CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

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Alf Gracombe

13 episodes

1 week ago

Boston City Councilor Ben Weber joins the show to discuss the intersection of youth sports and local politics. From coaching grassroots soccer to serving at City Hall, Ben shares insights on the resource disparities facing city athletes, the controversial White Stadium renovation and Legacy FC partnership, and why Boston's young athletes are underperforming despite the city's size and talent. We explore what it takes to advocate for youth sports infrastructure, how professional women's soccer...

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Episodes (13/13)

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Ben Weber on Advocating for Youth Sports: A Boston City Councilor's Perspective

1 week ago

58 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Chris Hoeh Remembers Dean Conway

In this heartfelt episode, host Alf Gracombe honors the legacy of Dean Conway, a beloved mentor and coach who passed away earlier this year. Through conversations with Chris Hoeh, a long-time collaborator of Dean, the episode explores Dean's profound impact on youth sports, his coaching philosophy centered around fun and mastery, and the community he built through soccer. The discussion also delves into personal anecdotes that highlight Dean's character, his approach to coaching, and the less...

1 month ago

38 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Neil Harris - Person Before Player: 21 Years at Manchester United Academy

In this conversation, Neil Harris shares his extensive coaching journey, transitioning from a player to a coach at Manchester United and eventually becoming self-employed. He discusses the importance of building trust with players and their families, the challenges faced in modern youth football, and the impact of professionalism on player development. Harris emphasizes the need for individualized coaching approaches and the significance of mentorship in shaping young players. He also reflect...

1 month ago

1 hour 17 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Joe Cummings Remembers Dean Conway

Today's conversation is with Joe Cummings, a longtime leader in American soccer who knew and worked with Dean Conway going back over 40 years. Joe's career has spanned coaching, education, and executive leadership roles throughout the soccer community. He served as CEO of United Soccer Coaches from 2009 to 2015, was Technical Director at the New England Revolution, and worked as President and General Manager of the Boston Breakers. But before all of that, Joe was a 7th grade teacher who met D...

3 months ago

40 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Edu Rubio - Premier League and UEFA Pro Coach

In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, host Alf Gracombe speaks with Edu Rubio, a UEFA Pro coach with nearly two decades of experience in English football. They discuss Edu's journey from youth coaching to the Premier League (Wolves and West Ham), the importance of authenticity in coaching, and the balance between player development and achieving results. Edu shares insights on creating a positive coaching environment, effective communication during games, and the critical role of halftim...

5 months ago

1 hour 3 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Meotis Erikson - Creating Better Journeys for Young Female Athletes

In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, Alf Gracombe speaks with Meotis Erickson, a former elite player turned coach, about her journey in soccer. They discuss the evolution of the women's game, the importance of creating healthy environments for young athletes, and the challenges faced by female coaches. Meotis shares her insights on coaching philosophy, the role of parents in youth sports, and the need for more female representation in coaching roles. The conversation emphasizes the impo...

5 months ago

1 hour 25 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Michael Paule-Carres - Head of F7 Methodology at RCD Espanyol

In this conversation, Alf Gracombe speaks with Michael Paule-Carres, head of F7 methodology at RCD Espanyol, about his journey from the U.S. to coaching in Spain. They discuss the importance of values-based player development, the application of Montessori methods in coaching, and the significance of understanding player development stages. Michael emphasizes the role of methodology in coaching, the cultural values at Espanyol, and the benefits of mixed-age training. They explore constraints-...

5 months ago

1 hour 13 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Biso Nkosi - A Coaching Journey from South Africa to Japan

In this engaging conversation with Biso Nkosi, we explored the journey of a coach whose football education spans multiple continents. From his childhood playing on the dusty streets of South Africa to coaching youth players across various cultures, Biso offers a unique cross-cultural perspective on youth development in football. He shares insights about the structural differences between nations like Japan, Spain, Brazil, and South Africa, explaining how early exposure to ball mastery and tec...

7 months ago

58 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

David Shapiro - Youth Sports, Mentorship, and Inclusive Communities

In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, host Alf Gracombe speaks with David Shapiro, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston. They discuss David's journey from youth sports to nonprofit leadership, emphasizing the importance of relationships over outcomes in coaching and mentorship. David shares insights on creating inclusive communities through sports, the dynamics of coaching diverse groups, and the significance of mentorship in youth development. The conversation also touches on...

7 months ago

1 hour 16 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Temisan Williams - Premier League Youth Academy Coach

In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, Temisan Williams shares his journey from a young football enthusiast to a dedicated coach. He discusses the importance of grassroots football, the differences between coaching at grassroots and academy levels, and the significance of effective communication and structured training. Temisan emphasizes the need for patience and the power of silence in coaching, advocating for a coaching philosophy that allows players to learn and develop through experi...

8 months ago

49 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Rick Fenoglio - Sports Science, Neurological Development, and Youth Sports

This episode features Rick Fenoglio, an American-born sports scientist and soccer development expert with over three decades of experience working with top clubs in the UK, including Manchester United and Manchester City. The conversation explores Fenoglio's journey from playing multiple sports in Illinois to becoming a leading advocate for small-sided games and science-based youth development approaches in soccer. Fenoglio explains how the human body's 30 trillion cells adapt specifically t...

9 months ago

1 hour 4 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Mike Smith - Developing Young Athletes Across Different Cultures

In this conversation, Mike Smith shares his journey from a young sports enthusiast in England to a college soccer player at Harvard and later a coach in the U.S. He reflects on the emotional impact of the 1966 World Cup, his experiences in organized football, and the vibrant community of the Portuguese league in Massachusetts. Mike discusses the evolution of youth soccer in America and his passion for coaching, emphasizing the importance of patience and understanding in developing young playe...

10 months ago

1 hour 26 minutes

CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Jon Rudzinski - A Life of Sports, Player Development in the Grassroots and High School

In this inaugural episode of CoachCraft, host Alf Gracombe interviews Jon Rudzinski, a veteran soccer coach with over two decades of experience in youth sports. Jon shares his journey from a sports-loving childhood to becoming a dedicated coach at Boston Latin School and Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer. He discusses the evolution of coaching philosophies, the importance of player development, and the transformative impact of grassroots soccer programs. Jon emphasizes the significance of community,...

11 months ago

54 minutes