Modern Soccer Coach Podcast

This week on the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Glenn Crooks.

A former Division 1 college coach, MLS commentator for New York City FC, and host of the Coaching Academy on SiriusXM, Glenn brings a unique perspective shaped by years inside the game. His new book, Put It on Frame, draws from conversations with some of the top coaching minds and forms the foundation for a discussion that goes well beyond tactics.

This episode gets into the reality of coaching at a deeper level — what actually separates top coaches, how they think, and how they lead. It’s a conversation about clarity, personality, and managing people in environments that are constantly evolving.

Gary and Glenn also explore the current state of US coaching and player development — a landscape that continues to grow, but is still searching for a clear identity at the highest levels of the game.

In this episode, we cover:

What top coaches really do differently
Why coaching is more about managing than tactics
The biggest challenges in US player development
Key trends shaping MLS right now
What success should actually look like for the US national team

If you’re serious about your coaching, this episode will challenge how you see the role and what it really demands.

If you’d like to win a copy of Glenn’s book, comment “book” below.

Make sure to like and subscribe for more weekly coaching content.

Check out MSC High School Course below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/msc-launches-online-high-school-game-model-course

High school soccer is often overlooked in the U.S. development landscape — but are we getting this completely wrong?

In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Jim Harte shares a powerful perspective on the role of high school soccer, why it continues to thrive, and what the game might be missing by shifting too far toward club structures.

We dive into:

Where high school soccer sits in today’s landscape
The rise of the High School Champions League
Player experience vs “development” models
Community, identity, and why the game still matters
What coaches can actually take from this

This is a conversation that challenges assumptions — and forces us to rethink what development really means.

If you’re a coach working in high school, club, or both, this is one you need to hear.

FREE sign up for Dan Abrahams Live Discussion below:
https://event.webinarjam.com/vm2mo/register/gmxmqhl5

Follow Steven's work at @LeftFieldProductions

In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, we sit down with former Premier League defender Steven Caulker to explore the reality of player development, pressure, and what young players actually need today.

Steven shares powerful insights from his journey through the Premier League, including his time at Liverpool, Tottenham, and international football, and how those experiences shaped his perspective on coaching and supporting players.

This conversation goes beyond tactics and into the human side of the game — emotional intelligence, communication, and the challenges players face behind the scenes.

We discuss:

The pressure of playing at the highest level and why it’s often misunderstood
Why emotional intelligence should be part of coach education
The gap between theory and reality in player development
Supporting players through setbacks, mistakes, and off-field challenges
Why football is creating “the same player” and losing creativity
The importance of communication, relatability, and real-life experience in coaching

This is a must-listen for coaches working with youth and elite players who want to better understand the modern game and the people within it.

If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and share with other coaches.

Visit the link below to learn more:
https://impressiveplayai.com/

Contact Sam at: [email protected]

One of the biggest challenges in coaching today isn’t effort — it’s clarity.

Most coaches are still relying on the “eye test”… trying to watch the game, track performance, and make decisions all at the same time. And the reality is, we miss things. Important things.

In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, I sit down with Sam Sackett, founder of Impressive Play, to explore how voice AI is changing the way coaches capture and understand the game.

No video setup. No complicated systems. Just your voice — and the ability to track what actually happens in real time.

We get into:

Why the “eye test” is holding coaches back
The gap between subjective and objective coaching
How to track the “how” behind performance, not just the outcome
What this means for player development, feedback, and trust with families
How coaches can use data without losing the feel of the game

This is a fascinating conversation on where coaching is heading — and what it means for anyone working in the youth or elite game.

A big thank you to Sam and Impressive Play for supporting this episode.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments — would you use this in your coaching?

#ModernSoccerCoach #SoccerCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #FootballCoaching #CoachingEducation

Click here to access Saul's presentation for FREE on MSC Insider:
https://forms.gle/nEFQYuyxMMPXo7Vp8

This is one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast.

Saul Isaksson-Hurst joins Gary Curneen to break down the reality of individual development in today’s game—and why so many players are plateauing despite working harder than ever.

We get into the biggest misconceptions in coaching right now, including the idea that practice makes perfect, the over-reliance on game-based training, and the growing tension between club environments and individual training.

Saul shares how elite players actually develop their technical level, why 20 minutes of focused work can outperform hours of unfocused training, and why coaches must find a better balance between opposed and unopposed work.

We also dive into the explosion of individual coaching, the lack of quality control in the space, and why there is still a major gap in coach education when it comes to developing players on the ball.

If you care about player development, this episode will challenge how you think about training.

A huge thank you to Zone 14 Coaching for supporting the podcast. Their journals are designed to help coaches and players plan, reflect, and track development with real intention across the season. Check them out and use the code for a discount.