In this quick episode of The Inside Scoop, I respond to a great question from our Anytime Soccer Training Facebook group: Can speed of play and technical IQ really be improved in private training? I share my personal perspective as both a soccer dad and JV coach, why one-on-one work is crucial (but doesn’t always need a private trainer), and how home training fits into the bigger picture. It’s a short, conversational dive meant to spark discussion—not deliver final answers.
In this episode of The Inside Scoop, I dig into a question that stirred up plenty of debate in our Anytime Soccer Training Facebook group: Are kids more likely to go pro if their parents set that goal early on?It’s a thought exercise, not a prediction—but it opens up big conversations about parenting, expectations, and how much influence we really have on our children’s soccer journeys. I share my perspective as both a soccer dad and coach, why discipline and engagement matter, and why we also have to stay reflective about our behavior as parents.Tune in, think it through with me, and let me know where you’d put your million-dollar bet.
In this episode of The Inside Scoop, I push back on the common “U.S. Soccer bad, rest of the world good” narrative. Sparked by a heated Facebook group discussion, we look at league tables, myths about youth soccer abroad, and whether parents here are focusing on the wrong things—missing what truly drives player development.
This episode of The Inside Scoop is a follow-up to my recent discussion on soccer IQ. Instead of just theory, I share real match clips that highlight how the principles, patterns, and people we talked about actually play out on the field. It’s a chance to see the framework come to life—through the eyes of both a parent and a player.Here is the playlist in case the video is not clearhttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbONH4Pe_wRVI1V_bfJBVoDu7juX1VVLP&si=JkQaJkJcwFxa4O5z
This week on The Inside Scoop, we dive into one of the toughest questions every soccer parent eventually asks: How do I help my child improve their soccer IQ?It all started when I got a message from one of my Morehouse brothers—when a Morehouse man asks, you answer. What seemed like a simple question opened up a much bigger conversation about the game, how kids really learn, and the role we play as parents and coaches.In this episode, I share my own journey—from stumbling through training sessions with my sons, to coaching high school soccer, to learning the hard truths about how awareness, principles of play, and patterns actually develop. Along the way, I’ll reveal the frameworks I use as a “parent trainer” to make sense of soccer IQ—so that even if we don’t have all the answers, we can ask the right questions.This show is brought to you by Anytime Soccer Training, the only program with 5,000+ follow-along videos designed to give kids 4–5x more touches than traditional training. Don’t miss the FREE 7-Day Training Plan Challenge—7 sessions straight to your inbox that you can keep forever
In this episode of The Inside Scoop, I sit down with João Plantier—UEFA Pro Coach and General Manager at FuteBALLER—to talk about what makes Portuguese youth soccer different from the U.S. We dig into the culture, coaching, and pathways that have produced world-class players at clubs like Sporting CP and Benfica, and explore what parents and coaches in the States can learn from Europe’s approach.
Just dropped a new snippet from my chat with João Plantier, UEFA Pro Coach and General Manager at FuteBALLER.https://www.futeballer.co/coachesWe dug into the differences between youth soccer in Portugal and the U.S.—from culture to coaching to player development.Check it out and let me know what stands out to you.Full episode dropping this Friday!
Hey, it’s Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training and your host of The Inside Scoop. Normally, this show is all about exploring the soccer pathways available to kids around the world. But today’s a little different—it’s a check-in episode.I’ve been quiet lately because I took on a new role: assistant high school coach and head JV coach. For someone who didn’t grow up playing the game, this feels like the full circle moment of my soccer journey—from learning through my own kids, to building Anytime Soccer Training, to now coaching a group of young men every day.In this episode, I share my first impressions of high school soccer—the challenges, the surprises, and the lessons I’m learning on the fly. From setting standards and building trust, to dealing with skill gaps and limited prep time, I’ll take you behind the scenes of what this first season has been like.This is just the beginning. I’ll be inviting other high school and JV coaches on the show to trade notes, share tips, and keep learning together.So if you’re a coach, a parent, or just curious about what high school soccer really looks like from the sidelines—this one’s for you.
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.
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 navigating the youth soccer systemWhether you're just getting started or deep in the journey — this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical tips.🔗 Check out https://ussoccerparent.com/ for more resources🎧 Subscribe for more episodes of The Inside ScoopLet’s get into it!
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 heritage, what it was like supporting her son’s dream, and the big differences she noticed between U.S. and international soccer development.Gloria also gives some heartfelt tips for parents just starting this journey. If you’re a soccer parent—or just trying to figure this whole system out—this one’s for you. Let’s get into it.
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 sitewww.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!
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.
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 forHow training — not just playing — drives real developmentAnd why structured games may not be the best place to “fix weaknesses”Again, this isn’t gospel — just one parent-trainer’s point of view.Let me know what you think, and as always — let’s get better together.
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 forHow training — not just playing — drives real developmentAnd why structured games may not be the best place to “fix weaknesses”Again, this isn’t gospel — just one parent-trainer’s point of view.Let me know what you think, and as always — let’s get better together.
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 they want long-term — and instead focus on what they’re willing to do right now.If you caught the last episode, this one fills in a lot of the blanks. Let’s keep the conversation going and, as always, let’s get better together.
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 better together.
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 question. If your state does it differently, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s figure this out…together.Brought to you by Anytime Soccer Training — 5,000+ follow-along videos and now: Weekly Plans, Skill Moves by category, Individual Player Plans, and more.
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 brings an honest and insightful look from a parent who's lived both sides.https://anytime-soccer.com/
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. system to countries like England, Germany, or Brazil.Yes, soccer is more expensive for families here. But what often gets overlooked is that we’re demanding and paying for a very different product — more training, more paid coaches, more structure. In many other countries, most kids play under volunteers with minimal costs and far fewer services. So while it’s true that players abroad might pay less, they’re also getting less — at least until they enter elite academies, which only a tiny percentage of kids ever do.In this episode, I break that down and explain why I think the U.S. system is flawed — but not always in the way it’s portrayed. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/ThOcraYEhro?si=8EoW5UnWIsbwjPLuLet's get better together.