This week on Chasing the Game, we sit down with one of the most influential figures in American youth soccer: Noah Gins, Founder and CEO of Albion.

We break down structure, culture, college pathways, measurable development, retention, and what true “success” really means inside a U.S. club system that too often rewards the wrong things.

If you’re a parent, coach, or player trying to understand why youth soccer feels chaotic and what a functioning system could look like. This episode brings clarity.

Topics We Cover

• How Noah built one of the most successful youth clubs in the country

• Why U.S. development suffers from fragmentation and inconsistency

• The four core pillars of success at Albion

• Retention, culture, and long-term development

• Why “beautiful soccer” and winning often conflict

• College recruitment myths and real pathways

• How clubs should define success vs. how parents define success

• Albion’s long-term vision for U.S. youth soccer

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Click here to view the episode transcript.

• (00:00 ) - Intro: The Machine Behind U.S. Youth Soccer
  


• (00:39 ) - Noah Gins Joins the Conversation
  


• (02:56 ) - Noah’s Youth Career and Path to Pro Soccer
  


• (04:00 ) - Building Albion: Six Teams to National Recognition
  


• (08:47 ) - Expansion, Affiliates, and the Albion Model
  


• (13:02 ) - What Was Missing in Youth Soccer
  


• (17:10 ) - How Environment Shapes Playing Style
  


• (18:58 ) - Structure vs Freedom in Player Development
  


• (20:31 ) - The League Maze: MLS NEXT, ECNL, EA
  


• (22:34 ) - Could the U.S. Ever Unite Its Development System?
  


• (25:45 ) - Why the U.S. Needs Player Compensation
  


• (29:57 ) - Supplementary Training and the Secondary Market
  


• (32:51 ) - Technical Mastery: Juggling and Measurable Skills
  


• (35:05 ) - Multi Sport Athletes and Specialization
  


• (37:45 ) - Understanding the U.S. Player Pathway
  


• (39:36 ) - The Problem With Using the Word “Elite”
  


• (41:11 ) - High School Soccer vs Academy Soccer
  


• (44:14 ) - Parents, Communication, and Culture
  


• (46:26 ) - Global Influences: Brazil, Spain, and Beyond
  


• (51:53 ) - Social Media, Mentality, and Today’s Players
  


• (53:50 ) - Seeing Albion as a System: Local to National
  


• (54:20 ) - Defining Success and Albion’s Four Pillars
  


• (57:54 ) - Cracking the College Pathway and Scholarships
  


• (01:02:22 ) - Albion’s Long Term Vision and Role in U.S. Soccer