Chris Rich has passed on talented recruits because of what he saw from their parents on the sideline. The UNC Greensboro head coach explains what else he's watching.In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Chris opens up the college soccer recruiting process from the coach's side of the table. He took over UNCG men's soccer ten days before the 2019 season, used the COVID pause to rebuild the culture, and turned a program ranked in the 100s into a 2022 Elite Eight team that beat Stanford in PKs on the road.Ian and Chris get into the questions soccer parents actually ask: Is my kid good enough to play in college? How do players get seen when they aren't on the biggest showcase teams? How much does playing time really spread across a 28-man roster? Chris walks through how his staff evaluates recruits on the field, over FaceTime, and on visits, why his team's GPA climbed from a 2.7 to a 3.4, and why the word he leans on most is obsessive — obsessed with the process of development, not just the trophy.He's also honest about the hard parts: a 2023 season that came crashing down after losing eight pros, a transfer portal that's squeezing young players, and 9.9 scholarships stretched across a full roster.For soccer players, parents, and youth coaches mapping out the pathway from club soccer to college — and anyone who wants to know what a college coach is really looking for.<h2>Key Talking Points</h2>• From Tampa youth soccer and Barry University to assistant roles at FIU, Virginia Tech, UNC, and Duke — and learning as much from peers as from bosses• Hired ten days before the 2019 season: leading with culture, standards, and non-negotiables before a game model• How the COVID pause became a silver lining for recruiting, training, and building the program block by block• Transparency, accountability, and "I will always have your back" — the promise Chris makes to every recruit• Why "obsessive" is the most important word in the program, and how an elite mindset lifted the team GPA from 2.7 to 3.4• Staff-selected captains, a leadership committee from every class, and players policing the locker room• College soccer playing time explained: six substitution moments, 15 to 16 players per game, and the role of the closer off the bench• College soccer recruiting: why UNCG targets North Carolina, Texas, and Florida, plus the transfer portal and international players• What coaches watch beyond talent — reactions to mistakes and referees, the parents on the sideline, and the FaceTime call• Taking ownership of your pathway: ID camps, gap years, JUCO, and staying patient in the transfer portal era<h2>Quotes from Chris Rich</h2>• "I was just a sponge. I was learning from everybody that I worked with."• "You can't just throw your game model on players that don't fit that."• "We're always gonna adapt, and we're always gonna try to thrive in the new situation. I'm never gonna be a complainer."• "The one thing I will always guarantee and always promise our players in the recruiting process, I will always have their back."• "Probably the most important word that I use all the time is obsessive."• "Everybody wants to lift the trophy. Everybody wants to win, but what is the process that gets us to that point?"• "I'm not gonna say, 'I'm gonna be a terrible father today, but I'm gonna be a good coach.' You're either gonna strive for greatness or you're not."• "There's been many good players I've identified that we didn't take because of mom and dad."• "Take ownership of your process. Instead of waiting on somebody to do something for you, go to the environment where coaches are."• "Sometimes you gotta take a gap year. Sometimes you gotta go to a JUCO for a year. And that's okay."<h2>Connect with Chris Rich</h2>📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachchrisrich✖️ X: https://x.com/coachchrisrich<h2>UNCG Men's Soccer</h2>📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncgsoccer✖️ X: https://x.com/uncgsoccer👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncgsoccer<h2>Follow Chat By The Pitch</h2>🌐 Website: https://chatbythepitch.com/🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChatByThePitchPod📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatbythepitch🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chat.by.the.pitch✖️ X / Twitter: https://x.com/ChatByThePitch📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChatByThePitch🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zXb9WZ6nQh8n5p1tQwQhV🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chat-by-the-pitch/id1722155166🎧 Subscribe & Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter.#ChatByThePitch #YouthSoccer #CollegeSoccer #CollegeRecruiting #SoccerRecruiting #UNCG #UNCGSpartans #NCAASoccer #D1Soccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParents #YouthSoccerCoach #NorthTexasSoccer #DFWSoccer #SoccerCoaching #TeamCulture #PlayerPathways #TransferPortal #StudentAthlete #SoccerPodcast

