Soccer by 3four3

Harry Kane has won the Ballon d’Or, USL is moving forward with promotion and relegation, and the structural problems facing American soccer remain largely unchanged. We open with Kane’s remarkable season and the debate over whether he deserves to be considered the best player in the world. His goal-scoring numbers are extraordinary, but numbers alone […]

Every parent wants what’s best for their child. But when it comes to youth soccer, good intentions don’t always lead to good decisions. In fact, some of the most common things parents do to help their kids may actually be working against them. In this episode, we discuss the dos and don’ts of youth soccer […]

Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest controversy with the Portuguese national team raises an important question: Does any player, regardless of their stature, have the right to challenge a coach’s authority? We examine Ronaldo’s suspension, his declining influence on the field, and the difficult reality of managing aging superstars. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi continues to produce extraordinary performances at […]

How does a soccer coach go from beginner to expert? And why do so many coaches spend decades in the profession without ever reaching that level? The evolution of a soccer coach typically begins with trial and error, progresses into the familiarity and confidence of an intermediate coach, and, for a select few, eventually leads […]

In American soccer, who succeeds isn’t always determined by what happens on the field. From the players we promote to the opportunities they receive, the system is shaped by interests that often have little to do with sporting merit. We begin with the USWNT’s loss to Spain and what it reveals about the changing landscape […]

American youth soccer parents and coaches have plenty to complain about. From playing time and excessive travel to questionable coaching decisions and clubs competing below their level, the frustrations are everywhere. For this episode, we went into Reddit’s youth soccer forum and selected real questions from parents and coaches across the country. None of the […]

Another international window, another win over Mexico, and another glimpse into what Mauricio Pochettino is trying to build with the USMNT. The U.S. beat Mexico 3-0, giving Pochettino three straight wins with a new crop of players. The results are important, especially after the pressure he was under not long ago, but there’s something bigger […]

The 4v1 rondo is one of the most fundamental exercises in soccer. It also happens to be one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we go deep into the details that make the 4v1 far more than a simple possession exercise. We start with Brian Kleiban’s early influences, including Marcelo Bielsa and his trips […]

What happens to a soccer culture when losing has no real consequences? Mauricio Pochettino’s answer is pretty clear: you learn how to lose. In his conversation with Chad Ochocinco, Pochettino pointed directly to the lack of promotion and relegation in MLS. Teams can finish at the bottom of the table and simply start preparing for […]

American soccer has a fundamental problem: the difference between recreation and genuine competition is widely misunderstood. When we call American soccer “recreational,” we’re not talking about AYSO, low-level players, or kids kicking a ball around on the weekend. Recreation can exist at every level of the game, including MLS NEXT, ECNL, USL, and MLS itself. […]