This episode is with my good friend Porter Garrison Terry.

Porter and I both coach in Oregon and have developed a good friendship over the

last several years. We connected initially on social media (twitter), and then

crossed paths at the fields on occasion. Eventually, it became a regular occurrence

that we would meet up for coffee, or lunch, to discuss a variety of topics

relating to coaching and the youth soccer landscape.

We have scouted teams and players together, shared notes,

and have both given and sought advice from each other.

Many topics and ideas have been tossed around about how and

when I would get Porter on the podcast.

Last weekend Porter and I coached against each other for the

first time. Afterwards we went out to lunch. Over an hour later I decided to

pull out my phone and record our conversation.

The plan was to do a “Quick Shot”—a short conversation about

a very specific topic. It ended up going over an hour. So much for a quick

shot. Maybe next time.

On this episode Porter and I talk about the player and coach capacity and how it might be the thing holding most of us back.

This article on Culture and Environment speaks to it a little.

I also like this interview with Greg Vanney after Toronto FC's 5-1 loss to Eric Wynalda's Las Vegas Lights the other day in pre-season. It echoes some of the thoughts that Porter and I discuss in this conversation.

You can connect with Porter on twitter @PorterGTsoccer

You can connect with me on twitter @thisguytoph

My guest this week is Saul Isaksson-Hurst. Saul is a 1-on-1 technical coach that offers online programming at https://mypersonalfootballcoach.com/ and via his app of the same name.

He is also the host of the @mpfcpodcast

You can find Saul on twitter @MyFootballCoach

This week I spoke with Joey Cascio (@SupremacyTF) about our journey as coaches. Balancing our ambitions and commitment to the craft while also being husbands and fathers. We talk about what we have learned along the way and what we wished we had known at the beginning of the process.

Joey can be found on twitter @SupremacyTF

He is currently coaching at FRAM and is a staff member of 3FOUR3

My guest for episode #11 is Doug Lemov, author of Teach Like a Champion and Practice Perfect. I was introduced to Doug's work while completing my graduate degree in teaching. Shortly after reading TLAC I had the opportunity to interact with Doug via social media. In the conversation he told me he had just started working with US Soccer and their new coaching education programs. Since that time I have taken the C and B Licenses and Doug's influence on those courses and the instructors is obvious.

As both a PE teacher and coach, I find Doug's work insightful, practical, and effective. It was a pleasure to have him on the podcast and I am confident you will enjoy this conversation.

You can find Doug on twitter at @Doug_Lemov

His blog is http://teachlikeachampion.com/blog/

Check out his books (links provided above) on Amazon.

Here it is folks, episode 10 of Talking With Toph. Why is this of note? Because I set a goal at the beginning of 2017 to record and publish 10 episodes. It is fitting that this, my 10th episode, completes the goal and will be the last episode of the year.

Based on the feedback and responses I plan on continuing the podcast, though I have not set a goal for 2018…yet.

This is what I know:

I plan on continuing to record and publish episodes.

I will continue to invite on interesting guests to interview and converse with, but I will also look at some other ways to provide audio content. I will try some different formats.

Certainly, my goal for 2018 will be for an increase in episode frequency…though I haven’t decided yet on a number.

I just want to say thank you for listening this year and I look forward to continuing this journey in the coming year.

Today my guest is Paul Varian. Paul does a great job at the beginning of the interview explaining his background and expertise, so I won’t bore you by repeating it.

Instead of talking about coaching, Paul and I talk about how youth sports organizations are structured, the common mistakes made at an organizational level, and some ideas and tips of how organizations should operate more effectively and efficiently.

I honestly wish I would have be introduced to Paul five years ago.

This conversation most likely won’t interest everyone, but is packed full of great information for anyone working at a DOC or Technical Director level, and especially for anyone on the board of a soccer club.

You can connect with Paul on Twitter @paulvarian

Paul also encourages people to connect with him on LinkedIn where he publishes a variety of articles on the subjects of non-profit management and youth sports organizations.

You can check out his business at http://www.capitisconsulting.ca/

Bruno Pereira is a foundation coach at ASPIRE Academy in Qatar. Prior to moving to Qatar he grew up and began his coaching career in Portugal, where he coached at CF Benfica and SL Benfica.

We talk about guided discovery, performance environments, and explore ideas and concepts that we may or may not have differing opinions on. This might be my favorite podcast to date! No offense to my previous guests but this was an interesting and unexpected conversation that went in a lot of great directions.

Hope you all enjoy!

Follow Bruno on Twitter @bmrp81

Jon Burklo and I have been friends for a few years. I had interacted with Jon on twitter a few times and heard him on the Football Garden podcast, and then Jon and I connected via email because we were both running small clubs and trying to do similar things. We shared resources and ideas for how to best turn our ideas in to real life application.

Sometime after Jon moved on to a full-time gig with St. Louis Scott Gallagher we both ended up at the Mayor International Showcase in Las Vegas. Strangely enough we were staying at the same terrible motel.

Now we both coach in the USSDA, albeit in very different situations.

I was glad that Jon was able to take some time to chat with me for the podcast. In this episode we talk about Jon's playing career, his move in to coaching, the struggles and joys of running a small club, and what we are learning coaching in the DA.

Unfortunately, Jon was limited on time and our conversation comes to a pretty abrupt end. No worries, though, Jon and I are already working on setting up a part 2.

Enjoy!

After a brief hiatus I am back with my round two discussion with Jordan Farrell. Last time Jordan was on the show he was an assistant coach at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. Not anymore! Jordan talks to me about his recent move to the US Development Academy working with the U13s and U14s at Sacramento Republic.

Our conversation takes us down various paths as we discuss recruiting in youth soccer, periodization planning for youth teams, and how becoming a parent effects your coaching.

Enjoy!

Today's guest is Brett Uttley.  Brett is currently the Assistant Coach at Rio Grande Valley FC in Houston, TX.  RGVFC is the reserve team for the Houston Dynamos and competes in the USL.

Prior to his recent move to RGVFC Brett worked as the Fitness Coach for Sounders 2, under the leadership of the Sounders High Performance Director, Dave Tenney.

Brett is a certified CSCS and graduated from the MBP School of Coaches in Barcelona, Spain.

In this conversation we talk about Brett's journey to RGVFC, how he balances his physical prep and training load priorities with his technical and tactical priorities, and the role of developing the individual within the team.

Resources:

Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food

The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life — Master Any Skill or Challenge by Learning to Love the Process

The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living

 

You can find Brett on Twitter @BrettUttley and on his blog https://www.togsoccer.com/

In this episode I talk to Jordan Ferrell, Assistant Coach at University of the Pacific (NCAA DI) and  boys' coach at Central Valley Monarcas Academy.

Jordan and I met in Seattle, WA at the USSF C License course this summer.  We quickly realized we were cut from the same cloth and had similar views on the game and many mutual friends and acquaintances.

Jordan just finished his third season as Asst. Coach at Pacific and helped lead the team to a 13-4-2 record (best in program history) and a NCAA Tournament appearance (first in program history), where they lost in the second round to the eventual National Champions, Stanford.  Jordan and the rest of the Pacific staff were named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division I Far West Region Staff of the Year.

Prior to joining Pacific, Ferrell earned Coach of the Year honors as head coach of San Joaquin Delta College.

You can find Jordan on Facebook and on Twitter @ferrell_jz