Chris Rich has passed on talented recruits because of what he saw from their parents on the sideline. The UNC Greensboro head coach explains what else he's watching. In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Chris opens up the college soccer recruiting process from the coach's side of the table. He took over UNCG men's soccer ten days before the 2019 season, used the COVID pause to rebuild the culture, and turned a program ranked in the 100s into a 2022 Elite Eight team that beat Stanford in PKs on the road. Ian and Chris get into the questions soccer parents actually ask: Is my kid good enough to play in college? How do players get seen when they aren't on the biggest showcase teams? How much does playing time really spread across a 28-man roster? Chris walks through how his staff evaluates recruits on the field, over FaceTime, and on visits, why his team's GPA climbed from a 2.7 to a 3.4, and why the word he leans on most is obsessive — obsessed with the process of development, not just the trophy. He's also honest about the hard parts: a 2023 season that came crashing down after losing eight pros, a transfer portal that's squeezing young players, and 9.9 scholarships stretched across a full roster. For soccer players, parents, and youth coaches mapping out the pathway from club soccer to college — and anyone who wants to know what a college coach is really looking for.Key Talking Points• From Tampa youth soccer and Barry University to assistant roles at FIU, Virginia Tech, UNC, and Duke — and learning as much from peers as from bosses • Hired ten days before the 2019 season: leading with culture, standards, and non-negotiables before a game model • How the COVID pause became a silver lining for recruiting, training, and building the program block by block • Transparency, accountability, and "I will always have your back" — the promise Chris makes to every recruit • Why "obsessive" is the most important word in the program, and how an elite mindset lifted the team GPA from 2.7 to 3.4 • Staff-selected captains, a leadership committee from every class, and players policing the locker room • College soccer playing time explained: six substitution moments, 15 to 16 players per game, and the role of the closer off the bench • College soccer recruiting: why UNCG targets North Carolina, Texas, and Florida, plus the transfer portal and international players • What coaches watch beyond talent — reactions to mistakes and referees, the parents on the sideline, and the FaceTime call • Taking ownership of your pathway: ID camps, gap years, JUCO, and staying patient in the transfer portal eraQuotes from Chris Rich• "I was just a sponge. I was learning from everybody that I worked with." • "You can't just throw your game model on players that don't fit that." • "We're always gonna adapt, and we're always gonna try to thrive in the new situation. I'm never gonna be a complainer." • "The one thing I will always guarantee and always promise our players in the recruiting process, I will always have their back." • "Probably the most important word that I use all the time is obsessive." • "Everybody wants to lift the trophy. Everybody wants to win, but what is the process that gets us to that point?" • "I'm not gonna say, 'I'm gonna be a terrible father today, but I'm gonna be a good coach.' You're either gonna strive for greatness or you're not." • "There's been many good players I've identified that we didn't take because of mom and dad." • "Take ownership of your process. Instead of waiting on somebody to do something for you, go to the environment where coaches are." • "Sometimes you gotta take a gap year. Sometimes you gotta go to a JUCO for a year. And that's okay."Connect with Chris Rich📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachchrisrich ✖️ X: https://x.com/coachchrisrichUNCG Men's Soccer📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncgsoccer ✖️ X: https://x.com/uncgsoccer 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncgsoccerFollow Chat By The Pitch🌐 Website: https://chatbythepitch.com/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChatByThePitchPod 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatbythepitch 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chat.by.the.pitch ✖️ X / Twitter: https://x.com/ChatByThePitch 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChatByThePitch 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zXb9WZ6nQh8n5p1tQwQhV 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chat-by-the-pitch/id1722155166 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter. #ChatByThePitch #YouthSoccer #CollegeSoccer #CollegeRecruiting #SoccerRecruiting #UNCG #UNCGSpartans #NCAASoccer #D1Soccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParents #YouthSoccerCoach #NorthTexasSoccer #DFWSoccer #SoccerCoaching #TeamCulture #PlayerPathways #TransferPortal #StudentAthlete #SoccerPodcast

