Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast
The Elite Clubs National League was founded in 2009 and continues to lead by daring to do things differently, embedded with grit, collaboration and tenacity – all things learned from the beautiful game. The ECNL protects and propels the integrity of the game and everyone it impacts by facilitating the perfect symmetry of excellence and humility, exclusivity and accessibility, freedom and community. We believe that challenging everyone to rise to their best creates game-changers that live well, long after cleats are unlaced. Born out of the belief in a better way. Continued in the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence.
Episodes
128 episodes
The Economics of Youth Sports: The Factors And The Future | Ep. 127
This week's edition of Breaking the Line features a hot topic across the soccer landscape and the sports world as a whole: the economics of sport, and youth sport in particular. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice Presiden...
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1:03:09
A Growth Mindset: Facilitating Player Development | Ep. 126
The Breaking the Line team has returned for another player-focused episode, this time discussing player development. ECNL Vice President kicks off the conversation with a thought-provoking question: if you were building an ECNL club...
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1:01:24
Communication is Key: Unboxing Parent-Player-Coach Dynamics | Ep. 125
It's a very special episode of Breaking the Line, as the podcast celebrates its 125th episode!After an invigorating discussion about navigating birth years and skill levels within youth soccer, ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vi...
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1:01:07
Is Age Just A Number? Navigating Birth Years and Team Placements | Ep. 124
After a quick Labor Day pause, the Breaking the Line team returns to your airwaves. Fall is in the air, the kids are back at school and the 2025-26 soccer season is ready to kick off. This week, ECNL President Christian Lavers and E...
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1:03:12
The Pre-ECNL and Zone 1: Balancing Development with Competition | Ep. 123
Breaking the Line, the ECNL Podcast, welcomes newly-hired Pre-ECNL Commissioners Bobby Reiss and Ruairi McGuinness to the airwaves for a riveting discussion surrounding the ECNL’s entry into Zone 1: the Pre-ECNL. ECNL President Chri...
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50:51
Expanding Talent Identification: ECNL, id2 and the Search for America’s Next Soccer Stars | Ep. 122
Fresh off the ECNL National Playoffs and Finals, and a live podcast recording, Breaking the Line returns to the airwaves with its newest episode featuring a very special guest, US Club Soccer’s Technical Director Ross Paule. Paule j...
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1:01:29
Breaking the Line Live at the ECNL Boys National Playoffs: A Winning Mentality | Ep. 121
Filmed LIVE on Day 1 of the ECNL Boys National Playoffs in Redmond, Washington, the Breaking the Line team sits down right on the fields to discuss all things ECNL Playoffs. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Do...
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57:54
The Great Balancing Act: Finding Your Path in High School and Club Soccer | Ep. 120
The Breaking the Line team returns for its newest episode diving into a topic of discussion at every ECNL club and across the youth soccer landscape: high school soccer vs. club soccer. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice ...
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52:36
Behind the Numbers: The True Odds of Turning Pro and Analytics vs. Results | Ep. 119
Breaking the Line is back with ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken and the team hits two topics this week that every soccer parents should be paying attention to. In Episode 119, Breaking the Line first ...
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59:28
Beyond The Whistle: Teaching Principles for Effective Coaching feat. Doug Lemov | Ep. 118
In a Part 2 of an incredible discussion surrounding coaching within youth soccer, Breaking the Line welcomes ECNL Coaching Methodology Advisor Doug Lemov for an incredible discussion on coaching philosophy, how to develop coaches, how to effect...
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1:06:11
The Realities of Coaching Youth Soccer in America | Ep. 117
The ECNL's Breaking the Line team is back another episode, expanding on a topic introduced when discussing the ECNL Pyramid. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken discuss what it is like being a youth...
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59:49
A Proven Pathway: The ECNL Pyramid and Why Competition is Vital in Youth Soccer | Ep. 116
The ECNL's leadership team emerges from the incredibly hectic spring for the latest episode of Breaking the Line, where ECNL Regional League Commissioner Chris Leahey joins ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken to...
