MLS is stepping into a new era — and we’re breaking it all down.In this episode of Touchline Talk, host Brandon Faust unpacks three of the biggest structural changes in Major League Soccer history:📅 New MLS CalendarFull switch arrives in the 2027–28 seasonTransition mini-season in early 2027New mid-July start, winter break, and spring season finishPros, cons, and what it means for players, clubs, and youth development📺 Apple TV Deal UpdateStarting in 2026, every MLS match is included in a normal Apple TV subscriptionNo more Season Pass add-onWhat this means for accessibility, scouting, analysis, and league growth🏆 2025 MLS Playoff PictureSame format: 9 teams per conference, Wild Card, Best-of-3 Round One, single-elimination afterwardsKey matchups + MLS Cup set for December 6, 2025Tactical implications and what youth coaches can learn from the structureIf you're a coach, player, or fan trying to understand how these changes shape the future of American soccer, this episode gives you the full breakdown.👍 Like the episode🔁 Share it with another coach📌 Subscribe for more weekly insights from the global game🙌 Thanks to Our Affiliate Sponsor!⚽ Total Football AnalysisGet 30% off your subscription with code SCS30👉 https://totalfootballanalysis.com****This episode is also sponsored by Equipt Studios Equipt Studios is an independent creative agency that outfits both amateur and professional sports organizations. From soccer logos that rival the pros to custom jerseys that tell your team's story, they bring high-level design and deep passion for the game to every project.Equipt creates beautiful badges for the beautiful game — and full kits built from the ground up with authenticity and style.⚽ Check them out at equiptstudios.com and take your team’s identity to the next level: https://equiptstudios.comSTAY CONNECTED WITH SOCCERSPECTIVE► Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Soccerspect...► Twitter:   / soccerspective  ► Instagram:   / soccerspective   ► Facebook:   / soccerspective  ► LinkedIn:   / soccerspective  

In this episode of Touchline Talk by Soccerspective, host Brandon Faust takes you inside La Masia, the world-renowned academy that has shaped legends like Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, and Piqué — and redefined what it means to “play the beautiful game.”We explore:⚽ A day in the life of a La Masia player — from classroom to training ground.📚 The academy’s holistic philosophy that develops the person before the player.🔍 How Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola revolutionized Barcelona’s playing DNA through La Masia.🌍 Why this model differs from other European academies — and what the United States can learn from it.🔥 Plus, we break down how Barcelona’s famous possession-based, attacking style became a global blueprint for player development.Whether you’re a coach, parent, or player, this episode offers practical insight into what makes La Masia the gold standard of youth football.📺 Watch now to discover how one academy changed the game forever.#Barcelona #LaMasia #SoccerDevelopment #Coaching #YouthSoccer #Messi #Soccerspective #TouchlineTalk🙌 Thanks to Our Affiliate Sponsor!⚽ Total Football AnalysisGet 30% off your subscription with code SCS30👉 https://totalfootballanalysis.com****This episode is also sponsored by Equipt Studios Equipt Studios is an independent creative agency that outfits both amateur and professional sports organizations. From soccer logos that rival the pros to custom jerseys that tell your team's story, they bring high-level design and deep passion for the game to every project.Equipt creates beautiful badges for the beautiful game — and full kits built from the ground up with authenticity and style.⚽ Check them out at equiptstudios.com and take your team’s identity to the next level: https://equiptstudios.comSTAY CONNECTED WITH SOCCERSPECTIVE► Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Soccerspect...► Twitter:   / soccerspective  ► Instagram:   / soccerspective   ► Facebook:   / soccerspective  ► LinkedIn:   / soccerspective  

