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

Episode 48 - The Most Influential Youth Soccer Coaches in the Country - Larry Sunderland - FCC

·1 hr 17 min·5 clips

Sunderland says the first job is connecting with the player, then training every player like a 10.

The episode opens with Aaron and Jeff in the same loose, familiar mode the show often settles into before the guest takes center stage. Sunderland is framed as someone most people in youth soccer likely already know. His playing history comes through quickly: he started in 1985 with the New York Express in the old MISL, later played for the Milwaukee Wave, and won a national championship. That background gives the conversation its footing. From there, the focus moves into the harder side of youth development: knowing when a player needs to move on to a better fit. Aaron and Jeff keep circling back to the pressure kids feel when they can see a next step but do not want to disappoint their coach, club, teammates, or friends. Sunderland is direct about it. Growth, he says, often means leaving people behind, even when the connection matters. The episode also touches on clubs that understand their place in the system and help players move forward; the Michigan Jags come up as an example, with players moving toward MLS Academy opportunities. The discussion suggests that as people get more educated, that perspective becomes easier to recognize. Sunderland argues that many higher-level players already know they should move, but fear the backlash more than they lack talent. The same point carries into college soccer, where some programs help a player develop after arrival and others expect the player to arrive ready. The episode ends by widening the lens again. The goal is not just pro contracts or money, but a lifelong love of the game, passing it on to kids, and helping the sport grow across generations. That is the note it lands on, with the podcast serving as part of that broader effort for parents and coaches.

As heard by us

A clear look at youth soccer growth, and the unease that can come with moving on.

PlayNext centers a practical conversation about youth soccer development: how players improve, when a move makes sense, and why growth often feels uncomfortable.

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Why you'd press play

When growth means leaving friends behind and stepping into harder competition.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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