Chat By The Pitch

Hanna Barker turned a recovering ACL into a college career that ended with Freshman of the Year — then chased the pro game across four countries. In Part 2, Hanna and Ian trace the player pathway from college to the pros and the long road of playing abroad. She breaks down roles over positions and the playmaker’s mindset, why soccer IQ comes from being allowed to make mistakes, and how a safe envi...

Before she was a winger for Napoli Women in Serie A, Hanna Barker was just a kid in Farmers Branch, Texas, kicking a ball around at her dad’s games. In Part 1, Hanna and Ian go back to the beginning — the youth soccer years that built everything that came later. She shares why she stayed at one club, Defeaters, for her entire youth career, how community and friendship kept her in love with the gam...

What separates good players from great players? In Part 2 of this conversation, Everton FC's John Keagan dives into the mindset, work ethic, and personal responsibility required to reach your full potential in soccer and in life. From early college commitments and the transfer portal to player development, recruiting, and parenting in youth sports, John shares lessons learned from his playing and...

What happens when a professional club creates a pathway that combines elite soccer development with education? In this episode, Ian sits down with John Keagan from Everton FC to discuss the club's Football College Program, how players transition from academy environments, and why education remains a critical piece of long-term player success. John shares how Everton has built opportunities for pla...

What does good soccer parenting actually look like? In Part 2, Kristie and Mark Brooks move beyond the Spain story and share the parenting lessons they learned while helping their son Easton chase soccer at a high level. We talk about pressure, parent behavior, coach relationships, letting kids advocate for themselves, mistakes parents make in youth soccer, and why too many adults unintentionally...

What does it really take for a teenager to move to Spain and chase a soccer dream? In Part 1, Kristie and Mark Brooks share the real story behind helping their son Easton move overseas at 14 to pursue soccer in Spain. From visas, FIFA cards, training environments, and team culture to the emotional side of letting your child leave home, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a process most fam...

What does it really look like for a 14-year-old American player to move to Spain and chase the dream of professional soccer? In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Easton Brooks to discuss his journey from local soccer in Texas to training and competing in Spain against academy-level opposition. Easton shares what it was like leaving home at 14, adapting to a completely d...

In Part 2, Ray Power and Ian Babcock continue the conversation by diving into coaching methodology, player development systems, training environments, and the importance of continuing coach education. Ray breaks down why static drills and long lines hurt player development, why game-like environments matter, and how the best coaches constantly evolve their understanding of the game. The conversati...

In Part 1 of this conversation, Ray Power joins Chat By The Pitch to talk about youth soccer development, coaching philosophy, parent education, and why keeping kids in love with the game matters more than early results. Ray shares his journey from teacher to professional coach educator, how writing Making the Ball Roll shaped his philosophy, and why modern coaching environments should focus on de...

Part 2 is where everything connects. After hearing the journey, Anja Koehler breaks down how leadership is actually built—not assumed. Through Captains University, she’s created a system around something most players are expected to figure out on their own. Confidence. Communication. Decision-making. This isn’t about naming captains—it’s about developing leaders at every level of the game. Key Tal...

This one starts with the story—but it’s not the clean version. Anja Koehler walks through what it actually looked like to become a leader—being overlooked, losing confidence, earning it back, and figuring it out in real time. From youth soccer to becoming a Division I captain, this is the part most players never hear about. Before Captains University became a framework, it was lived experience. Th...

Part 2 of this reissued conversation shifts into the details that matter when making a decision. We break down pricing, how different systems are built, and where things like AI and analytics actually stand today. There’s a lot of noise in this space — and this episode helps cut through it by focusing on what’s real, what’s not fully ready yet, and what families should actually expect. If you’re e...

This is a reissue of Part 1 of my conversation with Orhan from Reeplayer — brought back because the questions around camera systems are picking up again with the new season starting. In this episode, we focus on the foundation — why youth soccer still struggles to consistently capture games, what families are dealing with, and how access to footage impacts development. We also get into Orhan’s jou...

