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
115 episodes
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
Championship Mindset: Managing Playtime and Winning in Youth Soccer | Ep. 102
Discover the secrets to mastering youth soccer coaching from the champions themselves! Join us as we chat with four of the most respected ECNL National Championship coaches: Douda Kante from Kansas Rush, Chase Miller from South Carolina Surf, M...
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46:50
Soccer's Transformative Changes: NCAA Settlement, NWSL CBA, and Future Impacts | Ep. 101
What if the future of college soccer was dramatically changing right before our eyes? On this episode of Breaking the Line, Christian Lavers, Doug Bracken, and Ashley Willis dissect the profound shifts stemming from the new NCAA settlement and ...
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54:25
Celebrating 100 Episodes: From ECNL to Olympic Glory and a look into Anson Dorrance's Influence | Ep.100
Ever wonder how a podcast can sustain its passion and energy over 100 episodes? Join us as we celebrate this remarkable milestone on Breaking the Line, the ECNL podcast. From navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to highlighting th...
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57:17
Southwest Dominance at ECNL Finals and the East Coast vs. West Coast Development Debate | Ep.99
Join us as we uncover the secrets behind the dominance of Southwest Conference clubs in the ECNL National and Regional League Championships. We bring you front-row tales of thrilling comebacks and the sheer joy of young players in moments of vi...
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1:08:17
Unveiling Soccer's Evolution: A Conversation with Charlie Stillitano | Ep. 98
Join us in this special episode of Breaking the Line, where we sit down with soccer icon Charlie Stilitano. Charlie takes us on an unforgettable journey, sharing personal stories that highlight his innovative spirit—like pioneering the use of v...
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41:55
Beyond the Game: ECNL Playoffs and the American Soccer Culture | Ep. 97
What fuels the underdog spirit in youth soccer playoffs? We spotlight the inspiring performances of teams from regions that barely made it to the postseason but went on to perform remarkably well. The conversation sheds light on the evolution o...
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1:04:10
Navigating College Soccer Recruitment: Stand Out and Find Your Right Fit | Ep.96
Prepare to unlock the secrets of soccer success and navigate the path to college recruitment like a pro! Ever wondered about the intricacies of recruiting in youth soccer? Our discussion is set to shed light on this complex arena, underscoring ...
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55:30
Taking a Further Look Into Relative Age Effect and Biobanding with Dr. Drew Watson | Ep. 95
Following an enormous response from our previous episode where we discussed tryouts and relative age effect, this episode takes a deeper dive into the disputed topic with Dr. Drew Watson, the ECNL Chief Medical Advisor. Dr. Watson joins Chri...
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Season 2
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Episode 95
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1:14:46
Inside ECNL Tryouts: A Candid Look Inside Making Informed Choices Amidst The Pressure | Ep.94
Unlock the secrets of navigating youth soccer tryouts with the expert guidance of ECNL’s Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken, not to mention the firsthand tales from our own Ashley Willis. From the ethics of recruitment to the emotional toll on e...
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Season 2
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Episode 94
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1:08:15
Unraveling Youth Soccer: Navigating the ECNL Pathway & Relative Age Effect | Ep. 93
Join us as we peel back the curtain on the complexities of club promotion, where it's not just about a single age group's success but the collective performance of an entire organization. In this discussion, we shine a light on the varying regi...
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Season 2
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Episode 93
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1:02:12
Episode 92: Breaking the Line (feat: Christian Lavers and Doug Bracken)
The ECNL Podcast features ECNL President and CEO, Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President, Doug Bracken. Breaking the Line Podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with Lavers and Bracken about the new format of the podcast, and what listeners can l...
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Season 2
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Episode 92
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56:24
Episode 91: Breaking the Line (feat: Pat McStay, Michael Renwick and Sean Nahas)
The ECNL Podcast features Pat McStay founder of The Heritage Project, MVLA’s boys technical director Michael Renwick and NWSL’s North Carolina Courage head coach Sean Nahas. Breaking the Line Podcast host, Dean Linke, talks with McStay about...
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1:17:49
Episode 90: Breaking the Line (feat: Paul McVeigh and Steve Danbusky)
Episode 90 of Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast features Paul McVeigh a former international with Northern Ireland and Premier League player turned performance psychologist, and Steve Danbusky the Executive Director at Beach FC in Virginia. B...
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1:00:49