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Artwork for Chasing the Game

Chasing the Game - Youth Soccer in America

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes30Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerSports

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Artwork for Chasing the Game

Latest Episodes

Most soccer families are told the same thing: specialize early, chase the biggest league, get seen, and don’t fall behind.

But Don Farr and his son Ryan tell a different story.

Ryan played multiple sports, stayed connected to high school soccer, to... more

Youth soccer keeps changing. Most families are still searching for fixed answers.

In this episode, Filippo Giovagnoli challenges some of the deepest assumptions parents have about development, culture, tactics, pathways, and what actually creates pl... more

YouTube

Your First Contract Is Not a Career

A pro contract at 18 can look like the finish line. In this episode, Dr. Chris Platts explains why it is often just the start of the hardest stretch.

For soccer parents, the pressure is familiar. The badge. The a... more

Too Much Noise in Youth Soccer:

What Actually Builds Players

There has never been more around youth soccer players. More training. More clubs. More private sessions. More advice.

And somehow, many players are still missing the basics.

In this episo... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Don Farr
Dad in the Farr family; provides parental perspective
Farr family / upstate New York
Episode: Not Every Soccer Path Has to Be Perfect
Ryan Farr
Son of Don Farr; college player with Northwood and Stony Brook experiences
Stony Brook University / Northwood Academy
Episode: Not Every Soccer Path Has to Be Perfect
Filippo Giovanoli
Italian football director, former Met Oval director, coach
Metoval, Europe/US soccer ecosystem
Episode: Youth Soccer Keeps Changing. Can Your Player Keep Up?
Dr. Chris Platts
Career coach in professional football; PhD researcher on youth football trajectories
Independent career coaching / ChrisPlatts.co.uk
Episode: First Pro Contract at 18: Why It’s Not a Career | Chris Platts
Edson Elcock
Former player, now youth development trainer
Independent trainer/coach
Episode: Too Much Noise in Youth Soccer: What Actually Builds Players
Brian Chun
Trainer and coach with experience in youth development
Independent trainer/coach
Episode: Too Much Noise in Youth Soccer: What Actually Builds Players
Christian Gonzalez
Academy director for New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club
Episode: Youth Soccer Development: Why Clarity Matters | Christian Gonzalez
Talia Sommer
Professional soccer player; Gotham FC rookie; has played in Israel and the U.S.
Gotham FC (NWSL), Butler University (college)
Episode: What Builds a Pro Player? Talia Sommer on Parents, Pressure, and Playing With Boys
Neil Congost
Coach from Barcelona, EOS Football founder, Catalyst for player development in Catalonia
EOS Football
Episode: Can Your Kid Really Train in Barcelona?

Hosts

Liron Unreich
Host of the show on youth soccer development and culture; often discusses player-centric development, coaching education, and pathways.
Matt Tartaglia
Co-host, investor, and parent-focused voice on development pathways, club operations, and family considerations in youth soccer.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 30 ratings
  • Awesome

    Keep this up guys! Very informative and relevant topic guests. The episode with the Orlando City Academy director was 🔥

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Krioyo
    United States17 days ago
  • 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 States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Recurring appreciation for candid, real-world coaching and parental guidance ideas.
Listeners praise the guest quality and practical insights for parents navigating development.
Many find the discussions on pathways and cost highly helpful and relatable for families.
Fans note the show's depth in contrasting European and American systems as a key strength.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#82
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#235
Canada/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#183
South Korea/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

First Pro Contract at 18: Why It’s Not a Career | Chris Platts
Q: what should families do to get in front of opportunities and protect their child's development?
Educate themselves, build independent scouting reports when possible, and use a wide, global approach to opportunities while safeguarding the child's long-term education and well-being.
First Pro Contract at 18: Why It’s Not a Career | Chris Platts
Q: how do you define as you are working with young players, what is that actually, what's a success?
Success is not a fixed outcome for any single player; it depends on individual goals, mental readiness, and whether the player can sustain development and adaptability beyond the first contract.
Youth Soccer Development: Why Clarity Matters | Christian Gonzalez
Q: How does New York Soccer Club define its vision and ensure it is realized across all teams and age groups?
The club emphasizes a clear, unchanging methodology with a strong coaching framework, observation-driven feedback, and accountability to ensure consistency from youngest to oldest teams, while adapting the level of intensity to individual journeys.
Youth Soccer Development: Why Clarity Matters | Christian Gonzalez
Q: Director Gonzalez, can you walk us through your own path of the game and what shaped you the most as a developmental leader?
Christian describes a journey from Westchester youth soccer through Fordham, a pro-playing stint cut short, and a long transition into coaching and club leadership, culminating in a philosophy centered on consistent coaching principles and a structured development model.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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?

A practical look at how youth soccer develops in the U.S., with conversations that contrast European and American approaches to coaching, player pathways, and development environments. Episodes repeatedly emphasize player-centric development, the role of parents, access and cost, and long-term pathways from youth to college, MLS academies, or other routes. Noteworthy are thoughtful debates on how to balance structure with creativity, the risks of early specialization, and evolving pathways like MLS Next and ECNL. The show stands out for bringing in academy directors, coaches, and players to illuminate real-world development, funding models, and the family decisions that shape a young player's journey. Potential listeners can gauge whether t... more

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How many episodes of Chasing the Game are there?

Chasing the Game launched 8 months ago and published 30 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. Don Farr
2. Ryan Farr
3. Filippo Giovanoli
4. Dr. Chris Platts
5. Edson Elcock
6. Brian Chun
7. Christian Gonzalez
8. Talia Sommer

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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