 08, 2025•1 min
Hi, I’m Neil Crawford, host of The Inside Scoop and founder of Anytime Soccer Training—the only program with over 5,000 training videos covering every major soccer skill. In this episode, I share an email I received from a youth coach looking for advice on keeping his team motivated to train at home and develop the skills needed to succeed on the field. This topic hits close to home because I’ve faced similar challenges as a parent and coach. I’ll break down the email, share my personal experien...
Jan 06, 2025•41 min
In this episode, I sit down with Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Fusion Soccer Club, to explore his journey in coaching and his passion for player development. Greg shares how his club navigates California’s unique soccer landscape, the lessons learned from overcoming COVID challenges, and the influence of his experiences abroad in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary. We dive deep into the philosophy and practical approaches behind Livermore Fusion’s player development, ...
Jan 05, 2025•43 min
Welcome to the Inside Scoop. I’m Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training. We help players develop their skills with over 5,000 training videos. I also run a Facebook group, Youth Soccer Guest Playing Opportunities , connecting parents with clubs for guest playing options. A recent question in the group got me thinking: Does playing with the same team limit player development? My answer: It depends. While diversity of experience can help, the key to development is what a player does out...
Jan 04, 2025•30 min
In this episode, I sit down with Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Fusion Soccer Club, to explore his journey in coaching and his passion for player development. Greg shares how his club navigates California’s unique soccer landscape, the lessons learned from overcoming COVID challenges, and the influence of his experiences abroad in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary. We dive deep into the philosophy and practical approaches behind Livermore Fusion’s player development, ...
Jan 03, 2025•24 sec
Neil Crawford on Coaching from the Sidelines
Jan 03, 2025•2 min
After listening to a leading podcast on soccer development that completely overlooked the role of brain science, I felt compelled to share my perspective. In this episode, I dive into neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to adapt and grow—and explain why it's crucial for mastering soccer skills. Drawing from my experience training my sons, Adam and Matthew, I discuss how I balance structured drills with free play to help them thrive. If you're a parent or coach looking to understand how the brain...
Dec 31, 2024•47 min
In this episode, I answer the most common questions parents have about guest player opportunities in youth soccer. From navigating the paperwork to understanding the role of carding bodies and international transfers, I provide clarity on how guest playing can give your child more exposure and experience. I’ll also introduce the Youth Soccer Guest Player Opportunities Facebook group, a resource I created to connect families with coaches and tournament directors offering these valuable opportunit...
Dec 30, 2024•30 min
When it comes to youth soccer in the U.S., one question keeps coming up: why does it cost so much? It’s a topic that sparks a lot of strong opinions, and honestly, I’ve wrestled with it myself. Is it the clubs? Are they taking advantage of parents? Or is there something bigger happening here—something cultural, structural, or maybe even about what we, as parents, expect from the game? I’ve heard stories of volunteer-run clubs charging just a few hundred dollars and competing at high levels. I’ve...
Dec 28, 2024•35 min
In this episode, we break down an important idea: the practice deficit and how it shapes the development of youth soccer players. Many players, especially at the average level, don’t accumulate enough deliberate practice hours early on, leading to technical deficiencies as they grow. We discuss the importance of starting structured technical training early —a method not embraced by most. While unstructured play is valuable, committing to focused, unopposed drills at home can create a degree of t...
Dec 27, 2024•26 min
In this interview, James Jordan, founder of River City FC, shares his insights on a key question for aspiring soccer players: "If you have a U-15 son with the opportunity to play in UPSL or MLS Next/ECNL, which path should he choose to maximize his chances of going pro, both in the U.S. and internationally?" Tune in for valuable advice from a seasoned soccer leader and founder of a UPSL club!
Dec 27, 2024•16 min
Does My Player Need A Player Card to Guest Play
Dec 24, 2024•17 min
In this episode, I break down the key differences between content marketing videos and a complete soccer learning system. While content marketing videos are fantastic for quick tips and inspiration—I rely on them myself—they serve a different purpose than a step-by-step curriculum. A full learning system provides structure, progression, and a clear path to development, ensuring players build skills systematically. Tune in to hear why having both tools in your training arsenal can make all the di...
Dec 24, 2024•17 min
Execution Risk & Helping Rec Coaches.
Dec 21, 2024•39 min
Follow up: In this episode, I reflect on a popular coaching podcast I listened to while driving my son, Adam, to his game. The guest, a top-level coach, suggested focusing solely on game-like situations in practice. But as I thought about it, I began to question how this advice plays out in the real world. How practical is it when coaches may not have the experience or when players have varying skill levels? I dive into these questions and explore the concept of "execution risk"—the gap between ...
Dec 20, 2024•23 min
In this episode, I reflect on a popular coaching podcast I listened to while driving my son, Adam, to his game. The guest, a top-level coach, suggested focusing solely on game-like situations in practice. But as I thought about it, I began to question how this advice plays out in the real world. How practical is it when coaches may not have the experience or when players have varying skill levels? I dive into these questions and explore the concept of "execution risk"—the gap between intentions ...
Dec 20, 2024•54 min
Follow-up Answers on Training Time & Weak Foot
Dec 14, 2024•16 min
