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Chasing the Game - Youth Soccer in America

Liron Unreich, Matt Tartaglia
Youth Soccer
MLS Next
Youth Development
American Youth Soccer
Youth Soccer Development
Player Development
Coaching
Pay-To-Play
Mental Health
Luis Robles
Anxiety
Feedback
World Cup 2026
Burnout In Youth Sports
Resilience
Parental Involvement
Mental Skills
Ben Olsen
DC United
Cultural Aspects Of Soccer

Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America is a weekly podcast for soccer parents, coaches, and players who want to understand how youth soccer development really works in the United States. Hosted by two dads, filmmaker Liron Unreich and investor Matt Tartaglia, the show covers everything from grassroots soccer to elite pathways like MLS NEXT and ECNL. Combining data, real experience, and expert i... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes25Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerSports

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Artwork for Chasing the Game

Latest Episodes

What actually shapes a player. Talent, training, mentality, environment, or the people around them?

In this episode of Chasing the Game, we talk with Gotham FC rookie Talia Sommer about the path that shaped her: growing up between New York and Tel A... more

Barcelona is the dream for a lot of soccer families. But what does that environment actually demand from a player, and what are parents really chasing when they look at Spain?

Liron is joined by Patrick Ouckama and Barcelona-based coach Nil Congost ... more

Parents in youth soccer are often forced to make big decisions with partial information, mixed signals, and a lot of anxiety. Andrew May, whose coaching background includes Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs, and LAFC, explains how ... more

What do MLS academies actually look for in a player?

In this episode of Chasing the Game: Youth Soccer in America, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia sit down with Jose Campos, Academy Director at Orlando City, for one of the clearest conversations we... more

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Recent Guests

Andrew May
Coach with experience at Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, LAFC
MLS academies / Elite Formation Coaching License
Episode: Youth Soccer Parents: The Right Questions to Ask
Jose Campos
Academy director at Orlando City
Orlando City Soccer
Episode: What MLS Academies Really Look For. Jose Campos of Orlando City
Matt Poland
Sporting Director / Coach at FC Naples
FC Naples
Episode: USL and the Youth Soccer Pathway: What Parents Need to Know | FC Naples
Tom Bowen
Academy director of Long Island Soccer Club (MLS Next); Hofstra assistant coach
Long Island Soccer Club; Hofstra University
Episode: Youth Soccer Pathway: MLS NEXT, College, and What Parents Get Wrong
Justin Phelps
Dad who built Soccer HQ and joined Orlando City's academy path for his son
Soccer HQ, Orlando City scouting/academy context
Episode: MLS NEXT Academy: How Far Should Parents Go? | Justin Phelps
Danny Buttitta
Founder/operator focused on sponsor-based development model for youth soccer
Independent / Sponsor Model developer
Episode: Fixing Pay to Play in Youth Soccer | Danny Buttitta
Evan Rosenthal
President of Manhattan Kickers FC and co-founder of the club in 2001
Manhattan Kickers FC
Episode: Small Roster Youth Soccer: Why Selective Clubs Develop Better Players | Manhattan Kickers FC
Ditmer De Jong
Coaching and scouting professional focused on individual player development in the Netherlands
Cambuur (Academy Coaching/Scouting)
Episode: Why U.S. Players Struggle in Europe | Ditmer de Jong
Alex Rando
Professional goalkeeper with a career across NYCFC-related pathways, USL Championship, and MLS NEXT Pro environments.
Episode: Youth Soccer Careers: The Hard Choice Parents Don’t See Coming | Alex Rando

Hosts

Liron Unreich
Co-host and filmmaker with a focus on youth soccer development.
Matt Tartaglia
Co-host and investor involved in youth sports.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 27 ratings
  • Love it!

    I look forward to it every week. As a soccer parent, I love hearing these conversations and the guests that come on answer a ton of questions I’ve been wondering. The only downside is I wish there was more episodes weekly. Keep up the good work and thanks for putting this podcast on.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AustinSWFL
    United States16 days ago
  • Amazing resource for newbs like me

    Found this thanks to a Reddit post. I’m completely new to non-rec soccer and have been blessed with a super talented kid making his way up the ranks in the Bay Area. Every acronym is new to me and the various pathways make my head hurt.

    These guys do a great job talking about the state of play in America and how to support your kid in his or her journey. They emphasize fun, constant play, and resilience as the keys to making it through - with the stark reality that most of the talented u13s wi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrigglyWiggly
    United Statesa month ago
  • Soccer Dad Gold

    I listen to multiple podcasts on youth soccer. This is one of my favorites. Quality guests and great hosts that provide useful information on how to better help your kid navigate youth soccer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DonHauk
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The practical advice shared for parents navigating youth soccer is often highlighted as particularly useful.
There is a sense of community felt among listeners, who resonate with the hosts' personal stories and experiences.
Listeners appreciate the quality of guests and discussions that provide valuable information about youth soccer.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#47
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#127
Canada/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#104
South Korea/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

USL and the Youth Soccer Pathway: What Parents Need to Know | FC Naples
Q: What does the partnership with local youth academies look like, and what incentives do they have to pass players along to Naples FC?
Partnerships are built on creating a pipeline: academies can refer players who have reached development milestones, and Naples can offer academy contracts and potential progression to pro contracts, providing a clear route for players to advance while benefiting the clubs that develop them.
USL and the Youth Soccer Pathway: What Parents Need to Know | FC Naples
Q: When you set out to launch this professional club, what was the conversation around how important the youth side is to you?
Poland explains that youth development is foundational to the club's identity and future success, emphasizing a pathway through academy collaboration and a plan to integrate young players with the first team while maintaining strong culture and community ties.
Fixing Pay to Play in Youth Soccer | Danny Buttitta
Q: What would success look like in the short term vs long term?
Short term: match a hundred kids to clubs or new opportunities and create cohesive operations; long term: own a couple pro teams, establish a European academy network, and build a sustainable private-sector infrastructure around development.
Fixing Pay to Play in Youth Soccer | Danny Buttitta
Q: How would sponsorship work in practice—how is money allocated and how are players selected?
Sponsors directly support groups of players via facilities and clubs; money flows to the player development plan and education components, with the sponsor earning rights and visibility, while the families maintain final say on participation.
Youth Soccer Careers: The Hard Choice Parents Don’t See Coming | Alex Rando
Q: How did you navigate the college vs. pro decision, and what would you tell younger players facing a similar choice?
The guest emphasizes going to college first as a safety net and a learning environment, recommends weighing long-term goals, and cautions against rushing into a pro deal without having a plan for education or a fallback option. He suggests using college to build a foundation and keep doors open, then pursuing a pro path when the timing and opportunities align.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chasing the Game

What is Chasing the Game about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Aimed at families involved in youth soccer, this podcast explores the intricacies of soccer development in the United States. It features insights drawn from personal experiences of the hosts, Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia, alongside expert commentary from coaches, academy directors, and former professional players. By discussing issues ranging from grassroots initiatives to elite pathways, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of player development, training environments, and the emotional journey that accompanies navigating youth sports. The emphasis on realistic advice, parental involvement, and the unique pressures faced by young athletes makes it a rich resource for anyone looking to engage more effectively with youth soccer.... more

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How many episodes of Chasing the Game are there?

Chasing the Game launched 6 months ago and published 25 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Chasing the Game?

Recent guests on Chasing the Game include:

1. Andrew May
2. Jose Campos
3. Matt Poland
4. Tom Bowen
5. Justin Phelps
6. Danny Buttitta
7. Evan Rosenthal
8. Ditmer De Jong

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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