Chris Rich has passed on talented recruits because of what he saw from their parents on the sideline. The UNC Greensboro head coach explains what else he's watching.In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Chris opens up the college soccer recruiting process from the coach's side of the table. He took over UNCG men's soccer ten days before the 2019 season, used the COVID pause to rebuild the culture, and turned a program ranked in the 100s into a 2022 Elite Eight team that beat Stanford in PKs on the road.Ian and Chris get into the questions soccer parents actually ask: Is my kid good enough to play in college? How do players get seen when they aren't on the biggest showcase teams? How much does playing time really spread across a 28-man roster? Chris walks through how his staff evaluates recruits on the field, over FaceTime, and on visits, why his team's GPA climbed from a 2.7 to a 3.4, and why the word he leans on most is obsessive — obsessed with the process of development, not just the trophy.He's also honest about the hard parts: a 2023 season that came crashing down after losing eight pros, a transfer portal that's squeezing young players, and 9.9 scholarships stretched across a full roster.For soccer players, parents, and youth coaches mapping out the pathway from club soccer to college — and anyone who wants to know what a college coach is really looking for.Key Talking Points• From Tampa youth soccer and Barry University to assistant roles at FIU, Virginia Tech, UNC, and Duke — and learning as much from peers as from bosses• Hired ten days before the 2019 season: leading with culture, standards, and non-negotiables before a game model• How the COVID pause became a silver lining for recruiting, training, and building the program block by block• Transparency, accountability, and "I will always have your back" — the promise Chris makes to every recruit• Why "obsessive" is the most important word in the program, and how an elite mindset lifted the team GPA from 2.7 to 3.4• Staff-selected captains, a leadership committee from every class, and players policing the locker room• College soccer playing time explained: six substitution moments, 15 to 16 players per game, and the role of the closer off the bench• College soccer recruiting: why UNCG targets North Carolina, Texas, and Florida, plus the transfer portal and international players• What coaches watch beyond talent — reactions to mistakes and referees, the parents on the sideline, and the FaceTime call• Taking ownership of your pathway: ID camps, gap years, JUCO, and staying patient in the transfer portal eraQuotes from Chris Rich• "I was just a sponge. I was learning from everybody that I worked with."• "You can't just throw your game model on players that don't fit that."• "We're always gonna adapt, and we're always gonna try to thrive in the new situation. I'm never gonna be a complainer."• "The one thing I will always guarantee and always promise our players in the recruiting process, I will always have their back."• "Probably the most important word that I use all the time is obsessive."• "Everybody wants to lift the trophy. Everybody wants to win, but what is the process that gets us to that point?"• "I'm not gonna say, 'I'm gonna be a terrible father today, but I'm gonna be a good coach.' You're either gonna strive for greatness or you're not."• "There's been many good players I've identified that we didn't take because of mom and dad."• "Take ownership of your process. Instead of waiting on somebody to do something for you, go to the environment where coaches are."• "Sometimes you gotta take a gap year. Sometimes you gotta go to a JUCO for a year. And that's okay."Connect with Chris Rich📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachchrisrich✖️ X: https://x.com/coachchrisrichUNCG Men's Soccer📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncgsoccer✖️ X: https://x.com/uncgsoccer👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncgsoccerFollow Chat By The Pitch🌐 Website: https://chatbythepitch.com/🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChatByThePitchPod📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatbythepitch🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chat.by.the.pitch✖️ X / Twitter: https://x.com/ChatByThePitch📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChatByThePitch🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zXb9WZ6nQh8n5p1tQwQhV🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chat-by-the-pitch/id1722155166🎧 Subscribe &amp; Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter.#ChatByThePitch #YouthSoccer #CollegeSoccer #CollegeRecruiting #SoccerRecruiting #UNCG #UNCGSpartans #NCAASoccer #D1Soccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParents #YouthSoccerCoach #NorthTexasSoccer #DFWSoccer #SoccerCoaching #TeamCulture #PlayerPathways #TransferPortal #StudentAthlete #SoccerPodcast