At just 32 years old, Fabian Hürzeler is reshaping what it means to be a modern football manager. In this episode of Touchline Talk, host Brandon Faust breaks down how the Brighton & Hove Albion boss is blending German tactical discipline with fearless innovation — guiding the Seagulls to statement wins over Manchester City and Chelsea in the 2025–26 Premier League season.We’ll explore Hürzeler’s journey from Bayern Munich’s academy to St. Pauli’s touchline, his tactical system rooted in structured flexibility, and how his calm, clear leadership is transforming Brighton into one of the Premier League’s most exciting projects.💡 He’s not just managing matches — he’s designing systems.👉 Subscribe for more tactical breakdowns, leadership insights, and conversations shaping the future of football coaching.🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. #FabianHürzeler #Brighton #PremierLeague #FootballTactics #TouchlineTalk #ModernFootball #SoccerCoaching #Tactics #leadership 🙌 Thanks to Our Affiliate Sponsor!⚽ Total Football AnalysisGet 30% off your subscription with code SCS30👉 https://totalfootballanalysis.com****This episode is also sponsored by Equipt Studios Equipt Studios is an independent creative agency that outfits both amateur and professional sports organizations. From soccer logos that rival the pros to custom jerseys that tell your team's story, they bring high-level design and deep passion for the game to every project.Equipt creates beautiful badges for the beautiful game — and full kits built from the ground up with authenticity and style.⚽ Check them out at equiptstudios.com and take your team’s identity to the next level: https://equiptstudios.comSTAY CONNECTED WITH SOCCERSPECTIVE► Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Soccerspective?sub_confirmation=1► Twitter: https://twitter.com/soccerspective► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soccerspective/ ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soccerspective/► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soccerspective/

U.S. Soccer just released the NextGen College Soccer White Paper, outlining a massive reform plan for Division I men’s and women’s soccer — and it could change everything.In this episode of Soccerspective, host Brandon Faust breaks down the biggest takeaways:⚽ A proposed year-round season for men’s soccer📈 A promotion/relegation-style system between Regional and Local divisions💰 How schools could save up to $350K per year through regionalization👩‍🎓 A U-23 spring competition coming to the women’s game🧭 What this means for Divisions II, III, and the NAIAIf you coach, recruit, or develop players in the U.S., this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.👉 Subscribe for more episodes that unpack soccer’s evolving landscape — from tactics to leadership to the systems shaping the game’s future.📎 Full white paper: https://www.ussoccer.com/collegesoccer🙌 Thanks to Our Affiliate Sponsor!⚽ Total Football AnalysisGet 30% off your subscription with code SCS30👉 https://totalfootballanalysis.comSTAY CONNECTED WITH SOCCERSPECTIVE► Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Soccerspect...► Twitter:   / soccerspective  ► Instagram:   / soccerspective   ► Facebook:   / soccerspective  ► LinkedIn:   / soccerspective  

In this episode of Touchline Talk, we explore how Andoni Iraola has reshaped Bournemouth into one of the Premier League’s most dynamic teams. From his Basque roots and time under Marcelo Bielsa to his bold, high-pressing tactics, Iraola’s journey reveals a blueprint for modern coaching.We break down his style of play, tactical structure, and how he’s helped players like Alex Scott and Antoine Semenyo. A must-listen for coaches and fans who love studying how identity shapes innovation on the touchline.🙌 Thanks to Our Affiliate Sponsor!⚽ Total Football AnalysisGet 30% off your subscription with code SCS30👉 https://totalfootballanalysis.comSTAY CONNECTED WITH SOCCERSPECTIVE► Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Soccerspect...► Twitter:   / soccerspective  ► Instagram:   / soccerspective   ► Facebook:   / soccerspective  ► LinkedIn:   / soccerspective  

In this episode of Touchline Talk, we sit down with Paul Dreisbach—co-founder of Petrichor Football Association and a leading voice in global sports for development—to explore how soccer can be a powerful tool for social change.

From launching community-based leagues in Cameroon to partnering with global brands like LaLiga to pioneer La Ligue D’Égalité, Paul shares how his journey in football has become a mission to develop youth, empower girls, and create systems that promote lasting impact through the beautiful game.

We talk coaching in underserved communities, sustainable development in youth soccer, and how to build equity in the sport from the grassroots up.

Whether you're a coach, a leader, or simply passionate about football’s potential to transform lives, this conversation will inspire and challenge you.

Learn more about Petrichor: https://www.petrichorfootball.com

Connect with Paul: https://www.pauldreisbach.co

This episode is sponsored by Equipt Studios We’ve got an exciting giveaway in partnership with Equipt Studios: to be eligible you need to subscribe to Soccerspective youtube channel and comment “EQUIPT”.