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1:13:35
The Power of Sleep: Why Nightly Rest is the Key for Injury Prevention feat Dr. Drew Watson | Ep. 115
The Breaking the Line team returns with Dr. Drew Watson, a friend of the podcast and the ECNL's Chief Medical Officer. In March, the ECNL launched the Center for Athlete Health a Performance, a research and education hub designed t...
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1:05:44
Club Chaos: What Does The Changing Youth Soccer Landscape Really Mean? | Ep. 114
The Breaking the Line team is back from Las Vegas and a lot has changed since early February. In Episode 114, Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken sit down to discuss the changing youth soccer landscape. Clubs are in peak tryout seas...
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1:08:39
The Future of American Soccer: A Collaborative Approach feat. Emily Cosler and Matt Crocker | Ep. 113
Breaking The Line, the ECNL Podcast, went live and in-person at the ECNL Coaching Symposium at the Circa Resort in Las Vegas, NV for a historic podcast featuring executives from US Soccer. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President...
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1:04:32
Building Winners and Leaders, feat. Anson Dorrance, Peter Kenyon, Jeremy Boone and Eric Potterat | Breaking the Line Ep. 112
Breaking The Line, the ECNL Podcast, went live and in-person at the ECNL Coaching Symposium at the Circa Resort in Las Vegas, NV for a historic podcast featuring some of the biggest names in soccer and leadership. ECNL President Christian Laver...
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1:05:54
Building a Successful Youth Club: Club Structure, Relationships with Professional Organizations, Distinct Player Pathway and More | Ep. 111
The Breaking the Line crew is back with their newest episode, this time with a topic that came straight from a listener question. A parent from Richmond, Va., asked Breaking the Line: "Is there an ideal blueprint for an ECNL club?"...
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1:09:15
Why Are We Like This: A Brief History of the US Soccer Federation, Birth Year Regulations and ECNL Alums Drafted into MLS | Ep. 110
The first Breaking the Line episode of 2025 features special guest Mike Cullina, CEO of US Club Soccer. Cullina and the Breaking the Line crew open the episode with a topic on the forefront of everyone's minds: birth year regulations. T...
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1:05:52
The Importance of Winning: ECNL Super Cup, Internationals vs. Homegrown Collegiate Players and ECNL Coaching Symposium | Ep. 109
The Breaking the Line team is back with their newest episode as we head into the holiday season and features a special guest, ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney. Kutney and the crew open the episode with the inaugural ECNL Boys Ea...
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1:07:42
College Soccer Dynamics: Men’s And Women’s College Cups, Roster Constructions and How to Stand Out to Recruiters | Ep. 108
It’s post-Thanksgiving and the Breaking the Line team are back for a brand-new episode on all things college soccer. The NCAA Men’s and Women’s College Cups are in full swing and we dive into examining which teams are still alive c...
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41:44
Showcase Season Insights: Uncovering Scheduling, Substitution Rules, & Recruiting | Ep. 107
Unlock the secrets of the ECNL showcase season alongside Christian Lavers, Doug Bracken, and Ashley Willis as they dissect the perfect blend of timing and location that makes these events a recruiting hotspot. Discover why warm climates open do...
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49:10
Youth Soccer Evolution: Embracing Individual Growth Over Team Success | Ep. 106
Join us for an eye-opening conversation with ECNL Technical Advisor Ceri Bowley as we uncover the shifting paradigms in youth soccer development. Ever wondered how playing younger athletes against older opponents could radically enhance their s...
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1:06:10
The Future of ECNL Soccer and Coaching Development | Ep.105
What if a single competition could redefine club soccer? Discover the groundbreaking Super Cup for boys' teams in ECNL, designed to challenge clubs across multiple age groups with its unique format and culminating premier event held in Raleigh,...
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1:06:39
Versatility vs. Specialization: Navigating Youth Soccer Development and Positional Flexibility | Ep.104
What happens when young soccer players are encouraged to explore multiple positions versus specializing early? Our conversation sheds light on the importance of understanding a player's attributes and the role of the training environment in nur...
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59:18
Single Sport vs. Multi-Sport: The Relative Age Debate & Social Media’s Role in Getting Recruited | Ep. 103
Can social media really make or break a soccer career? Join us on this episode of Breaking the Line as we tackle this provocative question and much more. We kick off with a heated debate on school year versus birth year age requirements and how...
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1:24:02