Chat By The Pitch

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Ian Babcock

English Education Kids & Family Parenting Self-Improvement Soccer

Apple Podcasts Website RSS

Episodes 178

Avg. Duration 53m

Activity Highly Active

Apple Rating ★ 4.9 (7)

Since Nov 2022

Latest Episode Jun 2026

Outreach Signals

Open to Sponsors Features Guests

Publishing Details

Schedule

Weekly

Format

Episodic

Consistency

90%

Hosting

feeds.captivate.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Welcome to Chat By The Pitch — the soccer podcast that goes beyond the game. Hosted by Ian Babcock, Chat By The Pitch is built around real conversations with the people shaping soccer from every angle — coaches, players, parents, club leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, analysts, and innovators. This isn’t a highlight show and it isn’t built around hot takes. It’s about the stories, lessons, challenges, and experiences that actually define the modern game. Whether you’re a parent trying to better understand youth soccer, a coach looking to grow, a player chasing the next level, or simply someone passionate about the sport, Chat By The Pitch gives you honest, long-form conversations that dig deeper than surface-level opinions. Every episode explores what really happens behind the scenes: • The realities of youth soccer culture • Coaching philosophy and player development • Leadership and communication • Parenting athletes in today’s environment • The mental side of competition • Building healthy club culture • Technology changing the game • The pathway from grassroots to elite levels • Mistakes, lessons, and success stories from people living the game every day Guests range from grassroots coaches and academy directors to former professional players, educators, authors, performance specialists, and creators working to improve soccer at every level. Some episodes focus on tactics and development. Others focus on leadership, culture, parenting, business, and the human side of sports. What makes Chat By The Pitch different is the conversation style. These are not rushed interviews with canned answers. Ian approaches each episode as a passionate soccer parent, coach, and student of the game, creating open discussions that feel authentic, relatable, and educational. The goal is to ask the questions many people in soccer are already thinking about — but rarely hear discussed honestly. Listeners come to Chat By The Pitch for: • Real conversations instead of scripted interviews • Practical insights coaches and parents can actually use • Different perspectives from across the soccer world • Stories that inspire growth on and off the field • Honest discussions about the challenges in youth sports • A deeper understanding of player development and leadership If you care about soccer beyond the scoreboard — the people, the process, the culture, and the future of the game — this podcast is for you. New episodes released regularly. Connect with Chat By The Pitch on social media and join the conversation happening around the game we all love.

Podcasting 2.0 Features

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Recent Episodes

S1E173 Kristie & Mark Brooks on Soccer Parenting

Jun 11, 2026 33m

What does good soccer parenting actually look like?In Part 2, Kristie and Mark Brooks move beyond the Spain story and share the parenting lessons they learned while helping their son Easton chase…

S1E172 Kristie & Mark Brooks on the Spain Soccer Process

Jun 04, 2026 43m

What does it really take for a teenager to move to Spain and chase a soccer dream?In Part 1, Kristie and Mark Brooks share the real story behind helping their son Easton move overseas at 14 to pursue…

S1E171 Easton Brooks Soccer Journey

May 28, 2026 38m

What does it really look like for a 14-year-old American player to move to Spain and chase the dream of professional soccer?In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Easton…

S1E170 Ray Power – Why Modern Soccer Coaching Must Change

May 21, 2026 41m

In Part 2, Ray Power and Ian Babcock continue the conversation by diving into coaching methodology, player development systems, training environments, and the importance of continuing coach…

S1E169 Ray Power – Why Parents Need Soccer Education Too

May 14, 2026 44m

In Part 1 of this conversation, Ray Power joins Chat By The Pitch to talk about youth soccer development, coaching philosophy, parent education, and why keeping kids in love with the game matters…

S1E168 Inside Captains University – How Leaders Are Built

May 07, 2026 44m

Part 2 is where everything connects.After hearing the journey, Anja Koehler breaks down how leadership is actually built—not assumed. Through Captains University, she’s created a system around…

