In this episode, we discuss how to evaluate whether your player or kid is legitimately good at soccer.

We share an email received from a concerned father about his 13-year-old son, highlighting the common issue of ‘man child' dominance in youth soccer masking true deficiencies.

We share insights into the rigorous process of player evaluations we personally did at Chivas USA, highlighting the importance of honesty and a strong rapport with both players and parents. We also touch on broader issues like the impact of nepotism in sports and the balance between encouraging talent and keeping young athletes grounded.

00:00 Intro

03:19 Parent Question: Concerns on Whether his Man-child Kid is Good

08:34 Sub: Some Technical Recommendations for Center Backs

12:27 Sub: How Easy it is to Deluding Oneself (Gio Reyna Example)

17:50 Sub: Challenges of Being a ‘Man-child’ Player

18:36 Sub: The Development Curves (Technical, Tactical, Physical, Mental)

20:45 Sub: When is Parent Development Most Effective?

23:52 Sub: Which Component Should Parents Most Work On?

28:03 What if a Parent has Been a Player or Coach?

37:56 Nepotism and Sebastian Berhalter

38:55 Club World Cup Insights

41:25 Player Evaluations We’ve Given to Players and Families

46:48 Sub: Building Rapport with Parents and Players

49:13 Sub: Coaches Leading By Example

53:10 Sub: Accelerating to Phase 4 Content

55:48 Sub: Prepping for Player Evaluations

57:12 Sub: Importance of Stories When Talking to the Best Players

01:01:52 Sub: Inspiration is a Transient Function

01:02:49 Coaches Can’t Win them All and Are Under Appreciated

01:05:10 Professionalism vs. Authenticity

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.

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Parent Education Program