Equipt Studios is an independent creative agency that outfits both amateur and professional sports organizations. From soccer logos that rival the pros to custom jerseys that tell your team's story, they bring high-level design and deep passion for the game to every project.

Equipt creates beautiful badges for the beautiful game — and full kits built from the ground up with authenticity and style.

⚽ Check them out at equiptstudios.com and take your team’s identity to the next level: equiptstudios.com

STAY CONNECTED WITH SOCCERSPECTIVE► Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Soccerspective?sub_confirmation=1► Twitter: https://twitter.com/soccerspective► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soccerspective/ ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soccerspective/► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soccerspective/INTRO, FUNDAMENTALS & EDUCATIONAL CONTENT► Soccer/Football Positions by Number: https://youtu.be/-D2Lu4nrn4w► INTERNSHIP at an English Premier League Club: https://youtu.be/HhslKBxKauMCOACHING/TRAINING DRILLS► Easy & Effective Half-Field Drill FOR ANY COACHING THEME: https://youtu.be/PmoeZ4Tgc50► How to Defend Corner Kick - Zonal vs Man-Marking: https://youtu.be/QwhaKaGgnKQ► Best Ladder Drills for Speed, Agility, Strength, Endurance and Technique: https://youtu.be/vZWnldDSt4A► Simple Warm-Up with the ball for dribbling and passing sessions: https://youtu.be/bzsXE8ew-ks► U12 Warm-Up Drills with Static Stretching, Agility Ladder and Dynamic Movement: https://youtu.be/vUGV9EhJz0I► High-Intensity GK vs GK drill: https://youtu.be/1pB9SIQH8eM► Goalkeeper Reaction Drills and Training: https://youtu.be/jlbKf8-CeIATACTICAL ANALYSIS VIDEOS► FIVE Examples of HIGH-PRESS DEFENSIVE TACTICS: https://youtu.be/aaxb1EVujiw► ATTACKING STRATEGY for 5v5 and 7v7: https://youtu.be/xuK8JECcjqs► Inter Milan 3-5-2 Tactical Analysis: https://youtu.be/MmNaN7wNgEA► England 3-4-2-1 Tactical Formation for Euro 2021: https://youtu.be/a2wnwXnvQHg► Jurgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 Tactical Masterclass that won Liverpool the league title: https://youtu.be/RHKfr9zcLz0► 8 things Jose Mourinho got right about Manchester United: https://youtu.be/TYprzw-GZ0oCOACHING LICENSES AND PATHWAY VIDEOS► UEFA A License Full Session - Attacking against an ultra-defensive team: https://youtu.be/LSFspR25h4E► CONCACAF Football Coaching D License: https://youtu.be/_DDk0y2xWmI► Canada Coaching Pathway - Provincial B License: https://youtu.be/MhCuIuHwIv4► UEFA A License - Creating Attacking Chances from Wide Areas: https://youtu.be/OC7oTBaOygg► USA National F License Course: https://youtu.be/yYSrwuCAJ5s► USA National E License Course: https://youtu.be/bf6MZ9IW5gk

Big changes are coming to U.S. youth soccer. In this episode of Touchline Talk by Soccerspective, host Brandon Faust breaks down the highly debated shift from birth-year to school-year age groupings set to roll out in the 2026-27 season.

We explore:
⚽ The 2017 move to birth-year groupings — why it happened
🌍 How other countries structure their youth systems
📅 What the new flexible policy means for clubs, coaches, and parents
✅ Pros like better social cohesion, retention, and developmental alignment
⚠️ Cons like transition confusion and competitive disruption
📣 What clubs and directors of coaching (DOCs) should be doing right now

Featuring expert insights and quotes from John O'Sullivan (Changing the Game Project) and Tab Ramos (U.S. Soccer), this episode equips you with everything you need to know about one of the most impactful youth soccer policy shifts in recent years.

👉 Like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments: Should the U.S. go back to school-year age groups?

