BREAKING THE LINE

Episode 69 of Breaking the Line:  Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, speaks with Lehigh Men’s Soccer Head Coach Dean Koski. Dean speaks about his 32 years at Lehigh and the influence The ECNL has had on his own youth club, Lehigh Valley United.

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Episode 68 of Breaking the Line: Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, speaks with Albertin Montoya & Durwood Williams. Albertin is the Director of Coaching/Technical Director at MVLA and has spent time leading US Youth National Teams, WPS, and NWSL. Later, Durwood Williams, Director of Business Development at Soccer.com, joins Dean Linke and discuss the relationship with The ECNL and the genesis of Soccer.com.

“>Episode 67 of Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast features ECNL National Selection Program Director & East Meadow Soccer Club Director of Coaching, Ruairi McGuinness. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, speaks with Ruairi about the crux of the the National Selection Game and what it has become to identify talent across the league.

Episode 66 of Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast features US Club Soccer CEO Mike Cullina and US Club Soccer Director of Coaching Education Vince Ganzberg. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, speaks with Cullina and Ganzberg about the partnership between the ECNL and US Club Soccer, what the Coaching Education Department brings to US Club Soccer, and more.

Episode 65 of Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast features Dr. Drew Watson, Chief Medical Advisor for the ECNL. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, speaks with Dr. Watson about his presentation, The Relationship Between Injuries and the Mind, that he gave at this year’s ECNL Coaching Symposium, the importance of athletes getting necessary amounts of sleep to help prevent injuries, and more.

Episode 64 of Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast features Ceri Bowley, the ECNL Technical Advisor. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, speaks with Bowley about his career in soccer, his time with City Football Group, his future with the ECNL, and more.

Episode 63 of Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast features Margueritte Aozasa, UCLA women’s soccer head coach. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, speaks with Aozasa about winning the National Championship, her coaching career, her time with MVLA, and more.

Episode 62 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show, and Christian Lavers, President and CEO of the ECNL. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, speaks with Hawk about his career, some of his favorite guests on his podcast, and more.

Episode 61 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Jason Kutney, ECNL Boys Commissioner, Ralph Richards, ECNL Girls Commissioner, and Blayne Fink, ECNL Senior Manager of Events and Selection Programs. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, previews next week’s ECNL Coaching Symposium with them, talks with Fink about her time with the ECNL, and more.

Episode 60 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Doug Lemov, the ECNL’s Coaching Methodology Advisor and New York Times Best-Selling author, and Memo Sifuentes, the Austin FC U12 Academy Coach. President and CEO of the ECNL, Christian Lavers, talks with Lemov and Sifuentes about gameday coaching, halftime talks, how to help regulate players’ emotion and attention while they play, and more.

Episode 59 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Drew Rea, Boys Director at Legends FC, and Ever Morataya, Boys Technical Director at Legends FC. ECNL Boys Commissioner, Jason Kutney, speaks with Rea and Morataya about the development of Legends FC in Southern California, their time at ECNL South Carolina in December, their careers in soccer, and more.

Episode 58 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Didier Chambaron, Director of Coaching Education for U.S. Soccer. President and CEO of the ECNL, Christian Lavers, talks with Chambaron about his career in soccer, how he got into coaching, the future of U.S. Soccer in coaching education, and more.

Episode 57 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Ronnie Woodard, Director of Member Services for the Tennessee Soccer Club as well as the ECNL U19 Girls Head Coach. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with Woodard about her career as a coach, last weekend’s ECNL National Event in Tennessee, and more.

Episode 56 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Kristine Lilly, the all-time leader in international caps for both men and women. Lilly is also a two-time World Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and won four NCAA National Championships at the University of North Carolina. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with Lilly about her career with the US Women’s National Team, her time at North Carolina, and more.

Episode 55 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Mike Whiteman, Director of Sports Science for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, as well as an author at SimpliFaster. ECNL Boys Commissioner, Jason Kutney, speaks with Whiteman about sports science, the way sports performance training has developed over the years, the future of sports science moving forward, and more.