Obsessed With the Process: Chris Rich on Building an Elite Eight Program

Andy Cook coached Beth Mead at 14 and Leah Williamson at 15. He wasn’t looking for tactics or trophies — here’s what he was actually watching for.In Part 1, UEFA A licensed coach Andy Cook takes Ian Babcock through a youth soccer player development story that starts with a season ticket at Middlesbrough and ends up inside Arsenal’s women’s program. He got his first coaching badge at 16, in a country where full-time coaching jobs in the women’s game simply didn’t exist yet, and stacked qualification on qualification for a decade on nothing but what he calls blind determination.Along the way he coached two future England internationals before either of them could drive. His answer for what made them stand out is refreshingly plain: could they control it, could they pass it, could they dribble it. Everything else — speed, tactics, position — got built out from the ball. He also talks openly about the parts that didn’t work: leaving Arsenal too early, and a first head coaching job at Oxford United where the football was fine and the man-management wasn’t.If you’re a parent trying to understand what a good coach is actually looking at, or a coach wondering whether the badges are worth it, this one’s for you. Part 2 picks up with culture, trust, and why the individual matters more than the team until 18.<h1>Key Talking Points</h1><ul><li>Falling for the game as a Middlesbrough season-ticket kid in the mid-'90s, and playing local club football until 16</li><li>The moment he realized he'd never reach his best friend's level as a player — and why that pushed him straight into coaching</li><li>Getting his first FA badge at 16, UEFA B at 19, and the UEFA A license at 26 — a decade of qualifications with no job market waiting on the other side</li><li>"Blind determination" as a career strategy: planning a future in a profession that didn't exist yet</li><li>Coaching Beth Mead at the Middlesbrough Girls' Centre of Excellence — two evenings a week, a gym session, and a Saturday game</li><li>What he looked for in young players as a young coach: control it, pass it, dribble it — the physical stuff built out from there</li><li>Arsenal at 24 under Laura Harvey — U17s, reserves, and a 15-year-old Leah Williamson training up with older players</li><li>His theory on why today's young women's players may be more robust: more minutes, earlier, than the generation before them</li><li>Leaving Arsenal for the FA — the regret, and the coach-education years that taught him to plan a session properly</li><li>Oxford United, the smallest budget in the league, and the man-management lesson he's built the rest of his career on</li></ul> <h1>Quotes from Andy Cook</h1><ul><li>“I always felt that I had different ideas to what I was being told as a boy.”</li><li>“It was just blind determination. There was no job. There was no career.”</li><li>“You have to plan your future based on something that you don't know.”</li><li>“I thought, that is it, I've completed coaching. I've learned more every season since than I did in the first ten years.”</li><li>“Could they control the ball? Could they pass the ball? Could they dribble with the ball? It all started from the ball, and then it built out from that.”</li><li>“She was the best trainer, she was the one that had the best questions. She would stay back and want to do more.”</li><li>“I'm always a little bit hesitant to say that's because of the work I did as a coach, because a youth player goes through so many different moments.”</li><li>“If I'm really honest, I wish I didn't leave Arsenal. That's a regret I have.”</li><li>“It was now trying to influence the coaches to then influence the players, and that is a completely different task, a completely different skill set.”</li><li>“I never told them why I was picking them. All those man-management skills that I think are essential.”</li></ul> <h1>Connect with Andy Cook</h1>✖️ X: <a href="https://x.com/AndyCook87" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@AndyCook87</a><h1>Follow Chat By The Pitch</h1>🌐 Website: <a href="https://chatbythepitch.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chatbythepitch.com</a>🎥 YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChatByThePitchPod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chat By The Pitch</a>📸 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chatbythepitch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@ChatByThePitch</a>🎵 TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@chat.by.the.pitch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chat.By.The.Pitch</a>✖️ X / Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/ChatByThePitch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@ChatByThePitch</a>📘 Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChatByThePitch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chat By The Pitch</a>🎧 Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0zXb9WZ6nQh8n5p1tQwQhV" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chat By The Pitch</a>🍎 Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chat-by-the-pitch/id1722155166" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chat By The Pitch</a>🎧 Subscribe & Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter.#ChatByThePitch #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCoaching #WomensFootball #WSL #Arsenal #Middlesbrough #BethMead #LeahWilliamson #UEFACoaching #CoachEducation #SoccerParents #YouthDevelopment #FootballCoaching #DevelopmentOverWinning #GrassrootsSoccer #TalentID #SoccerPodcast #NorthTexasSoccer