#YouthSoccer #USSoccer #TouchlineTalk #Soccerspective #Coaching #YouthSports #SoccerDevelopment #USClubSoccer #AYSO #USYouthSoccer #youthsoccercoaches #soccercoach

🙌 Thanks to Our Affiliate Sponsor!⚽ Total Football AnalysisGet 30% off your subscription with code SCS30👉 https://totalfootballanalysis.com

In this episode of Touchline Talk by Soccerspective, we’re thrilled to welcome Vince Ganzberg, a true leader in the world of soccer coach education. Vince currently serves as the Director of Coach Education for US Club Soccer, where he partners with member leagues and clubs to develop coaches, expand strategic partnerships, and create new educational content.

With a professional career dedicated to coaching education for more than 20 years, Vince has held key roles with Indiana Soccer Association, United Soccer Coaches, and U.S. Soccer, where he continues to deliver grassroots, D, C, and B license courses and develop future coach educators. He was responsible for creating the former ‘F’ license online course (now grassroots).

His contributions to the game have been recognized with numerous honors, including induction into the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame and the prestigious Dr. Tom Fleck Award. Vince brings a wealth of experience, insight, and passion for developing coaches at every level, and we’re excited to learn from his journey and expertise.

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with coaches, managers, and leaders shaping the future of soccer.

#Soccerspective #TouchlineTalk #YouthSoccer #SoccerCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #Leadership #USSF #collegesoccer #americansoccer #collegerecruiting #usclubsoccer #collegesoccerrecruiting #soccercareer #coachingdirector #coachingcurriculum

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In this episode of Touchline Talk by Soccerspective, host Brandon Faust sits down with Georgia Gwinnett College Head Coach Steve DeCou to discuss transformational vs transactional coaching and what it means to strive for excellence on and off the field. Coach DeCou has built GGC into a national NAIA powerhouse with:* A 153-60-26 record at GGC (274-152-41 career)* 10 NAIA national tournament appearances* 2 NAIA quarterfinal runs (2017, 2022)* 15 NAIA All-Americans coachedWe explore his leadership journey, player development philosophy, and character shape his program’s culture.Learn more about Coach Steve and Georgie Gwinnett College here: https://ggcathletics.com/staff-directory/steve-decou/73🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with coaches, managers, and leaders shaping the future of soccer.

Watch episodes on YouTube#Soccerspective #TouchlineTalk #YouthSoccer #SoccerCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #Leadership #USSF #collegesoccer #naiasoccer #americansoccer #collegerecruiting #collegesoccerrecruiting #georgiasoccer #georgia #soccercareer 🙌 Thanks to Our Affiliate Sponsors!⚽ Total Football AnalysisGet 30% off your subscription with code SCS30👉 https://totalfootballanalysis.com🎓 CourseraTake the next step toward your personal and professional goals!Get 25% off Coursera Plus Annual Membership (Offer ends April 14th)👉 https://imp.i384100.net/c/6101991/283...Support the show by checking out our sponsors and leveling up your game and growth!

In this episode of Touchline Talk by Soccerspective, host Brandon Faust sits down with Eric McDonald—an experienced youth coach with a deep love for the game and a heart for developing resilient players on and off the pitch.

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Eric currently serves as the U14 Girls Head Coach at Inter Atlanta and a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Varsity Boys at Drew Charter High School. A product of the competitive DC soccer scene, Eric played club soccer for Reston FC and starred at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia—one of the nation’s top programs—where he helped lead the team to two Virginia State Championships.

Despite an injury-shortened senior year, Eric received collegiate offers and went on to attend Hampden-Sydney College, where his coaching journey truly began. By his sophomore year, he was already serving as a student assistant.

From coaching at Dulles Sportsplex in Virginia at just 15 years old, to working with players of all ages and skill levels across clubs like FPYC and Inter Atlanta, Eric now brings over a decade of coaching experience to the table. He recently completed his USSF C License and continues to grow as both a leader and mentor in the game.

Tune in as we talk about player development, building character through the sport, and what keeps Eric inspired to invest in the next generation.

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with coaches, managers, and leaders shaping the future of soccer.

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#Soccerspective #TouchlineTalk #YouthSoccer #SoccerCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #Leadership #USSF