The Inside Scoop with Anytime Soccer Training - Discussing Youth Soccer from Around the World

Hi, I’m Neil Crawford, host of The Inside Scoop and founder of Anytime Soccer Training—the only program with over 5,000 training videos covering every major soccer skill. In this episode, I share an email I received from a youth coach looking for advice on keeping his team motivated to train at home and develop the skills needed to succeed on the field. This topic hits close to home because I’ve f...

Welcome to The Inside Scoop Podcast , the podcast dedicated to helping parents support their young players' soccer development. In this episode, Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training, tackles a listener’s question about how to structure at-home training sessions using the program effectively. Neil shares insights on balancing volume, variety, and progression in training, tailoring...

Welcome to The Inside Scoop , the podcast dedicated to helping parents support their young players' soccer development. In this episode, Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training, tackles a listener’s question about how to structure at-home training sessions using the program effectively. Neil shares insights on balancing volume, variety, and progression in training, tailoring sessions...

Today, I’m reacting to a post from our Anytime Soccer Training and Youth Soccer Coaching Facebook groups about prioritizing winning over development. I’ve discussed this before, but let’s dive into it again. The post claims the "winning vs. development" debate is a global issue—even at top academies. Here’s the thing: this whole debate is oversimplified. There’s much more going on than j...

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Fusion Soccer Club, to explore his journey in coaching and his passion for player development. Greg shares how his club navigates California’s unique soccer landscape, the lessons learned from overcoming COVID challenges, and the influence of his experiences abroad in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary. We d...

In this episode of The Inside Scoop , I dive into the foundational concepts that shape youth soccer development. My goal is to help you, as a parent, better understand the key definitions like philosophy, game models, and tactics. By clarifying these terms, I hope to reduce confusion and encourage collaboration within the soccer community. I share why simplicity and standardization are essential f...

In this episode of The Inside Scoop , I dive into the foundational concepts that shape youth soccer development. My goal is to help you, as a parent, better understand the key definitions like philosophy, game models, and tactics. By clarifying these terms, I hope to reduce confusion and encourage collaboration within the soccer community. I share why simplicity and standardization are essential f...

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Fusion Soccer Club, to explore his journey in coaching and his passion for player development. Greg shares how his club navigates California’s unique soccer landscape, the lessons learned from overcoming COVID challenges, and the influence of his experiences abroad in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary. We d...

Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Soccer Club, shares one of his biggest tips for parents starting their child's soccer journey. ⚽❤️ #YouthSoccer #ParentTips

Hi, I’m Neil Crawford, host of The Inside Scoop and founder of Anytime Soccer Training—the only program with over 5,000 training videos covering every major soccer skill. In this episode, I share an email I received from a youth coach looking for advice on keeping his team motivated to train at home and develop the skills needed to succeed on the field. This topic hits close to home because I’ve f...

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Fusion Soccer Club, to explore his journey in coaching and his passion for player development. Greg shares how his club navigates California’s unique soccer landscape, the lessons learned from overcoming COVID challenges, and the influence of his experiences abroad in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary. We d...

Welcome to the Inside Scoop. I’m Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training.   We help players develop their skills with over 5,000 training videos. I also run a Facebook group, Youth Soccer Guest Playing Opportunities , connecting parents with clubs for guest playing options.   A recent question in the group got me thinking: Does playing with the same team limit player development?   My an...

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Rubendall, Director of Coaching at Livermore Fusion Soccer Club, to explore his journey in coaching and his passion for player development. Greg shares how his club navigates California’s unique soccer landscape, the lessons learned from overcoming COVID challenges, and the influence of his experiences abroad in countries like the Netherlands and Hungary. We d...

Neil Crawford on Coaching from the Sidelines

After listening to a leading podcast on soccer development that completely overlooked the role of brain science, I felt compelled to share my perspective. In this episode, I dive into neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to adapt and grow—and explain why it's crucial for mastering soccer skills. Drawing from my experience training my sons, Adam and Matthew, I discuss how I balance structured drills...

In this episode, I answer the most common questions parents have about guest player opportunities in youth soccer. From navigating the paperwork to understanding the role of carding bodies and international transfers, I provide clarity on how guest playing can give your child more exposure and experience. I’ll also introduce the Youth Soccer Guest Player Opportunities Facebook group, a resource I...

When it comes to youth soccer in the U.S., one question keeps coming up: why does it cost so much? It’s a topic that sparks a lot of strong opinions, and honestly, I’ve wrestled with it myself. Is it the clubs? Are they taking advantage of parents? Or is there something bigger happening here—something cultural, structural, or maybe even about what we, as parents, expect from the game? I’ve heard s...

In this episode, we break down an important idea: the practice deficit and how it shapes the development of youth soccer players. Many players, especially at the average level, don’t accumulate enough deliberate practice hours early on, leading to technical deficiencies as they grow. We discuss the importance of starting structured technical training early —a method not embraced by most. While uns...

In this interview, James Jordan, founder of River City FC, shares his insights on a key question for aspiring soccer players: "If you have a U-15 son with the opportunity to play in UPSL or MLS Next/ECNL, which path should he choose to maximize his chances of going pro, both in the U.S. and internationally?" Tune in for valuable advice from a seasoned soccer leader and founder of a UPSL club!

Does My Player Need A Player Card to Guest Play

In this episode, I break down the key differences between content marketing videos and a complete soccer learning system. While content marketing videos are fantastic for quick tips and inspiration—I rely on them myself—they serve a different purpose than a step-by-step curriculum. A full learning system provides structure, progression, and a clear path to development, ensuring players build skill...

Execution Risk & Helping Rec Coaches.

Follow up: In this episode, I reflect on a popular coaching podcast I listened to while driving my son, Adam, to his game. The guest, a top-level coach, suggested focusing solely on game-like situations in practice. But as I thought about it, I began to question how this advice plays out in the real world. How practical is it when coaches may not have the experience or when players have varying sk...

In this episode, I reflect on a popular coaching podcast I listened to while driving my son, Adam, to his game. The guest, a top-level coach, suggested focusing solely on game-like situations in practice. But as I thought about it, I began to question how this advice plays out in the real world. How practical is it when coaches may not have the experience or when players have varying skill levels?...

Follow-up Answers on Training Time & Weak Foot