In Part 2, Patrick Ouckama expands on how MLS academies balance opportunity, pressure, and player well-being. We explore what “success” really means for young athletes, how to handle burnout, and what U.S. clubs can learn from Europe’s development model.

Patrick also shares what parents should focus on beyond the scoreboard,  and how small cultural shifts can build better players and happier families.

Hosted by Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia

• (00:00) - Introduction

In this first part of our conversation with Patrick Ouckama, Technical Director at the New England Revolution Academy, we go deep into the culture of player development inside an MLS NEXT environment. Patrick reflects on what has changed in U.S. youth soccer, how academy systems shape player mentality, and why development always has to come before winning.

From Ithaca to the Revs to D.C. United, his story reveals the realities of balancing ambition, access, and joy in the game.

Hosted by Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia.

• (00:00) - Intro

In Part 2 of our conversation, Luis Robles (MLS NEXT Technical Director and former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper) shifts from his own story to the system our kids are currently in. We discuss how MLS NEXT works alongside other leagues, why “quality of play” is evaluated by human analysts (not AI), and how video and data support coaches, players, and college recruiting. Robles explains the U13/U14 field-size change (more touches, fewer track-meet games), the push to improve playing-time and substitution rules, and why parents are central to communication and culture.

What you’ll learn:

• How MLS NEXT coordinates with ECNL, USL, Elite Academy, EDP, and others
• Why “quality of play” uses human analysts and what they actually measure
• How video is applied for development (not just box-score stats)
• Why U13/U14 field sizes were reduced and what changes in matches
• Where winning belongs in a development model (standards and consistency)
• Playing time, substitution patterns, rankings and perception, and parent communication
• Birth-year vs. school-year, bio-banding, and flexible, player-first policies
• Why talent can’t be predicted at ages 11–13—and how to keep kids in the game

Chapters:

[00:00] Welcome back: setting the table for Part 2

[01:00] Collaborating across leagues (ECNL, USL, EA, EDP)

[04:00] Jerseys and culture: why kids rep Europe and how MLS can win fans

[06:00] “Quality of Play” explained: human analysts, not AI

[08:00] Video for development: cataloging moments; analysts vs. box-score stats

[12:00] Encouraging creativity: rewarding productive 1v1s

[16:00] Using video well for coaches, players, families; college-recruiting access

[19:00] Rankings, perception, and the role of parents in the conversation

[21:00] U13/U14 field-size reduction: touches, decision speed, actions to goal

[24:00] Nine-a-side, international comparisons, and communicating the “why”

[25:00] Next focus: playing time and substitution rules

[26:30] Roster math, minutes, and birth-year vs. school-year

[29:00] Bio-banding and flexibility: doing what’s best for the player

[31:00] Keeping kids engaged through the drop-off years (11–14)

[33:00] You can’t predict 11–13: even La Masia says so

[35:00] U16–U19 = performance stage: college, MLS NEXT Pro, first team

[40:00] Host reflections and takeaways

[42:00] Outro and thanks

Guest:

Luis Robles: MLS NEXT Technical Director; former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper and captain.

About the show:

Chasing the Game – Youth Soccer in America helps families navigate tryouts, leagues (MLS NEXT, ECNL, GA), costs, travel, coaching quality, and the paths to college or pro—through candid conversations with people shaping the system.

Transcript:

‘View full transcript’

In Part 1 of our conversation, Luis Robles, MLS NEXT Technical Director and former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper, shares his inspiring journey from underdog to MLS legend. Luis opens up about resilience, leadership, and the lessons learned on the field that now shape his work with the next generation of American players.

• (00:00) - Chapter 1

In the debut episode of Chasing the Game, co-hosts Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia set the stage for the series. They share their personal journeys as soccer parents, reflect on the challenges of navigating clubs, leagues, and academies, and explore why youth soccer in the U.S. can feel like a maze. Across nearly an hour of conversation, they compare American and international approaches, highlight the impact of pay-to-play, and preview the themes and guests to come this season.

• (00:00) - Introduction – Welcome to Chasing the Game

Soccer. Everywhere else, it’s four cones and a ball. In America, it’s spreadsheets, flights, and hotel bills.

Chasing the Game is a new podcast from Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia, two soccer dads trying to understand how the world’s simplest game got so complicated in the U.S.

Each week, they talk with the people who’ve lived it, from Ben Olsen and Luis Robles to Noah Ross of NYCFC’s Youth Academy — unpacking the culture, costs, and chaos of youth soccer in America.

Join us as we chase the game, one story, one season, one sideline at a time.