Andy Cook coached Beth Mead at 14 and Leah Williamson at 15. He wasn’t looking for tactics or trophies — here’s what he was actually watching for. In Part 1, UEFA A licensed coach Andy Cook takes Ian Babcock through a youth soccer player development story that starts with a season ticket at Middlesbrough and ends up inside Arsenal’s women’s program. He got his first coaching badge at 16, in a country where full-time coaching jobs in the women’s game simply didn’t exist yet, and stacked qualification on qualification for a decade on nothing but what he calls blind determination. Along the way he coached two future England internationals before either of them could drive. His answer for what made them stand out is refreshingly plain: could they control it, could they pass it, could they dribble it. Everything else — speed, tactics, position — got built out from the ball. He also talks openly about the parts that didn’t work: leaving Arsenal too early, and a first head coaching job at Oxford United where the football was fine and the man-management wasn’t. If you’re a parent trying to understand what a good coach is actually looking at, or a coach wondering whether the badges are worth it, this one’s for you. Part 2 picks up with culture, trust, and why the individual matters more than the team until 18.Key Talking PointsFalling for the game as a Middlesbrough season-ticket kid in the mid-'90s, and playing local club football until 16The moment he realized he'd never reach his best friend's level as a player — and why that pushed him straight into coachingGetting his first FA badge at 16, UEFA B at 19, and the UEFA A license at 26 — a decade of qualifications with no job market waiting on the other side"Blind determination" as a career strategy: planning a future in a profession that didn't exist yetCoaching Beth Mead at the Middlesbrough Girls' Centre of Excellence — two evenings a week, a gym session, and a Saturday gameWhat he looked for in young players as a young coach: control it, pass it, dribble it — the physical stuff built out from thereArsenal at 24 under Laura Harvey — U17s, reserves, and a 15-year-old Leah Williamson training up with older playersHis theory on why today's young women's players may be more robust: more minutes, earlier, than the generation before themLeaving Arsenal for the FA — the regret, and the coach-education years that taught him to plan a session properlyOxford United, the smallest budget in the league, and the man-management lesson he's built the rest of his career on Quotes from Andy Cook“I always felt that I had different ideas to what I was being told as a boy.”“It was just blind determination. There was no job. There was no career.”“You have to plan your future based on something that you don't know.”“I thought, that is it, I've completed coaching. I've learned more every season since than I did in the first ten years.”“Could they control the ball? Could they pass the ball? Could they dribble with the ball? It all started from the ball, and then it built out from that.”“She was the best trainer, she was the one that had the best questions. She would stay back and want to do more.”“I'm always a little bit hesitant to say that's because of the work I did as a coach, because a youth player goes through so many different moments.”“If I'm really honest, I wish I didn't leave Arsenal. That's a regret I have.”“It was now trying to influence the coaches to then influence the players, and that is a completely different task, a completely different skill set.”“I never told them why I was picking them. All those man-management skills that I think are essential.” Connect with Andy Cook✖️ X: @AndyCook87Follow Chat By The Pitch🌐 Website: chatbythepitch.com 🎥 YouTube: Chat By The Pitch 📸 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch 🎵 TikTok: Chat.By.The.Pitch ✖️ X / Twitter: @ChatByThePitch 📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch 🎧 Spotify: Chat By The Pitch 🍎 Apple Podcasts: Chat By The Pitch 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter. #ChatByThePitch #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCoaching #WomensFootball #WSL #Arsenal #Middlesbrough #BethMead #LeahWilliamson #UEFACoaching #CoachEducation #SoccerParents #YouthDevelopment #FootballCoaching #DevelopmentOverWinning #GrassrootsSoccer #TalentID #SoccerPodcast #NorthTexasSoccer

Andy Cook coached Beth Mead at 14 and Leah Williamson at 15. He wasn’t looking for tactics or trophies — here’s what he was actually watching for.In Part 1, UEFA A licensed coach Andy Cook takes Ian Babcock through a youth soccer player development story that starts with a season ticket at Middlesbrough and ends up inside Arsenal’s women’s program. He got his first coaching badge at 16, in a country where full-time coaching jobs in the women’s game simply didn’t exist yet, and stacked qualification on qualification for a decade on nothing but what he calls blind determination.Along the way he coached two future England internationals before either of them could drive. His answer for what made them stand out is refreshingly plain: could they control it, could they pass it, could they dribble it. Everything else — speed, tactics, position — got built out from the ball. He also talks openly about the parts that didn’t work: leaving Arsenal too early, and a first head coaching job at Oxford United where the football was fine and the man-management wasn’t.If you’re a parent trying to understand what a good coach is actually looking at, or a coach wondering whether the badges are worth it, this one’s for you. Part 2 picks up with culture, trust, and why the individual matters more than the team until 18.Key Talking Points<ul><li>Falling for the game as a Middlesbrough season-ticket kid in the mid-'90s, and playing local club football until 16</li><li>The moment he realized he'd never reach his best friend's level as a player — and why that pushed him straight into coaching</li><li>Getting his first FA badge at 16, UEFA B at 19, and the UEFA A license at 26 — a decade of qualifications with no job market waiting on the other side</li><li>"Blind determination" as a career strategy: planning a future in a profession that didn't exist yet</li><li>Coaching Beth Mead at the Middlesbrough Girls' Centre of Excellence — two evenings a week, a gym session, and a Saturday game</li><li>What he looked for in young players as a young coach: control it, pass it, dribble it — the physical stuff built out from there</li><li>Arsenal at 24 under Laura Harvey — U17s, reserves, and a 15-year-old Leah Williamson training up with older players</li><li>His theory on why today's young women's players may be more robust: more minutes, earlier, than the generation before them</li><li>Leaving Arsenal for the FA — the regret, and the coach-education years that taught him to plan a session properly</li><li>Oxford United, the smallest budget in the league, and the man-management lesson he's built the rest of his career on</li></ul> Quotes from Andy Cook<ul><li>“I always felt that I had different ideas to what I was being told as a boy.”</li><li>“It was just blind determination. There was no job. There was no career.”</li><li>“You have to plan your future based on something that you don't know.”</li><li>“I thought, that is it, I've completed coaching. I've learned more every season since than I did in the first ten years.”</li><li>“Could they control the ball? Could they pass the ball? Could they dribble with the ball? It all started from the ball, and then it built out from that.”</li><li>“She was the best trainer, she was the one that had the best questions. She would stay back and want to do more.”</li><li>“I'm always a little bit hesitant to say that's because of the work I did as a coach, because a youth player goes through so many different moments.”</li><li>“If I'm really honest, I wish I didn't leave Arsenal. That's a regret I have.”</li><li>“It was now trying to influence the coaches to then influence the players, and that is a completely different task, a completely different skill set.”</li><li>“I never told them why I was picking them. All those man-management skills that I think are essential.”</li></ul> Connect with Andy Cook✖️ X: <a href="https://x.com/AndyCook87" rel="noopener noreferrer">@AndyCook87</a>Follow Chat By The Pitch🌐 Website: <a href="https://chatbythepitch.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">chatbythepitch.com</a>🎥 YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChatByThePitchPod" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chat By The Pitch</a>📸 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chatbythepitch" rel="noopener noreferrer">@ChatByThePitch</a>🎵 TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@chat.by.the.pitch" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chat.By.The.Pitch</a>✖️ X / Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/ChatByThePitch" rel="noopener noreferrer">@ChatByThePitch</a>📘 Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChatByThePitch" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chat By The Pitch</a>🎧 Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0zXb9WZ6nQh8n5p1tQwQhV" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chat By The Pitch</a>🍎 Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chat-by-the-pitch/id1722155166" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chat By The Pitch</a>🎧 Subscribe &amp; Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter.#ChatByThePitch #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCoaching #WomensFootball #WSL #Arsenal #Middlesbrough #BethMead #LeahWilliamson #UEFACoaching #CoachEducation #SoccerParents #YouthDevelopment #FootballCoaching #DevelopmentOverWinning #GrassrootsSoccer #TalentID #SoccerPodcast #NorthTexasSoccer

