In this episode hosts Gary and Benny discuss the critical role of pickup soccer in player development, and the notable absence of this culture in suburban American soccer. They highlight the benefits of unstructured play, such as mixed-age interactions and increased touch frequency, and examine how its deficiency might contribute to the US’s struggles on […]
Ep 352: Soccer IQ and the Dark Arts – Masterclass Lesson 6
In this episode the hosts discuss the concept of Soccer IQ, exploring what it truly means and its various layers. They discuss the importance of decision-making on the field, the balance between letting young players experiment and teaching them good habits, and the role of coaches in developing Soccer IQ. The conversation also touches on […]
Ep 351: What’s an Elite Player? Masterclass Lesson 5
In this fifth masterclass session, the hosts delve into the overuse and misunderstanding of the term ‘elite’ in the context of American soccer. With Benny joining as co-host, they discuss what truly constitutes an elite soccer player by global standards, tackling the misuse of the term at both youth and professional levels. Highlighting issues from […]