Episode 54 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Iowa Hawkeye senior, Sam Cary. Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with Cary about the people who inspired and motivated her throughout her career, her time in the ECNL playing for SLSG, and her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Episode 53 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Hue Menzies, previous head coach of the Jamaican Women’s National Team, and Lorne Donaldson, current head coach of the Jamaican Women’s National Team. Menzies and Donaldson speak with ECNL Communications Manager, Ryan Bothmann, about their coaching careers, time in the ECNL, and share stories of their time leading Jamaica to its first ever Women’s World Cup appearance.

Episode 52 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Riley Jackson, midfielder for Concorde Fire Platinum, and Jackson Ozburn, goalkeeper for University of Washington and formerly Crossfire Premier. Both Jackson and Ozburn were named the U18/19 Players of the Year for the 2021-22 season. ECNL Boys Commissioner, Jason Kutney, speaks with both players about their playing careers.

Episode 51 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Christian Lavers, President and CEO of the ECNL, and Doug Bracken, Vice President of the ECNL. In the State of the Union episode, Breaking the Line podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with Lavers and Bracken about the past season, the growth of the league, and looks forward to an exciting upcoming season.

Episode 50 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Garvin Quamina, head coach at Concorde Fire Platinum, and Mark Howard, head coach at Oklahoma Energy FC. ECNL Boys Commissioner, Jason Kutney, and ECNL Girls Commissioner Ralph Richards, announce Quamina and Howard as the 2022 Kwik Goal ECNL Coaches of the Year. They also discuss the people who helped develop them into the coaches they are today, the impact they have had at their clubs, and more.

Episode 49 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Drew Roff, head coach of women’s soccer at Purdue University, and Neil Jones, head coach of men’s soccer at the University of Wisconsin. Both coaches talk with Breaking the Line podcast host Dean Linke about their coaching careers, importance of assembling a good coaching staff, upcoming seasons, the important role ECNL events play in helping them scout players, and more.

Episode 48 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Edvaldo Pedro, ECNL Director at DKSC, Athletic Director at Allegiance Academy, and ECNL Boys U15 National Champions and Juan Martinez, President and Executive Director for D’feeters Kicks Soccer Club. ECNL Boys Commissioner, Jason Kutney, talks with Pedro and Martinez about the merging of D’Feeter and Dallas Kicks, their admission into The ECNL boys, The Allegiance Academy, winning a National Championship, and more.

Episode 47 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Ralph Richards, ECNL Girls Director for St. Louis Scott Gallagher and Head Coach of the ECNL Girls U16 National Champions. Breaking the Line podcast host Dean Linke chats with Richards about winning the ECNL Girls U16 national championship, the culture around St. Louis Scott Gallagher, his journey throughout soccer and more.

Episode 46 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Girls and ECNL Boys National Finals are right around the corner, and Breaking the Line podcast host Dean Linke dives into both championship events, previewing what’s ahead. Linke is first joined by ECNL COO and ECNL Girls Commissioner Jen Winnagle to discuss the ECNL Girls National Finals in Richmond, Va. from July 8-11, and then he sits down with ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney and Pipeline SC ECNL Boys Director Brandon Quaranta to survey the field for the ECNL Boys National Finals in St. Louis. MO from July 15-18.

It’s all that and much more on this edition of Breaking the Line, the ECNL Podcast!

Episode 45 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Lori Trautmann and Sean Bubb of the Florida Club League. Trautmann, the organization’s Executive Director and Bubb, the FCL’s North Advisor, both chat with Breaking the Line podcast host Dean Linke about the league, their involvement with the ECNL at the Regional League level, how teams have been able to go from the Regional League to the ECNL Club Competition, and more.

Episode 44 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features John Pardini, Adam Reekie, Gary Gartner and Scott Wollaston, key members of the NC Fusion leadership group. Breaking the Line podcast host Dean Linke chats with the group about the formation of NC Fusion, the impact of the ECNL on the club’s players, the expectations for ECNL National Playoffs and more.