Youth Soccer Player Development: Spotting Talent Early with Andy Cook

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 players to pursue professional football, university degrees, careers in sport, and scholarships around the world.The conversation also dives into the differences between youth soccer in England and the United States, the realities of pay-to-play, the importance of community-based football culture, and why parents should focus on helping their children enjoy the game rather than chasing professional contracts.Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or club leader, this episode offers a global perspective on player development, education, and building lifelong relationships with the game.Key Talking Points<ul><li>John Keagan's journey from professional player to coach and educator.</li><li>The creation of Everton FC's Football College Program.</li><li>How the English education system differs from the U.S. model.</li><li>What a typical day looks like for Everton student-athletes.</li><li>Success rates for players moving into university, professional soccer, or careers in sport.</li><li>Scholarship opportunities available through Everton's programs.</li><li>International player pathways into the UK.</li><li>England vs. United States youth soccer culture.</li><li>The challenges and realities of the American pay-to-play model.</li><li>Why enjoyment and long-term participation should be the goal for young players.</li></ul> Quotes from John Keagan"We want everyone to be a success story.""It's very rare that students walk away from our program with nothing.""Everything that you would get with a professional team, we try to mimic.""Football is our national sport.""The standard of soccer in the United States is really high.""I think sometimes people are too critical of U.S. soccer.""Players will always find their level.""Everybody thinks their child is going to be the one.""People forget that it's a game to enjoy with your friends.""You still want people playing football in their forties, fifties, and beyond."Connect with John Keagan🌐 Website: evertonfc.ac.uk📸 Instagram: @evertonfootballcollege📧 Email: john.keegan@evertonfc.ac.ukFollow Chat By The Pitch🌐 Website: chatbythepitch.com🎥 YouTube: Chat By The Pitch YouTube📸 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch🎵 TikTok: Chat.By.The.Pitch✖️ X / Twitter: @ChatByThePitch📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch Facebook🎧 Spotify: Chat By The Pitch on Spotify🍎 Apple Podcasts: Chat By The Pitch on Apple Podcasts🔗 Linktree: Chat By The Pitch Links🎧 Subscribe & Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter.Hashtags#ChatByThePitch #EvertonFC #JohnKeagan #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParenting #FootballEducation #CollegeSoccer #SoccerPathways #YouthDevelopment #SoccerCoaching #MLSNext #ECNL #FootballCulture #Scholarships #SoccerFamilies #PlayerPathway #GrassrootsFootball #SoccerPodcast #FootballDevelopm