S1E167 Anja Koehler – The Journey That Built Captains University

Apr 30, 2026 58m

This one starts with the story—but it’s not the clean version.Anja Koehler walks through what it actually looked like to become a leader—being overlooked, losing confidence, earning it back, and…

S1E166 The Game Didn't End — It Evolved: How Losing The Ball Led Orhan To Build Reeplayer For Every Player's Story Part 2

Apr 23, 2026 46m

Part 2 of this reissued conversation shifts into the details that matter when making a decision.We break down pricing, how different systems are built, and where things like AI and analytics actually…

S1E165 The Game Didn't End — It Evolved: How Losing The Ball Led Orhan To Build Reeplayer For Every Player's Story Part 1

Apr 23, 2026 44m

This is a reissue of Part 1 of my conversation with Orhan from Reeplayer — brought back because the questions around camera systems are picking up again with the new season starting.In this episode,…

S1E164 At Ulete & PFA – Why Futsal Changes Everything

Apr 16, 2026 33m

In Part 2, the focus shifts to how players are actually developed with futsal.Pablo Da Silva breaks down futsal—what it really is, why it matters, and how it translates directly to the outdoor…

S1E163 From Vision to Reality – Ulete Sports

Apr 09, 2026 44m

What does real player development actually look like?In Part 1, Ian sits down with John Davis and Pablo Da Silva from Ulete Sports to break down what they’re building—and why it’s different.This…

S1E162 Alpha Forms Residency With Erin Medina – Inside the Daily Development Model

Apr 02, 2026 50m

What does a full day in a soccer residency program actually look like—and how is it different from the traditional youth soccer model?In Part 2 of this conversation, Ian Babcock and Erin Medina go…

S1E161 Alpha Forms Residency with Erin Medina – Rethinking Youth Soccer Development

Mar 26, 2026 37m

What does real player development actually look like—and why are so many systems missing it?In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Erin Medina, COO of Forms Residency and…

S1E160 Gordon Jago – Why Dallas Cup Matters (Rereleased)

Mar 19, 2026 1h 7m

With the Dallas Cup just weeks away, this episode hits a little different.This is a tribute to Gordon Jago—a true pioneer of the game and one of the key figures behind what the Dallas Cup has become…

S1E159 Soccer for Success Part 2 | Expanding the Model

Mar 12, 2026 54m

In Part 2 of Soccer for Success, we go deeper.This conversation moves beyond curriculum and into implementation — how Dallas ISD built a no-cost, district-wide pathway from elementary Spark programs…

S1E158 Soccer for Success in Dallas ISD | Building Confidence Through PE

Mar 05, 2026 49m

Soccer for Success is reshaping how youth soccer development happens inside school systems.In this episode, leaders from Dallas ISD and the US Soccer Foundation break down how a 10-lesson,…

S1E157 Ballers ID: Invest in the Player, Not the Hype With Gregg Megaw

Feb 26, 2026 1h 3m

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, I sit down with Gregg Megaw, founder of Ballers ID, to talk about investing in the full player — not the hype.We break down individual development, 1v1 training,…

S1E156 Seeing the Next Level Changes Everything

Feb 19, 2026 34m

Seeing the Next Level Changes EverythingIn Part 2 of this conversation, Ian and Jonathan dig deeper into exposure, access, and perspective in youth sports.Jonathan explains why seeing the next level…

S1E155 Healthy Sports Parents: Why Most Kids Quit Before They’re Ready

Feb 12, 2026 37m

In Part 1 of this conversation, Ian sits down with Jonathan Corone, creator of Healthy Sports Parents, to unpack the emotional, cultural, and behavioral challenges parents face in youth…

S1E154 Human First, Athlete Second: Development Over Scores in Youth Soccer

Feb 05, 2026 45m

In this solo episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock reflects on years of learning as a soccer parent, coach, and constant student of the game. This episode challenges the obsession with early…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Chat By The Pitch have?

Chat By The Pitch has published 178 episodes since November 2022, covering topics in Education, Kids & Family.

Is Chat By The Pitch still active?

Chat By The Pitch is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 53m.

How do I contact Chat By The Pitch for sponsorship or guest appearances?