The Inside Scoop with Anytime Soccer Training - Discussing Youth Soccer from Around the World

When I started this journey as a soccer parent, I had no idea what I was signing up for financially. Now, a few years in, I think I finally get it — and it's not a simple answer.

In this episode I walk through both sides of the equation: the demand side, where American culture around opportunity is driving prices up, and the supply side, where consolidation is locking out competition. Once you understand both, the picture gets a lot clearer.Free resources mentioned in this episodehttps://www.anytime-soccer.com/soccer-club-cost-calculator

https://www.anytime-soccer.com/free-resource-hub

Your kid comes off the field holding their knee. You've heard them say it before — my knees are killing me. But this time, something feels different.

In this episode of The Inside Scoop, Neil Crawford sits down with Jason Goumas — physical therapist and founder of New Direction Wellness & PT — to break down one of the most common and most misunderstood conditions affecting young soccer players: Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Jason explains what it actually is, why soccer players are hit harder than any other sport, and the signs parents need to watch for during their child's growth spurts. He also tackles the question every parent faces — should your kid play through the pain or stop completely?

If your child has ever complained about knee pain after practice or a game, this conversation could change how you handle it.

🔗 Learn more about Jason: newdirectionwpt.com/blog

I get a lot of questions about how the program is structured, so I dedicated this episode to breaking it all down. I explain what QR and FR mean in the video system — Quick Review and Final Review — and walk through the curriculum logic: how we introduce one move at a time, build in interval-based repetition, and systematically review everything so your child gets maximum touches in minimum time.

I also share why the program focuses on structured repetition over lengthy verbal instruction, why we don't have extensive demo videos, and how this system is designed to last your child 10 to 15 years without repeating a single video.

Everyone has an opinion about how expensive youth soccer has become — but before you join the conversation, there are questions you need to answer first. I break down what every soccer parent should know before deciding whether the cost is worth it, a ripoff, or somewhere in between

A soccer parent asks how to structure a 3-hour-per-week summer program for his daughter's team.

Neil breaks down how to layer foundational ball mastery and juggling for all players while adding position-specific 1v1 skills for forwards and midfielders — giving coaches and parents a simple, practical framework to keep girls sharp all summer long.

What does it really take to get noticed by a professional scout?

In this episode of The Inside Scoop, Neil Crawford sits down with Chris Robinson — Director of The Scouting Game and a veteran of over 30 years in professional soccer, including nearly a decade recruiting for Chelsea FC's academy.

Chris breaks down what scouts are actually evaluating when they watch your child play, the traits that get players noticed, and the hard truths most parents aren't ready to hear. If your kid has dreams of playing at the next level, this conversation could change how you see the entire process.

Chris is also the author of The Scouting Game: An Insider's Guide to Talent Spotting Football's Next Stars — a must-read for any serious soccer family.

🔗 Grab the book: https://amzn.to/4tKC44H

🌐 Learn more: https://thescoutinggame.co.uk

I got a great question from one of our members that I think a lot of you can relate to — how do you actually set up a smart, balanced training plan for your kid without spending hours picking videos every week?

In this episode, I break down exactly how to approach training plans inside Anytime Soccer Training now that the platform has evolved. I walk through how to balance all the skill areas — ball mastery, juggling, passing, 1v1, turns, finishing — without just burning through one category at a time. I also share my take on structuring things week-by-week so that missing a session doesn't throw your whole plan off track.

Plus, I answer a quick question on managing user profiles and subscriptions inside the platform.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by where to start or unsure how to keep things progressing — this one's for you.

👉 Grab the free resources and get started here: anytime-soccer.com/free-resource-hub

Every club in my area says the same thing — high quality, low cost, player-centered. So how do you actually choose?

In this episode, I share how I'm thinking through it, what my non-negotiables are, and the one thing I look for that at least points me in the right direction.

Today's question in the Anytime Soccer Training Facebook group was a familiar one: winning or losing at the youth level has little to no correlation with development — true or false?

In this quick gut-reaction episode, I explain why I think "no correlation" is a cop-out, what it actually means to define development in a youth soccer context, and why if you're going to dismiss the scoreboard you'd better replace it with something just as measurable. I also get into the elephant in the room most coaches won't touch — the accountability piece — and lay out the specific markers I'd want to see instead.

I saw a post that said you can't develop Ronaldinhos unless you let kids try Ronaldinho things — and while part of me agrees, most of me pushes back hard. In this quick audio diary, I explain why I don't believe structured, sanctioned games are the place for kids to upskill, and why "be creative, try stuff" can quietly become code for a lack of accountability.

If you haven't practiced the move a thousand times on your own, the game isn't the stage to debut it — and I'll tell you exactly what I'd rather see instead.