The Bear and the Ball

Erin McLeod is an Olympic Gold medal winner and a 4-time FIFA Women's World Cup participant with the Canadian Women's National Team. She is also a certified mental coach. Along with Dr. Rachel Lindvall, they have developed "The Mindful Project," a platform which provides structured mindfulness programs and performance training for students and athletes. With mental health now being considered more...

Eric Wynalda has played over 100 times for the USMNT. He's also played in Germany, Mexico, and the MLS. On this episode of "The Bear and the Ball," Eric joins us along with Brian Lofrumento, a once highly touted player and successful entrepreneur, as they discuss how coaches can either make or break young soccer players. Coaching involves mentoring, leading, and loving your players, and Eric and B...

Drew Rea, Men's Soccer Head Coach at Norco Community College, and Vayron Martinez, Men's Soccer Head Coach of Bakersfield Community College join "The Bear and the Ball" to talk about soccer at the community college level. The insights of these two highly successful coaches give a fascinating look into soccer at the JC level and you just might be surprised by what you hear. For any players looking...

Ralph Perez is a legend in soccer here in the United States and his experience in the game is vast. Perez has been a U.S. Men's National Staff Coach, led the U20 squad to the 1989 World Cup, served as assistant coach to both the LA Galaxy and the New York MetroStars, and is currently the Head Coach at the University of Redlands. Perez has seen the dramatic growth in soccer, and his insights are in...

Coaching young kids is one of the most rewarding things a coach can do. Their minds are like sponges, and they have a simple desire to learn and, most importantly, have fun. However, sometimes coaches get caught inside the trap of coaching only to win. On this week's episode of "The Bear and the Ball," we speak with Bill Songhurst, a man who has coached at all levels of the game and who now primar...

Sir Alex Ferguson is widely considered to be one of the greatest soccer managers of all time. The fact is that he did very little coaching; however, he had the art of management down to a science. Our guest Phil Darke has decades of experience in leading and he uses his vast experience to discover "How Soccer Explains Leadership" on his own podcast, using lessons from the great SAF. It involves tr...

Many years ago coaches believed that a loud voice, a demanding nature, and the "My way or the highway" approach was the best way to teach sports to young children . Podcast host, broadcast, and longtime soccer coach Nick Webster learned through trial and error that a course of "guided discovery" is the tool that works best with the current generation of kids. Here are his tips to coach and teach "...

Scoring goals looks like the easiest task in soccer; however, it isn't! The highest-paid players in the world are the men and women who can put the ball in the back of the net with regularity. Former USMNT great Eric Wynalda was such a player and in this week's The Bear and the Ball, he gives his insight into what makes a great goal scorer. For attackers, defenders and goalkeepers, this is the epi...

Ali Riley has represented her country, New Zealand over 140 times. She has played in World Cups, Europe, Stanford, and is currently in the NWSL balling out for the Orlando Pride. She is a true product of the Cal South experience and her journey to the top is one every aspiring young female player should listen to.

This week on "The Bear and the Ball," we have Kevin Hartman, AKA 'El Gato' who has won every major trophy in American soccer: MLS Goalkeeper of the year in 1999, 2 times MLS Cup Champion, 2-time winner of the US Open Cup, and a CONCACAF Champions League winner. Kevin is currently the goalkeeping coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Kevin talks about his career, what it takes to become a goalkeeper, a...

Former world-class 800-meter specialist, athletic director, mother, and Master of Arts student, Frances Jones joins "The Bear and the Ball" to talk about coaching and leadership. In her current role as an athletic director, Jones shapes the future, and her expertise in leading today's youth is unparalleled. For anyone in a leadership position or striving to be a leader, this episode of "The Bear a...

Allie Jara, is the Assistant Women's Coach at the University of California–Riverside (UCR). She has also played soccer at the D2 and D1 level, experiencing highs and lows. In this episode of "The Bear and the Ball," Allie gives her wisdom on playing at the highest level and on her journey toward becoming a coach. For women who are passionate about soccer and want to grow into the sport, this is a...

Anthony Pisicoli is the Vice President of Youth on the Cal South Board of Directors. A self-proclaimed soccer fanatic and father to a very talented goalkeeper, Anthony has been involved with the game for over two decades. In this episode of "The Bear and the Ball," he shares his thoughts on the youth soccer landscape here in Southern California.

Greg Rubendall has been on the youth and adult coaching scene his whole life. As the Director of Coaching for the Livermore Fusion and an instructor for the U.S. Soccer Federation, Greg has heard of every reason why people step into the coaching world. On this episode of "The Bear and the Ball," he names his top ten reasons why people become coaches.

As coaches we train the 4 pillars, physical, technical, tactical, and mental but how much time do we really spend on training mindset? Kat Scardino is an expert in working with athletes to achieve their best. This vital skill is often the difference between winning and failing in life and on the field of play, and is why this is a "must listen" episode.

Joey Hoffman has had a remarkable coaching career. He's been a director of coaching at clubs throughout Southern California, he's won multiple ODP national titles, he's served as an assistant at Loyola Marymount University taking the school to the NCAA tournament, and he took the Philippines to within a whisker of World Cup qualification. He has a wonderful story to tell about the ups and downs of...

Referees are in short supply and the reasons are complex, however, we can all play a part in making the game more attractive to the next generation. Bernie Towers, President of Coast Soccer League, Ben Nicholson, President of Santa Monica Surf, and Juan Guzman former FIFA referee join your host Nick Webster to discuss how we can change the dynamic that threatens to complicate the sport we all love...

Bernie Towers is the President of Coast Soccer League, one of the biggest youth gaming leagues in the United States. In this episode, he talks about his background, how we can help referees, and his hopes and dreams for the beautiful game in Southern California.

On this episode of the Bear and the Ball, Vice President of Cal South, Nick Webster, catches up with one of the legends of the Southern California coaching community, Steve Hoffman. Steve is the Technical Director for Cal South and the Head Coach for the women's program at Ventura College. He has helped players and coaches reach the highest levels of the game.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a referee, well, wonder no more as Cal South SRA, Juan Guzman tells us about his career and how you to can become a top-level referee, plus so much more!

Cal South is back and better than ever. Catch up with new CEO and soccer innovator, Terry Fisher as he brings you the latest news from the country's best youth and adult soccer association.