The Next Level Training Soccer Podcast with host Aaron Byrd and Jeff Suffolk

Episode 72 - Someone make it make sense. Please! Scorelines are out of control, teams are driving across the country to lose by 10. Can we just look at USA Hockey for a little bit of guidance? Minnesota High School Hockey is the coolest sporting event in all of youth sports, and we are just ignoring it. Dive in on this topic and more.

Jeff and Aaron get into the weeds on hot questions from our parent listeners. What exactly is being said on the sidelines?

On Episode 70, Aaron and Jeff explore the merits of winning the Double Bronze Bracket in your local tournament or putting your players in the deep end of the pool. Is it time for a shift in leagues? Are we doing a disservice to the players who are looking to achieve greatness by hiding them in third tier leagues with first tier marketing? Join the fun on this episode.

On Episode 69, we have returning guests Performance Coach, Ryan Blanck and MLS Pro Soccer Coach Mitch Hildebrandt talking about expectations, holding people accountable and some incredible nuggets for young coaches and players.

Episode 68 - Aaron and Jeff dive deep into playing time, what's fair, what's not fair and what to do as a parent.

Guess who's back? Back again. Guess who's back, guess who's back...

Ok, we're back! Summer has been awesome but brutal! Let's dive into some positive feedback for the upcoming season.

In Episode 66 Aaron comes out of retirement to talk Pay To Play Problems, How to make the next Haaland, and How Bad is Germany at futbol?

On Episode 65 we bring on the founder and designer of the Youth Soccer Rankings app. Mark Lewis has changed the way we look at teams across the United States through a youth soccer lens. On today's show we talk about who the craziest parents are, where the best teams are based and how to raise your rankings!

Episode 64 Welcomes Coach Byrd back to the show! The boys tackle everything from the World Cup to Wrestlemania at the Canton Cup. Enjoy!

What if everything you thought was the point of youth soccer… isn't? In Episode 63, we sit down with C. Thi Nguyen — Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah and author of the new book The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game — to explore one of the most important questions in youth sports: are you chasing what actually matters, or have you been captured by a system someone else designed? From the rec field to the elite club circuit, Thi breaks down why scoring systems that were meant to measure what we value end up replacing it — and what it looks like to help your kid play their own game. If you've ever found yourself stressed at a tournament, confused about tryouts, or wondering why none of it feels like enough, this episode is for you.

The World Cup is ON! The boys break down the flaws in travel soccer scheduling, and a big teaser into the next episode! Enjoy!

We're less than 45 days away from the 2026 Fifa World Cup kickoff and there's so much to discuss. Check on on Episode 61 for some of our hottest takes on the current status. Let's Go!

In Episode 60, Jeff and Aaron bring on US Soccer Educator and USSF A License Coach, Jason Smith, from one of the largest grassroot programs in the Midwest United States, in Traverse City Michigan.

It's tryout season, and emotions are as high as ever before. Coaches are scrambling to keep teams together. Parents are making deals behind closed doors. And the kids are just looking to push themselves to accomplish their personal goals. Lots to unpack this week.

In Episode 58, hosts Jeff Suffolk and Aaron Byrd sit down with One Knox coach Luc Dessieux to dive into what's going on in Tennessee youth development and the future of the game through a USL program on the rise.

In Episode 57 of the Most Influential Youth Soccer Coaches in the Country, hosts Aaron Byrd and Jeff Suffolk bring in NCAA legend, Simone Omekanda to the show. Simone was a two-time First Team Big Ten Player at Penn State, a Youth National Team Player, drafted in the MLS and now a youth coach for the Michigan Bucks.

This one is for the goal keepers (and anyone who loves a good story). Former MLS Pro goal keep and D1 NCAA Hall of Famer, Mitch Hildebrandt joins the boys on Episode 56 to talk everything from what's the pathway for goalies, to how to overcome adversity.

In Episode 50ish, Aaron gets put on the hot seat by Jeff and answers the tough questions. Plus a reflection on where the show has gone and where it's going.

San Diego FC Talent Scout, Lisa Berg joins the show from sunny California. Lisa has one of the most unique and diverse backgrounds in coaching. She brings incredible insight on talent identification from around the globe.

In the series of the Most Influential Youth Soccer Coaches in the Country, Aaron and Jeff bring on pioneer Erin Lycan Ridley of the NWSL Bay FC and formerly San Jose Earthquakes Pro Youth Academy.