The Struggle Bubble

Andrew McRobbie has been in the middle of all of it as Director at All-Stars SC in Saratoga — and as a stepdad who just watched his daughter's soccer career end without knowing it was her last game.

Chad, Craig, and Andrew get into the real stuff: why 91% of academy players never play a professional minute, what "elite" actually means (hint: someone's paying you), the social media trap that's teaching kids to chase highlights instead of fundamentals, and Andrew's one-line philosophy every soccer parent needs to hear. His three-year-old Jude also makes an appearance in a vintage Aberdeen kit, which is its own kind of struggle.

Episode 35 Presented by Gaimplan

This week it's just Chad and Craig — no guest, no filter, a lot of real talk. They kick things off in the middle of their own Struggle Bubble: Chad's packing for a youth soccer tournament in Davis while baseball opening day looms, and Craig's sneaking in a podcast recording while Brittain manages a dance competition across town. Chaotic? Yes. On-brand? Absolutely.

From there the conversation goes deep on a question they keep circling back to: why are we doing this? Not "this" as in the podcast — but all of it. The travel tournaments. The pressure. The sideline screaming. The dad who's keeping a mental scorecard of which league his ten-year-old is in. They dig into comparison culture in youth sports, what actually happens to the kids who aren't getting game time, and what it means to reframe a tournament as a mini vacation rather than a must-win.

They also get into a wild real-life story: an opposing coach who pulled his entire team off the field mid-game over a physical-but-legal soccer match — and what it says about the state of youth coaching, burnout, and the economic pressures that are quietly running the show.

The back half of the episode hits on something more personal: what we model for our kids when we struggle ourselves. Chad talks about going back to weightlifting after 25 years. Craig talks about getting destroyed by a Theraband in a dance studio full of twelve-year-olds. And both of them make the same point: when our kids see us fail and watch how we respond — that's the real coaching.

• The comparison trap in youth sports — and how it starts at the club level, not just the sideline
• Why the first question after a game ("did you win?") might be the most damaging one we ask
• Process over outcome — and what that actually looks like in practice for a parent
• Letting kids fail, struggle, and advocate for themselves
• Coaching burnout, pay-to-play culture, and the economic motive that corrupts youth sports
• Modeling grit: what your kids learn when they watch you do hard things

Heath Clark has been coaching football and teaching history at Los Gatos High School since 2008. He's the kind of coach whose former players still come back. He's also the kind of dad who had to stop going to his daughter's flag football games — not because of scheduling, but because a parent accused his 14-year-old of conspiring to throw a game. For five-year-olds. That story is the tip of it. This episode tears into what we've gotten wrong about youth sports, education, and what "success" actually means when your kid is eight and everyone around you is acting like the scouts are watching. Heath talks about why football is actually better learned late, why the hardest workers — not the biggest kids — end up ahead, and why he writes a single sentence for himself before every season about who he's trying to be as a coach. This year's word: love. Chad and Craig push into specialization, the pay-to-play trap, and why the best Sunday of flag football season happened when nobody kept score. The conversation also gets into Heath's nonprofit, We Train LG — built because paying to play shouldn't lock kids out. NFL guys and awkward seventh graders train side by side on the same principles: work hard, get better, be a good human. Craig wraps it with a challenge from his English childhood: backpacks for goalposts, a dad with a ball, and nobody getting in a fight. That's it. That's the whole model.

The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the start of season two, challenges of podcasting, high school soccer, AI and technology, youth sports, coaching, and the impact of technology on education and sports. The conversation also delves into the importance of feedback, mental preparation, and the role of parents in youth sports.

Chapters

• 00:00 Season Two Kickoff and Podcasting Challenges
• 07:03 High School Soccer and Coaching Approach
• 17:02 AI, Technology, and Education in Sports
• 26:12 Youth Sports and Parental Role

In this episode of the Struggle Bubble, Chad and Craig discuss their summer experiences, including a memorable family vacation in Hawaii that involved a tsunami warning. They share insights on the challenges of parenting, coaching youth sports, and the importance of allowing children to pursue their passions. The conversation also touches on the culture of youth sports, the role of parents, and the evolving landscape of youth athletics, including discussions around NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities for young athletes.

Support the show

Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod

In this episode of the Struggle Bubble, Chad Kutting and Craig Surgey welcome Ricky Clarke, former head coach with the Houston Dash of the NWSL, who has extensive experience across various levels of the game of soccer. The conversation delves into Ricky's coaching journey, the importance of building a network, effective communication strategies in youth soccer, and the role of parents in player development. They discuss the challenges of coaching in the pros, adapting coaching styles for different age groups, and the significance of active coaching during games. The episode also touches on the complexities of navigating soccer programs and the struggles coaches face in today's environment. Ricky shares insights on leading as an interim coach and emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and being present in the moment.

Learn more from Ricky on his instagram page @rickymastercoach

Support the show

Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod

In this episode, Chad and Craig welcome listeners back to Season Two of The Struggle Bubble, discussing their experiences in coaching youth sports, particularly soccer and baseball. They delve into the psychological aspects of player development, the importance of communication between coaches and players, and the need for a supportive community in youth sports. The conversation also touches on the evolution of coaching philosophies and introduces their new venture, Gaimplan, aimed at helping families manage their busy schedules more effectively. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of community in parenting and sports.

Become a beta tester today at www.gaimplan.ai

Support the show

Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod

In this season finale of the Struggle Bubble, hosts Chad Kutting and Craig Surgey reflect on their journey through coaching, parenting, and personal growth. They discuss the challenges of balancing family life with coaching responsibilities, the transition from youth to high school soccer, and the importance of injury prevention in sports. The conversation also touches on the evolution of parenting, the significance of taking chances, and the lessons learned from their guests throughout the season. As they look back on their experiences, they emphasize the importance of time management and the journey of starting a business, all while navigating the chaos of family life.

Support the show

Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod

This week on The Struggle Bubble, we sit down with licensed marriage and family therapist Genna Lyons, who brings over 20 years of experience working with parents, kids, and couples. Genna dives deep into the impact of technology and social media on today’s youth, the challenges of maintaining genuine connections, and the unique struggles of parenting in a post-pandemic world. She shares valuable insights on managing anxiety, setting healthy boundaries with screen time, and teaching kids resilience through real-life experiences. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or mentor, Genna’s perspective offers practical advice for fostering emotional growth and independence in our kids. Listen in for an honest, enlightening conversation on building a stronger, more connected family.

Support the show

Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod

in this episode of The Struggle Bubble, we welcome Callie Stefani, Senior Director at AMD, and wife of our previous guest, Austin Stefani. Callie shares her unique perspective on managing a high-powered career in tech, balancing family life, and building a supportive community. Together, we dive into the reality of juggling demanding careers as a couple, the concept of “glass vs. rubber balls” in prioritizing responsibilities, and how Callie and Austin lean on their “village” to stay grounded.

Callie also opens up about the shifts in work-life expectations over her career, the importance of encouraging creativity and resilience in her kids, and how creating space for unstructured playtime impacts them. Tune in for an honest, relatable look at partnership, parenting, and making space for what truly matters—even when life feels like one continuous juggling act.

Support the show

Help support our podcast by subscribing on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Keep up to date with all things Struggle Bubble on our Instagram Page @thestrugglebubblepod