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

David Murray knew nothing about soccer when his daughter Scout started playing. Fifteen years later, she had a Division I scholarship. In this episode, David holds nothing back — the mistakes, the pressure, the loneliness on the sideline, and the truth about what the journey actually costs a family. 👉 https://www.soccer-near-me.com/books-and-authors/soccer-dad

This isn't about finding better drills. I tried that. It didn't move the needle the way I expected. What actually changed things for my kids was building a process — a repeatable, structured approach to solo training that eliminated the guesswork, kept the reps high, and protected our relationship along the way. In this episode, I'm breaking down that process from the ground up. The fr...

I just got off a conversation with a private trainer that completely challenged how I think about player development — and honestly, my take might surprise you. I believe 98% of players need to do 98% of the same things, 98% of the time. No complex individual plans. No obsessing over personalized feedback. Just one thing that moves the needle more than anything else. But here's the thing — the...

This week, Neil Crawford sits down with Coach Rory O'Neill — grassroots coach turned MLS club coach at Keystone FC — for a fun, candid Valentine's Day episode all about US Soccer. What do we love? What would we break up with? And is American soccer actually as far behind as people think? Coach Rory brings a unique perspective — having coached in Argentina, Iceland, and Scotland before retu...

I'll be honest — I don't have a coaching license and I never played the game. But I've spent years thinking deeply about how I'd want my teams to play. In this episode, I share my game model and coaching philosophy, imperfections and all, hoping other coaches will push back and help me get it right.

Before I keep sharing opinions, I want you to understand where I'm coming from. In this episode, I lay out the fundamental principles that shape everything I say — so you can filter my advice through the right lens.

A parent asked me to prep them before their demo, so I hit record instead. In this episode, I break down the core principles behind Anytime Soccer Training — the connection between competency and confidence, why the parent is the most important coach, and how the curriculum is structured. I also get real about what no online program can promise, including individual feedback and guaranteed engagem...

This is just a quick clarification on what people really mean when they bring up promotion and relegation in youth soccer. I share my perspective on how the idea gets misunderstood and what actually matters for kids and development.

I wasn’t always the parent I am now. For years, I thought I was helping my sons by stepping in, questioning coaches, pulling them from practice for outside games, and trying to “manage” their development myself. Looking back, I can see how often I got in the way of what their clubs were actually trying to build. I meant well, but I didn’t understand the bigger picture. This episode is me owning th...

 A coach's viral reel says if your club won't release your player card, they don't care about your child's development. I disagree — not because clubs are always right, but because we need to stop moralizing every disagreement in youth soccer. In this episode, I break down why clubs can have sincere reasons for their policies, why it shouldn't matter if you're paying or it&...

Kids are jumping from rec to club way too early — and showing up without the basics. In this episode, Coach Jesse and I get real about what's broken in grassroots soccer: 👉 Why kids are leaving rec before they're ready👉 The frustration of coaching older players who never learned fundamentals👉 Funding gaps and field shortages killing quality programs👉 Why "club" doesn't au...

I’m Neil Crawford, and in this episode I’m breaking down the real problem with scrimmages in youth soccer. Coaches love them, parents expect them, and players think they’re ‘the fun part’—but they’re quietly holding kids back. I’m pulling back the curtain on why endless scrimmaging stalls development, what actually builds skill, and how we can rethink training to help every player grow.” If you wa...

In this episode of The Inside Scoop, I sit down with Coach Jesse Novatski — a grassroots and college coach who's become a trusted voice in our soccer parent community. Jesse has a remarkable story. Born near São Paulo, Brazil, he spent his early years in an orphanage before being adopted and moving to the United States at age five. "The United States became my fifth birthday present,&quot...

Hey guys, Neil Crawford here. In this episode, I show you how to find specific drills in Anytime Soccer Training when a coach gives your player targeted feedback. A parent asked about aerial control drills, so I walk through creating a custom training session and pinning the right videos from our 5,000+ video library. Remember: technology plus human is better than either alone. You can modify any...

In this Inside Scoop session, I answer a parent's question about helping their 14-year-old improve 1v1 skills with just 30 minutes a day, 3-5 times a week. I walk through our "Get Started" section for experienced players and show how our 30-day training plans focus on essential dribbling and ball mastery that translate directly to game performance. I demonstrate how the dashboard&#39...

I almost made a mistake that would've killed my son's love for soccer. The advice? "Iron sharpens iron — get him on a team with the best players." It sounded perfect. But three weeks in, everything changed. In this episode, I reveal why the most popular club selection advice is dangerously wrong — and what actually sharpens iron. If you're choosing a club right now, you need...

How do young players actually go from youth soccer to a professional contract? In this episode, former FIFA-licensed agent Miro Gladovic answers real questions from parents in our community. No fluff—just honest insight into how the process really works. Coming up in this episode: 🔹 1:40 – What Miro has observed separates players who make it🔹 7:08 – Why waiting to be "discovered" is a...

In this episode, I respond to a parent’s email about a nine-year-old losing confidence — not with solutions, but with honesty. I don’t have all the answers, but I wanted to acknowledge the struggle and start a real conversation about confidence, environment, and what our kids actually need from us in youth soccer. Sometimes the most important thing isn’t a fix — it’s realizing we’re not navigating...

If you’ve ever wondered how young players go from youth soccer → academy → professional contracts, this interview is for you. In this special episode, former FIFA-licensed agent Miro Gladovic joins me to answer real questions submitted by parents from our community.40% Off Soccer Family Agent. Use discount code: AST40https://soccerfamilyagent.teachable.com/p/home We dig into what scouts actually l...

When Frederick emailed me asking how to train his two sons—ages 8 and 10—it took me right back to those early days when I was trying to figure everything out myself. I remember the uncertainty, the frustration, and the feeling that everyone else somehow knew what they were doing… except me. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned along the way: why structured training matters, how simple routin...

In this episode, I go on a short rant that probably won’t make me more popular—but I think it needs to be said. I talk openly about why I don’t believe “bad soccer parents” are the biggest problem in youth development, why coaches focus so much on things they can’t control, and why the real work still happens Monday through Friday on the training ground. If you’re a coach or parent who’s tired of...

In this episode, I walk you through the newest improvements now available inside Anytime Soccer Training — designed to make home and team training even easier and more effective. You’ll get a quick video tour of new enhancements across the platform, including: Weekly Training Plans Quick Sessions for Busy Days Custom Training Plans for Any Player or Team Key Skill Area Organization for Faster Navi...

Everyone wants their kid to train more at home… but nobody warns you about  this part . In this short, real-talk episode, I share a conversation with a friend whose son loves soccer — but doesn’t always love the work. If you’ve ever tried to get your child to do solo reps, wall passing, juggling, or even follow-along videos… you already know. This isn’t about motivation hacks, gimmicks, magic apps...

Everyone wants their child to have “better soccer IQ”… but what if we’ve been approaching it the wrong way? In this short episode, I break down the real foundation—something I stumbled across while scrolling a coaching group—that might completely shift how you think about developing smarter players. Listen now… the answer may not be what you expect.

In this episode, we sit down with neuroscientist Dr. Val Rytova to break down what’s actually happening in a child’s brain as they learn soccer skills. We explore how kids develop movement patterns, why they sometimes perform skills in games they’ve never formally practiced, and whether parents need to be skilled players to help their children grow. We also discuss the ongoing debate of unopposed...