In this episode of The Inside Scoop, I push back on the common “U.S. Soccer bad, rest of the world good” narrative. Sparked by a heated Facebook group discussion, we look at league tables, myths about youth soccer abroad, and whether parents here are focusing on the wrong things—missing what truly drives player development.

This episode of The Inside Scoop is a follow-up to my recent discussion on soccer IQ. Instead of just theory, I share real match clips that highlight how the principles, patterns, and people we talked about actually play out on the field.

It’s a chance to see the framework come to life—through the eyes of both a parent and a player.

Here is the playlist in case the video is not clear

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbONH4Pe_wRVI1V_bfJBVoDu7juX1VVLP&si=JkQaJkJcwFxa4O5z

This week on The Inside Scoop, we dive into one of the toughest questions every soccer parent eventually asks: How do I help my child improve their soccer IQ?

It all started when I got a message from one of my Morehouse brothers—when a Morehouse man asks, you answer. What seemed like a simple question opened up a much bigger conversation about the game, how kids really learn, and the role we play as parents and coaches.

In this episode, I share my own journey—from stumbling through training sessions with my sons, to coaching high school soccer, to learning the hard truths about how awareness, principles of play, and patterns actually develop.

Along the way, I’ll reveal the frameworks I use as a “parent trainer” to make sense of soccer IQ—so that even if we don’t have all the answers, we can ask the right questions.

This show is brought to you by Anytime Soccer Training, the only program with 5,000+ follow-along videos designed to give kids 4–5x more touches than traditional training.

Don’t miss the FREE 7-Day Training Plan Challenge—7 sessions straight to your inbox that you can keep forever

In this episode of The Inside Scoop, I sit down with João Plantier—UEFA Pro Coach and General Manager at FuteBALLER—to talk about what makes Portuguese youth soccer different from the U.S.

We dig into the culture, coaching, and pathways that have produced world-class players at clubs like Sporting CP and Benfica, and explore what parents and coaches in the States can learn from Europe’s approach.

Just dropped a new snippet from my chat with João Plantier, UEFA Pro Coach and General Manager at FuteBALLER.
https://www.futeballer.co/coaches

We dug into the differences between youth soccer in Portugal and the U.S.—from culture to coaching to player development.

Check it out and let me know what stands out to you.

Full episode dropping this Friday!

Hey, it’s Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training and your host of The Inside Scoop. Normally, this show is all about exploring the soccer pathways available to kids around the world. But today’s a little different—it’s a check-in episode.

I’ve been quiet lately because I took on a new role: assistant high school coach and head JV coach. For someone who didn’t grow up playing the game, this feels like the full circle moment of my soccer journey—from learning through my own kids, to building Anytime Soccer Training, to now coaching a group of young men every day.

In this episode, I share my first impressions of high school soccer—the challenges, the surprises, and the lessons I’m learning on the fly. From setting standards and building trust, to dealing with skill gaps and limited prep time, I’ll take you behind the scenes of what this first season has been like.

This is just the beginning. I’ll be inviting other high school and JV coaches on the show to trade notes, share tips, and keep learning together.

So if you’re a coach, a parent, or just curious about what high school soccer really looks like from the sidelines—this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m sharing a bit about what it means to be a parent trainer—and why I think so many of us fall into that category without even realizing it.

I talk about the balance between pushing too hard and not doing enough, why deliberate practice still matters, and the role tech can play in all this. Plus, I share one simple tip for getting high-quality training without spending a dime—something I wish more parents knew about.

Hey everyone — Neil Crawford here, founder of Anytime Soccer Training and host of The Inside Scoop.In this episode, I sit down with Gloria Stitt, co-founder of https://ussoccerparent.com/, and a soccer mom with an incredible story. Her son’s journey took him from futsal courts in New York City all the way to playing in Madrid, Spain.We dive into:⚽ How soccer is part of her Hispanic heritage🌍 The key differences between U.S. and international development💡 Real, heartfelt advice for parents navigating the youth soccer systemWhether you're just getting started or deep in the journey — this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical tips.🔗 Check out https://ussoccerparent.com/ for more resources🎧 Subscribe for more episodes of The Inside ScoopLet’s get into it!

Hey guys, it’s Neil Crawford, founder of Anytime Soccer Training, and welcome back to The Inside Scoop. Today I’m sitting down with the incredible Gloria Stitt — co-founder of a new website called ussoccerparent.com, a much-needed resource for families navigating the wild world of youth soccer.

In this episode, Gloria shares her personal story as a soccer mom whose son went from futsal in New York City all the way to playing in Madrid, Spain. We talk about how soccer is woven into her Hispanic heritage, what it was like supporting her son’s dream, and the big differences she noticed between U.S. and international soccer development.

Gloria also gives some heartfelt tips for parents just starting this journey. If you’re a soccer parent—or just trying to figure this whole system out—this one’s for you. Let’s get into it.

Hey guys, it’s Neil Crawford here—founder of Anytime Soccer Training and host of The Inside Scoop. I just wrapped up a great interview with Gloria Stitt, co-founder of the new site

www.USSoccerParent.com.

This is just a quick preview, but we talked about why they built the site and how it’s designed to help parents navigate the youth soccer journey with more clarity and confidence.

Full episode coming soon…stay tuned!