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 players to pursue professional football, university degrees, careers in sport, and scholarships around the world. The conversation also dives into the differences between youth soccer in England and the United States, the realities of pay-to-play, the importance of community-based football culture, and why parents should focus on helping their children enjoy the game rather than chasing professional contracts. Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or club leader, this episode offers a global perspective on player development, education, and building lifelong relationships with the game. Key Talking PointsJohn Keagan's journey from professional player to coach and educator.The creation of Everton FC's Football College Program.How the English education system differs from the U.S. model.What a typical day looks like for Everton student-athletes.Success rates for players moving into university, professional soccer, or careers in sport.Scholarship opportunities available through Everton's programs.International player pathways into the UK.England vs. United States youth soccer culture.The challenges and realities of the American pay-to-play model.Why enjoyment and long-term participation should be the goal for young players. Quotes from John Keagan "We want everyone to be a success story." "It's very rare that students walk away from our program with nothing." "Everything that you would get with a professional team, we try to mimic." "Football is our national sport." "The standard of soccer in the United States is really high." "I think sometimes people are too critical of U.S. soccer." "Players will always find their level." "Everybody thinks their child is going to be the one." "People forget that it's a game to enjoy with your friends." "You still want people playing football in their forties, fifties, and beyond." Connect with John Keagan 🌐 Website: evertonfc.ac.uk 📸 Instagram: @evertonfootballcollege 📧 Email: john.keegan@evertonfc.ac.uk Follow Chat By The Pitch 🌐 Website: chatbythepitch.com 🎥 YouTube: Chat By The Pitch YouTube 📸 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch 🎵 TikTok: Chat.By.The.Pitch ✖️ X / Twitter: @ChatByThePitch 📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch Facebook 🎧 Spotify: Chat By The Pitch on Spotify 🍎 Apple Podcasts: Chat By The Pitch on Apple Podcasts 🔗 Linktree: Chat By The Pitch Links 🎧 Subscribe & Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter. Hashtags #ChatByThePitch #EvertonFC #JohnKeagan #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParenting #FootballEducation #CollegeSoccer #SoccerPathways #YouthDevelopment #SoccerCoaching #MLSNext #ECNL #FootballCulture #Scholarships #SoccerFamilies #PlayerPathway #GrassrootsFootball #SoccerPodcast #FootballDevelopm

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 players to pursue professional football, university degrees, careers in sport, and scholarships around the world.The conversation also dives into the differences between youth soccer in England and the United States, the realities of pay-to-play, the importance of community-based football culture, and why parents should focus on helping their children enjoy the game rather than chasing professional contracts.Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or club leader, this episode offers a global perspective on player development, education, and building lifelong relationships with the game.Key Talking Points<ul><li>John Keagan's journey from professional player to coach and educator.</li><li>The creation of Everton FC's Football College Program.</li><li>How the English education system differs from the U.S. model.</li><li>What a typical day looks like for Everton student-athletes.</li><li>Success rates for players moving into university, professional soccer, or careers in sport.</li><li>Scholarship opportunities available through Everton's programs.</li><li>International player pathways into the UK.</li><li>England vs. United States youth soccer culture.</li><li>The challenges and realities of the American pay-to-play model.</li><li>Why enjoyment and long-term participation should be the goal for young players.</li></ul> Quotes from John Keagan"We want everyone to be a success story.""It's very rare that students walk away from our program with nothing.""Everything that you would get with a professional team, we try to mimic.""Football is our national sport.""The standard of soccer in the United States is really high.""I think sometimes people are too critical of U.S. soccer.""Players will always find their level.""Everybody thinks their child is going to be the one.""People forget that it's a game to enjoy with your friends.""You still want people playing football in their forties, fifties, and beyond."Connect with John Keagan🌐 Website: evertonfc.ac.uk📸 Instagram: @evertonfootballcollege📧 Email: john.keegan@evertonfc.ac.ukFollow Chat By The Pitch🌐 Website: chatbythepitch.com🎥 YouTube: Chat By The Pitch YouTube📸 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch🎵 TikTok: Chat.By.The.Pitch✖️ X / Twitter: @ChatByThePitch📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch Facebook🎧 Spotify: Chat By The Pitch on Spotify🍎 Apple Podcasts: Chat By The Pitch on Apple Podcasts🔗 Linktree: Chat By The Pitch Links🎧 Subscribe &amp; Review: Your support helps us keep bringing conversations with players, coaches, and leaders that matter.Hashtags#ChatByThePitch #EvertonFC #JohnKeagan #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerParenting #FootballEducation #CollegeSoccer #SoccerPathways #YouthDevelopment #SoccerCoaching #MLSNext #ECNL #FootballCulture #Scholarships #SoccerFamilies #PlayerPathway #GrassrootsFootball #SoccerPodcast #FootballDevelopm

Inside Everton Football College: A Different Pathway to the Game

Derek Waldeck shared his journey from a young player to being a pro in the USL League One.#Looking for the 1%#Grateful for family#DerekWaldeckInstagram: derek_waldeck4https://instagram.com/derek_waldeck4?igshid=NDc0ODY0MjQ=Questions?Chatbythepitch@gmail.com

Derek Waldeck shared his journey from a young player to being a pro in the USL League One. #Looking for the 1% #Grateful for family #DerekWaldeck Instagram: derek_waldeck4 https://instagram.com/derek_waldeck4?igshid=NDc0ODY0MjQ= Questions? Chatbythepitch@gmail.com

Derek Waldeck finding the 1% in life and the game.