Episode 43 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Novi Maric, CEO of Florida Premier. Breaking the Line podcast host Dean Linke chats with Maric about growing up and playing youth soccer in Germany, coming to the US and coaching youth soccer by the age of 22, growing Florida Premier FC with his twin brother, Bosho, and more.

Episode 42 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Dr. Drew Watson, the ECNL’s Chief Medical Advisor. As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Breaking the Line podcast host Dean Linke speaks with Watson about the importance of mental health awareness, especially in adolescents

Resources:

For adolescents

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

US Department of Health and Human Services information:
opa.hhs.gov/adolescent-health/m…-health-adolescents

National Institute of Mental Health:
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry facts for families: www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_You…ba12e644b7#letterE

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry anxiety information: www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and…ous-Child-047.aspx

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry depression information: www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and…sed-Child-004.aspx

For/about athletes:

American Academy of Pediatrics article on sports and mental health during COVID: publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/1…tal-for-mental

NCAA Mental Health Resources:
www.ncaa.org/sports/2016/8/4/me…nal-resources.aspx

USOPC resources for mental health:
www.teamusa.org/mentalhealth

American Medical Society for Sports Medicine position statement on mental health: bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/4/216

Episode 41 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Meg Nemzer, the new head coach of Maryland’s women’s soccer program. Breaking the Line podcast host Dean Linke chats with Nemzer about the growth of youth soccer since her playing days at Bethesda, her new opportunity with the Terrapins, the talent of ECNL players, and more.

Episode 40 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Walker Zimmerman, two-time MLS Defender of the Year and USMNT standout, and Nuno Piteira, GSA Boys Director and former coach for Zimmerman. Breaking the Line Podcast host Dean Linke chats sits down with the pair, chatting about Zimmerman’s experiences in youth soccer, how youth soccer has changed since he was a kid, how Piteira helped foster Zimmerman’s leadership qualities and more.

Episode 39 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Ben Pirmann, Head Coach of Memphis 901 of the USL Championship. Breaking the Line Podcast host Dean Linke sits down with the former NCAA and pro player, chatting about his experience playing youth soccer with current ECNL club Vardar, his journey through the coaching ranks, and more.

Episode 38 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Warren Barton (Del Mar Sharks), Lee Morris (South Carolina United) and Brian Quinn (SDSC Surf), all former professional soccer players who are now coaching in the ECNL. Breaking the Line Podcast host Dean Linke chats with the three pros about their time playing professional soccer in Europe, what brought them over to the United States, how the game is taught differently in North America vs. Europe, and much more.

Episode 37 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Jason Kutney, ECNL Boys Commissioner, Darel Russell, Heat FC coach and ECNL Boys social media personality and Andrea Wheeler, ECNL Director of Creative Services. Breaking the Line Podcast host Dean Linke chats with all three about everything that goes into the ECNL Boys social media creative process, getting insights and a behind-the-scenes look at the strategy and development of the creative ideation. Linke also sits down with ECNL Communications Manager Jacob Born for an employee spotlight, discussing his journey to the ECNL and what he’s doing for the league now.

Episode 36 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken, the ECNL’s President and Vice President, respectively. Breaking the Line Podcast host Dean Linke sat down with the duo at the ECNL Coaching Symposium in Las Vegas, discussing the state of the ECNL, what the future holds for the league and more.

Episode 35 of Breaking The Line: Ahead of the ECNL’s Coaching Symposium in Las Vegas, Breaking the Line Podcast host Dean Linke brings in the ECNL Leadership for Episode 35 of the ECNL Podcast. Linke chats with ECNL President Christian Lavers, ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken, ECNL COO and Girls Commissioner Jen Winnagle and ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney about the ECNL Coaching Symposium, asking them about their favorite memories of the convention, what attendees can expect this year, the star-studded lineup of guest speakers, and more.

