Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line team returns with Dr. Drew Watson, a friend of the podcast and the ECNL's Chief Medical Officer.   In March, the ECNL launched the Center for Athlete Health a Performance, a research and education hub designed to identify, develop and share best practices in long-term youth athlete health, development and performance, and spearh...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line team is back from Las Vegas and a lot has changed since early February.   In Episode 114, Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken sit down to discuss the changing youth soccer landscape. Clubs are in peak tryout season, and with that comes plenty of questions about club visions and player pathways. As a player and parent, how do you know w...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking The Line, the ECNL Podcast, went live and in-person at the ECNL Coaching Symposium at the Circa Resort in Las Vegas, NV for a historic podcast featuring executives from US Soccer. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken sat down with Emily Cosler, US Soccer Senior Director of Strategy, and Matt Crocker, US Soccer Spor...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking The Line, the ECNL Podcast, went live and in-person at the ECNL Coaching Symposium at the Circa Resort in Las Vegas, NV for a historic podcast featuring some of the biggest names in soccer and leadership. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken sat down with former North Carolina Head Coach, USWNT Head Coach, and Hall...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line crew is back with their newest episode, this time with a topic that came straight from a listener question.  A parent from Richmond, Va., asked Breaking the Line: "Is there an ideal blueprint for an ECNL club?" The question specifically cited the success of local club Richmond United, and to tackle this discussion, we went...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The first Breaking the Line episode of 2025 features special guest Mike Cullina, CEO of US Club Soccer. Cullina and the Breaking the Line crew open the episode with a topic on the forefront of everyone's minds: birth year regulations. The three provide an update to the discussion about what comes next for clubs and leagues regarding roster cutoff dat...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line team is back with their newest episode as we head into the holiday season and features a special guest, ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney.  Kutney and the crew open the episode with the inaugural ECNL Boys East Coast Super Cup, where eight teams from four East Coast conferences battled it out in Cary, NC to lift the Super Cup troph...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! It’s post-Thanksgiving and the Breaking the Line team are back for a brand-new episode on all things college soccer.  The NCAA Men’s and Women’s College Cups are in full swing and we dive into examining which teams are still alive chasing a trophy. On the women’s side, more than 80 ECNL alumni are competing across four teams, while eight teams made up of...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Unlock the secrets of the ECNL showcase season alongside Christian Lavers, Doug Bracken, and Ashley Willis as they dissect the perfect blend of timing and location that makes these events a recruiting hotspot. Discover why warm climates open doors for teams from colder areas, and learn how 80% of Division I recruits trace their roots back to this league....

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Join us for an eye-opening conversation with ECNL Technical Advisor Ceri Bowley as we uncover the shifting paradigms in youth soccer development. Ever wondered how playing younger athletes against older opponents could radically enhance their skills? Ceri shares innovative strategies from Europe that focus on individual growth over team success, challengi...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! What if a single competition could redefine club soccer? Discover the groundbreaking Super Cup for boys' teams in ECNL, designed to challenge clubs across multiple age groups with its unique format and culminating premier event held in Raleigh, North Carolina. Explore how this innovative approach not only celebrates top-performing clubs but also prov...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! What happens when young soccer players are encouraged to explore multiple positions versus specializing early? Our conversation sheds light on the importance of understanding a player's attributes and the role of the training environment in nurturing these talents. We explore how an early focus on specific skills can shape a player's progression...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Can social media really make or break a soccer career? Join us on this episode of Breaking the Line as we tackle this provocative question and much more. We kick off with a heated debate on school year versus birth year age requirements and how these can shape the trajectory of young players. Next, we venture into the digital realm, scrutinizing the role...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Discover the secrets to mastering youth soccer coaching from the champions themselves! Join us as we chat with four of the most respected ECNL National Championship coaches: Douda Kante from Kansas Rush, Chase Miller from South Carolina Surf, Mike Aubrey from GTFC Impact, and Kelin Briones from San Diego Surf. Get ready to learn how these experts balance...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! What if the future of college soccer was dramatically changing right before our eyes? On this episode of Breaking the Line, Christian Lavers, Doug Bracken, and Ashley Willis dissect the profound shifts stemming from the new NCAA settlement and the impending roster cap set to impact youth players by 2025. We scrutinize the potential upheaval of scholarship...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Ever wonder how a podcast can sustain its passion and energy over 100 episodes? Join us as we celebrate this remarkable milestone on Breaking the Line, the ECNL podcast. From navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to highlighting the triumphs of ECNL alums in the US Women's National Team's recent Olympic gold win, this episode is a r...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Join us as we uncover the secrets behind the dominance of Southwest Conference clubs in the ECNL National and Regional League Championships. We bring you front-row tales of thrilling comebacks and the sheer joy of young players in moments of victory, capped by unforgettable Gatorade showers. Florida's soccer landscape is evolving, but how does it sta...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Join us in this special episode of Breaking the Line, where we sit down with soccer icon Charlie Stilitano. Charlie takes us on an unforgettable journey, sharing personal stories that highlight his innovative spirit—like pioneering the use of virtual imaging on the field. Don't miss this episode filled with rich memories and behind-the-scenes insight...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! What fuels the underdog spirit in youth soccer playoffs? We spotlight the inspiring performances of teams from regions that barely made it to the postseason but went on to perform remarkably well. The conversation sheds light on the evolution of soccer culture in the U.S., balancing academic commitments, and the role of supportive college coaches in nurtu...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Prepare to unlock the secrets of soccer success and navigate the path to college recruitment like a pro! Ever wondered about the intricacies of recruiting in youth soccer? Our discussion is set to shed light on this complex arena, underscoring the differences between boys' and girls' recruiting landscapes and the critical role of balanced compet...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Following an enormous response from our previous episode where we discussed tryouts and relative age effect, this episode takes a deeper dive into the disputed topic with Dr. Drew Watson, the ECNL Chief Medical Advisor. Dr. Watson joins Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken in discussing relative age effect lasting outcomes across the youth soccer landscape....

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Unlock the secrets of navigating youth soccer tryouts with the expert guidance of ECNL’s Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken, not to mention the firsthand tales from our own Ashley Willis. From the ethics of recruitment to the emotional toll on everyone involved, get ready for a candid discussion on the pressures of tryout season, the sometimes overlooked i...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Join us as we peel back the curtain on the complexities of club promotion, where it's not just about a single age group's success but the collective performance of an entire organization. In this discussion, we shine a light on the varying regional league performances and the weight of postseason victories in the journey to ECNL elevation. We al...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The ECNL Podcast features ECNL President and CEO, Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President, Doug Bracken. Breaking the Line Podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with Lavers and Bracken about the new format of the podcast, and what listeners can look forward to as the podcast looks to pivot to having more candid conversations amongst themselves and other specia...

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The ECNL Podcast features Pat McStay founder of The Heritage Project, MVLA’s boys technical director Michael Renwick and NWSL’s North Carolina Courage head coach Sean Nahas. Breaking the Line Podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with McStay about how the Heritage Project helps educate and connect players playing within the ECNL to countries with whom they coul...