Introducing Ian and podcast. First episode

Episode 1. Introduction

The start

Welcome to Chat By The Pitch — the soccer podcast that goes beyond the game.

Hosted by Ian Babcock, Chat By The Pitch is built around real conversations with the people shaping soccer from every angle — coaches, players, parents, club leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, analysts, and innovators. This isn’t a highlight show and it isn’t built around hot takes. It’s about the stories, lessons, challenges, and experiences that actually define the modern game.

Whether you’re a parent trying to better understand youth soccer, a coach looking to grow, a player chasing the next level, or simply someone passionate about the sport, Chat By The Pitch gives you honest, long-form conversations that dig deeper than surface-level opinions.

Every episode explores what really happens behind the scenes:
• The realities of youth soccer culture
• Coaching philosophy and player development
• Leadership and communication
• Parenting athletes in today’s environment
• The mental side of competition
• Building healthy club culture
• Technology changing the game
• The pathway from grassroots to elite levels
• Mistakes, lessons, and success stories from people living the game every day

Guests range from grassroots coaches and academy directors to former professional players, educators, authors, performance specialists, and creators working to improve soccer at every level. Some episodes focus on tactics and development. Others focus on leadership, culture, parenting, business, and the human side of sports.

What makes Chat By The Pitch different is the conversation style. These are not rushed interviews with canned answers. Ian approaches each episode as a passionate soccer parent, coach, and student of the game, creating open discussions that feel authentic, relatable, and educational. The goal is to ask the questions many people in soccer are already thinking about — but rarely hear discussed honestly.

Listeners come to Chat By The Pitch for:
• Real conversations instead of scripted interviews
• Practical insights coaches and parents can actually use
• Different perspectives from across the soccer world
• Stories that inspire growth on and off the field
• Honest discussions about the challenges in youth sports
• A deeper understanding of player development and leadership

If you care about soccer beyond the scoreboard — the people, the process, the culture, and the future of the game — this podcast is for you.

New episodes released regularly.

Connect with Chat By The Pitch on social media and join the conversation happening around the game we all love.

Sports

Education

Self-Improvement

Soccer

Parenting

Kids & Family

Welcome to Chat By The Pitch — the soccer podcast that goes beyond the game. Hosted by Ian Babcock, Chat By The Pitch is built around real conversations with the people shaping soccer from every angle — coaches, players, parents, club leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, analysts, and innovators. This isn’t a highlight show and it isn’t built around hot takes. It’s about the stories, lessons, challenges, and experiences that actually define the modern game. Whether you’re a parent trying to better understand youth soccer, a coach looking to grow, a player chasing the next level, or simply someone passionate about the sport, Chat By The Pitch gives you honest, long-form conversations that dig deeper than surface-level opinions. Every episode explores what really happens behind the scenes: • The realities of youth soccer culture • Coaching philosophy and player development • Leadership and communication • Parenting athletes in today’s environment • The mental side of competition • Building healthy club culture • Technology changing the game • The pathway from grassroots to elite levels • Mistakes, lessons, and success stories from people living the game every day Guests range from grassroots coaches and academy directors to former professional players, educators, authors, performance specialists, and creators working to improve soccer at every level. Some episodes focus on tactics and development. Others focus on leadership, culture, parenting, business, and the human side of sports. What makes Chat By The Pitch different is the conversation style. These are not rushed interviews with canned answers. Ian approaches each episode as a passionate soccer parent, coach, and student of the game, creating open discussions that feel authentic, relatable, and educational. The goal is to ask the questions many people in soccer are already thinking about — but rarely hear discussed honestly. Listeners come to Chat By The Pitch for: • Real conversations instead of scripted interviews • Practical insights coaches and parents can actually use • Different perspectives from across the soccer world • Stories that inspire growth on and off the field • Honest discussions about the challenges in youth sports • A deeper understanding of player development and leadership If you care about soccer beyond the scoreboard — the people, the process, the culture, and the future of the game — this podcast is for you. New episodes released regularly. Connect with Chat By The Pitch on social media and join the conversation happening around the game we all love.

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