Episode 34 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Geoff VanDeusen, the newly hired CEO of United Soccer Coaches. Breaking the Line Podcast host Dean Linke chats with VanDeusen about his excitement for starting his new role, his vision for United Soccer Coaches, his winding path playing and coaching through the club, high school and collegiate levels, what’s in store at the United Soccer Coaches Convention from Jan. 19 – 23, featuring ECNL President Christian Lavers, and more.

Episode 33 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak and Tim Sahaydak, a husband and wife coaching duo leading the charge at UCF for the women’s soccer program. ECNL Podcast host Dean Linke chats with the couple about their beginnings at North Carolina – Chapel Hill, how the two began dating while also pursuing professional soccer dreams, Tiffany’s national team experience, their children now playing in the ECNL and more.

Episode 32 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features US Soccer Hall of Famer Alexi Lalas, current Fox Sports soccer broadcaster and former MLS and USMNT star. ECNL Podcast host Dean Linke chats with Lalas about growing up in Michigan playing ice hockey and soccer, his time with the USMNT playing in two World Cups and two Olympics, transitioning from playing soccer to working in soccer after retirement, and more.

Episode 31 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Dean Linke, the Breaking the Line Podcast Host and broadcaster for more than 20 years, covering sports such as soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, gymnastics, basketball, baseball and more. This edition of Breaking the Line is hosted by ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney, and he chats with Linke about his time with US Soccer, his journey throughout broadcasting, his hobbies outside of broadcasting and more.

Episode 30 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Jen Klein, Head Coach for the Big Ten Champions Michigan women’s soccer program. ECNL Podcast Dean Linke chats with Klein about her squad’s route to the Big Ten title and a No. 2 seed in the upcoming Women’s College Cup, her coaching journey through the youth and collegiate levels, how ECNL has changed the game for women’s soccer and more.

Episode 29 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Jeff Hosler, Head Coach for Michigan State women’s soccer. ECNL Podcast host Dean Linke chats with Hosler about his first year with the Spartans, Michigan State making the Big Ten Conference tournament for the first time in 10 seasons, winning multiple national championships at the DII level, and more.

Episode 28 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Doug Lemov, the ECNL’s Coaching Methodology Advisor and New York Times Best-Selling author. His published works include Teach Like a Champion and The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. ECNL Podcast host Dean Linke and ECNL President Christian Lavers chat with Lemov about following the science in education, the importance of background knowledge in teaching players, the power of forgetting and more.

Episode 27 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Joey Skinner, former Charlotte Independence defender and reigning ECNL Boys U18/19 Player of the Year and Korbin Albert, former Eclipse Select SC midfield and reigning ECNL Girls U18/19 Player of the Year. ECNL Podcast host Dean Linke chats with both Skinner and Albert about their time in ECNL, winning their respective Player of the Year awards, their paths to NCAA D1 soccer and more.

Episode 26 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Eric Bell, the head coach for TCU’s women’s soccer team. ECNL Podcast host Dean Linke chats with Bell about his journey from sales into coaching, his stops at Illinois and Florida State before TCU, recruiting trips to ECNL events, the Horned Frogs’ title hopes in 2021 and more.

Episode 25 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Damon Nahas, an assistant coach for the University of North Carolina women’s soccer team, hired by the school in 2015. ECNL Podcast host Dean Linke chats with Nahas about his time with the US Women’s National and Youth programs, winning two ECNL national championships with North Carolina FC, how his development as an NCAA player helped guide his coaching career and more.

Episode 24 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Kenneth Medina, the Executive Director for Sting Soccer, has a coaching career that has spanned 30+ years, which includes numerous regional, national and ECNL championships, and has been an ECNL board member for 12 years. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, chats with Medina about his vast coaching career, what he brought to Sting and the philosophies that makes the club successful, how ECNL has changed over the years and more.

