Building a Soccer Culture: ViaFooty’s Mission to Bring Community & Creativity to U.S. Soccer

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Over The Line

James McGhee

6 episodes

6 months ago

The U.S. soccer system is broken—holding back countless young players from realizing their potential, not because of a lack of talent, but because the pathways to success are flawed. The Over The Line Podcast is here to change that. This podcast creates a space for powerful, brutally honest conversations about the state of US soccer, its challenges in succeeding on the world stage and the opportunities on the horizon. I, James McGhee, am on a hot pursuit for answers and am committed to bringing those answers to the soccer community nationwide. I agree with Christian Pulisic when he says, "The problem with American soccer… it isn’t talent." U.S. Soccer is failing the next generation of men—not because of a lack of ability, but because the system isn’t designed to help players reach their full potential. This podcast is about finding solutions by amplifying the voices of those already making a difference. Together, we’ll uncover their journeys, lessons, and strategies to transform youth soccer for the better. As for me, I’ve experienced the system firsthand. I played four years at the collegiate level and three years professionally, facing both triumphs and challenges along the way. Breaking through wasn’t just a physical battle; it was mental and systemic. Those experiences lit a fire in me to help develop the next generation of players into the best versions of themselves—on and off the field. If you’re passionate about elevating youth soccer and empowering young athletes, this podcast is for you. Let’s spark a movement and take the game over the line.

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Building a Soccer Culture: ViaFooty’s Mission to Bring Community & Creativity to U.S. Soccer

Over The Line

57 minutes

7 months ago

Building a Soccer Culture: ViaFooty’s Mission to Bring Community & Creativity to U.S. Soccer

In this episode of Over The Line Podcast, we explore the intersection of street soccer, professional player development, and the current state of the U.S. soccer system. We start with a conversation about ViaFooty, a growing street soccer brand dedicated to bringing creativity and flair back to the game. We dive into their mission, the importance of unstructured play, and how street soccer can create more dynamic and skillful players. From there, we shift into an in-depth discussion with two professional soccer players, breaking down their personal journeys through the U.S. soccer system—from youth development to the professional ranks. They share their thoughts on the challenges of youth soccer, the pay-to-play system, the lack of creativity in American player development, and what needs to change for the U.S. to compete at the highest level.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:22 - Talking about ViaFooty
14:45 - Creativity and flair in U.S. soccer—why it’s lacking and robotic
23:00 - Current state of soccer in the U.S.
24:30 - The importance of 1-on-1 training sessions
30:00 - The business of U.S. youth soccer vs. the European system
32:30 - Individual development in club soccer—why I do what I do
34:30 - Issues with U.S. soccer at the professional level
43:00 - Where does college soccer fit in?
45:00 - How can we fix U.S. soccer? What is our goal as a country?
48:00 - The more opportunities, the better
51:00 - Advice for a 12-year-old dreaming of becoming a professional

What do you think? Does the U.S. need more street soccer-style training to develop top-level talent? Drop your thoughts in the comments.