Addressing the Softness in American Soccer and Responding to Listener Questions

In this episode, we discuss the ongoing drama surrounding Christian Pulisic and the state of American soccer. We address the importance of getting all sides of the story and how the current media landscape might not be providing a complete or deep picture.

We answer listener questions, including concerns about coaching one’s own kid and dealing with a kid’s lack of aggression in soccer. We reflect on personal experiences and the importance of coaching techniques, cultural influences, and parental roles in developing young soccer players.

We end the episode by discussing the potential pitfalls of American soccer media.

00:00 Intro

16:38 Epic Rant on the Culture of USMNT

20:48 Girlfriend Distractions Impact on Trajectory

22:57 Sub: On The Requirement of NOT Having “Work/Life Balance”

26:28 Leaving Pulisic Off the World Cup Roster

27:41 Gary Can Be Diplomatic

28:55 Audience Q1: How Long Should Soccer Dads Coach Their Kid?

30:26 Sub: Is a Coach’s Heritage Important?

33:30 Sub: What is a “Professional Coach” at the Youth Level?

41:12 Sub: Coaching Your Kid’s Team as a Distraction

41:49 Will Farrel’s Movie and his MLS Ownership

45:28 MLS as Entertainment and “Trash TV”

47:58 Sub: Those Covering MLS are Thoroughly Compromised

51:44 Audience Q2: Getting a 6 Year Old to not be Soft?

01:03:52 A Recommendation on Developing Aggressiveness

Premium Education for either Coaches or Parents

If you are a coach or a parent of a player, we’ve also codified and made available the remarkable work of a coach who trained and shepherded many, many players from the age of 9 all the way to graduating them to being professionals.

The products that show you how this was done, is what sponsors this episode.

Get aboard a proven path, a legitimately proven path, not something copied or synthesized from elsewhere, or worse. No, but rather a first hand account and curriculum directly from the source, from the practitioners themselves, whose work is unprecedented in the American soccer environment.

For Coaches

Learn the methodology at 343coaching.com.

If you’re coaching 7v7, we’ve got you covered at 7v7coaching.com.

For Parents

You don’t have to be lost and confused.

Learn to properly guide and develop your kid through the maze and pitfalls that is American soccer (from the folks who have actually done it).

Gain access at 343masterclass.com.

Never miss new episodes:

• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on iTunes


• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on Stitcher


• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on Spotify

Parent Education Program