Episode 23 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Ted Chronopoulos, the Academy Director for Pateadores, Victor Pace, ECNL Director for CESA, and Santino Quaranta, Technical Director for Pipeline SC. ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney leads a panel with all three DOCs, discussing their club’s philosophies, how each club can continue to push the youth game forward, what brought them to the ECNL and more.

Episode 22 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Walid Khoury, LAFC Slammers Director of Coaching, and Aaron Brunner, Richmond United’s ECNL Director. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, chat with Khoury and Brunner about their respective club’s paths to the ECNL Girls National Finals, how they prepared for the weekend, their club’s title chase and more.

Episode 21 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Martin Rennie, a professional coach who has managed clubs such as MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps FC, USL’s Indy Eleven, the Carolina RailHawks (now North Carolina FC) and more, and his daughter Lauren, a current ECNL player who will play collegiate soccer at Indiana Wesleyan starting next season. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney, chat with Martin and Lauren about Martin’s journey through the coaching ranks, how he brought his experience in sales and marketing into soccer, Lauren being born into soccer, her experiences in the ECNL and more.

Episode 20 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Kevin Payne, former DC United President and CEO, former Toronto FC President and member of the 2021 National Soccer Hall of Fame class. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, chats with Payne about his soccer beginnings, his journey throughout pro soccer, what the future of soccer could look like and more.

Episode 19 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features ECNL Girls Commissioner Jen Winnagle and special guest Shelley Smith, Head Coach of the South Carolina women’s soccer team. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, chats with Winnagle about ECNL South Carolina, having more than 900 college coaches back on the sidelines following the end of the Division I recruiting dead period and looking ahead to Playoffs. Linke then follows Winnagle with a conversation with Smith, discussing her career leading to South Carolina, being back on the recruiting trail and USC alumni playing professional soccer today.

Episode 18 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features special guests Chris Grassie, Head Coach of the Marshall University men’s soccer team, and Jerry Smith, Head Coach of the Santa Clara University women’s soccer team. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney and ECNL President Christian Lavers, chat with Grassie and Smith respectively about their recent College Cup championships, the twists and turns of their coaching careers and more.

Episode 17 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features special guest Ian Barker, the Director of Coaching Education for United Soccer Coaches. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, chat with Barker about his coaching career, which has spanned multiple collegiate divisions and speaking internationally, how to measure success as a coach, how to mold the next generation of coaches and more.

Episode 16 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features special guest Cobi Jones, former USMNT standout, former LA Galaxy midfielder and current LA Galaxy broadcaster. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, chat with Jones about his journey to become the most capped player in USMNT history, his post-playing broadcasting career, one of the most pivotal moments in his soccer career and more.

Episode 15 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features special guests Paula Wilkins, the current and all-time winningest head coach for the University of Wisconsin’s women’s soccer program, and Jordyn Bloomer, the Badgers’ first-team All-American goalkeeper. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, chat with the two about player development, the recruiting process for coaches and players, how important communication is on and off the field for building relationships and more.

Episode 14 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features special guest Fergus Connolly, a performance coach and an expert in elite team performance, working with Liverpool FC, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, the Navy Seals and more. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, chat with Fergus about what makes an athlete elite, Fergus’ experiences and bringing in different elements from the different organizations, leaning on others and more.

Episode 13 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features special guests Scott McDoniel, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri Girls Director of Coaching, and Kelsey Dinges, St. Louis Scott Gallagher U16 and U18/19 Head Coach. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, talk to both McDoniel and Dinges about SLSG MO’s Leadership Initiative, having more females in coaching, if she can see it, she can be it and more.

Episode 12 of Breaking The Line:The ECNL Podcast features special guests Erica Dambach, Head Coach of Penn State’s Women’s Soccer team, and Sam Coffey, ECNL alum and current senior with Penn State. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President Christian Lavers, talk to both Dambach and Coffey about Penn State soccer, coaching strategies, the relationship between coaches and players, being a good teammate and more.