In Part 2, the focus shifts to how players are actually developed with futsal. Pablo Da Silva breaks down futsal—what it really is, why it matters, and how it translates directly to the outdoor game. From faster decision-making to total field awareness, this is where development becomes real. If you want to understand why some players just see the game differently, this episode explains it. ⚽ Key...

What does real player development actually look like? In Part 1, Ian sits down with John Davis and Pablo Da Silva from Ulete Sports to break down what they’re building—and why it’s different. This conversation dives into culture, community, and creating an environment where players can actually grow. Not just win games—but develop long-term. From multi-sport training to setting boundaries with par...

What does a full day in a soccer residency program actually look like—and how is it different from the traditional youth soccer model? In Part 2 of this conversation, Ian Babcock and Erin Medina go deeper into Alpha Forms Residency, breaking down the daily schedule, training structure, and how education is integrated into player development. They cover everything from strength and conditioning, re...

What does real player development actually look like—and why are so many systems missing it? In this episode of Chat By The Pitch , Ian Babcock sits down with Erin Medina, COO of Forms Residency and Forms Academy, to break down a completely different approach to youth soccer development. From her journey through the Canadian national team to building one of the largest youth clubs in the country,...

With the Dallas Cup just weeks away, this episode hits a little different. This is a tribute to Gordon Jago—a true pioneer of the game and one of the key figures behind what the Dallas Cup has become today. From his journey as a player and coach to helping build one of the most respected youth tournaments in the world, Gordon shares what the game is really about—community, standards, and bringing...

In Part 2 of Soccer for Success, we go deeper. This conversation moves beyond curriculum and into implementation — how Dallas ISD built a no-cost, district-wide pathway from elementary Spark programs to middle school leagues and high school UIL competition. We break down how Spark works (grades 2–6), how competitive soccer is introduced the right way, and how over 50 elementary schools are now par...

Soccer for Success is reshaping how youth soccer development happens inside school systems. In this episode, leaders from Dallas ISD and the US Soccer Foundation break down how a 10-lesson, standards-aligned curriculum is equipping PE teachers, training coaches, and reaching nearly 50,000 students across Dallas. We talk about why small-sided games matter, how physical activity impacts academic per...

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, I sit down with Gregg Megaw, founder of Ballers ID, to talk about investing in the full player — not the hype. We break down individual development, 1v1 training, decision-making, culture, confidence, and why true growth takes time. Gregg explains why small group training often beats early private sessions, why standards matter more than shortcuts, and how par...

Seeing the Next Level Changes Everything In Part 2 of this conversation, Ian and Jonathan dig deeper into exposure, access, and perspective in youth sports. Jonathan explains why seeing the next level in person — middle school, college, or professional — can motivate kids without pressure, while also giving parents a clearer understanding of what elite performance actually looks like. They unpack...

In Part 1 of this conversation, Ian sits down with Jonathan Corone , creator of Healthy Sports Parents , to unpack the emotional, cultural, and behavioral challenges parents face in youth sports. Jonathan shares how his own daughter’s experience — and a moment on the sidelines watching a parent lose control — sparked a platform focused on helping parents do better without shame or blame. Together,...

In this solo episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock reflects on years of learning as a soccer parent, coach, and constant student of the game. This episode challenges the obsession with early results and reframes success around development, environment, communication, and joy. Ian explores what youth soccer is getting right, where it’s falling short, and what parents, coaches, and clubs can do—...

In Part 2 of this conversation, John O’Sullivan dives deeper into the realities of pressure, anxiety, early specialization, and the myths that continue to shape youth sports in unhealthy ways. We unpack why the so-called 10,000-hour rule doesn’t hold up, why development is never linear, and why mentality, enjoyment, and resilience matter more than chasing outcomes at young ages. John also shares p...