Episode 11 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features special guest Grant Hill, co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks, a 7-time NBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, 2-time NCAA Champion with Duke University and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL President, Christian Lavers, talk to Hill about him wanting to be the next Pele when growing up, transitioning into basketball, navigating his professional career and now being a soccer dad.

Episode 10 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features special guests Boyzzz Khumalo, Co-Founder of Umhlaba Vision Foundation, and Greg Simmonds, former Jamaican National Team player and Co-Founder and President of Own Touch Soccer. ECNL Podcast host, Dean Linke, along with ECNL Boys Commissioner, Jason Kutney, talk to both Khumalo and Simmonds on their path, the giving back mindset, and how they both built an amazing future around the game on and off the field.

Episode 9 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features current Northern Ireland Assistant Coach, Austin MacPhee, who dives into the world of statistics and data analysis and shares his methods of applying it to prepare teams. Austin joins Christian Lavers and Dean Linke to also discuss his perspective on culture and development to prepare teams for success.

Episode 8 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Esmeralda Negron, Co-Founder and General Manager of Ata Football, and Hannah Brown, Co-Founder and Advisor for Ata Football, along with Mark Wilson, former professional soccer player and Co-Founder of Beyond Pulse. We dive deep into their soccer playing days and what led each to launch their respective businesses to grow the game.

Episode 7 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features Doug Lemov, Managing Director of Uncommon Schools and lead for the Teach Like a Champion team, designing and implementing teacher training based on the study of high-performing teachers. He is the author of Teach Like a Champion 2.0, and coauthor of Practice Perfect.  He sits down with Dean Linke and Christian Lavers to discuss his new book, The Coach’s Guide to Teaching.

Episode 6 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features current UNC Chapel Hill Head Women’s Soccer Coach, Anson Dorrance, who has captured 22 NCAA Division 1 National Championships, and was also the Head Coach of the 1991 US Women’s National Team and World Cup Champions. Anson joins Dean Linke and Christian Lavers to discuss the competitive cauldron, the youth soccer space and all things about the beautiful game.

Episode 5 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast features three coaches who play a major role in creating a youth-to-pro pathway in the ECNL discussing the many elements that contribute to a thriving professional pathway within the United States, and more specifically, within the ECNL! Mario Sanchez (Louisville City Academy), Scott Gibson (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC), and Oliver Wyss (Orange County SC, West Coast FC) join Dean Linke and Jason Kutney to dive deeper into this topic, looking to identify specific lessons that can be extracted and applied to all clubs working in the development space. Additionally, ECNL alum and current NWSL star Madison Hammond (OL Reign) chats about her journey, her youth experience, what it is like to break down barriers as she became the first player of Native American descent to take the field in the NWSL, and more. Her story is one you must hear!

Episode 4 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast hosted by Dean Linke will feature special guest United States Women’s National Team Head Coach, Vladko Andonovski. Take a trip down memory lane as he sits down to discuss his ascension in becoming the leader of the most dominant soccer team to ever set foot on the pitch. From his humble beginnings coaching youth soccer, to being tasked with securing the United States’ illustrious fifth World Cup title, this episode is nothing short of amazing.

Episode 3 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast hosted by Dean Linke will feature special guests US Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee and
Atlanta United VP and Technical Director, Carlos Bocanegra, as well as current Challenge Cup winner, Houston Dash standout and FCKC ECNL alum, Shea Groom! We’ll also be featuring GSA Director of Player Development and Boys Director, Nuno Piteira.

Episode 2 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast hosted by Dean Linke will feature special guests Executive Director of VDA, Chairman of the Board for US Club Soccer, Mike Cullina, Hyperquake Client Director, Amie Bracken, Hyperquake Creative Director, Holly Shoemaker, and NCFC Assistant 1st Team and Director of NCFC Boys Academy, John Bradford.

Episode 1 of Breaking The Line: The ECNL Podcast hosted by Dean Linke will feature special guests ECNL Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Drew Watson, and Executive Director of Richmond United, Jay Howell.