Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast | Podcast Guru

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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.

Recent Episodes

A Look Back: Coaching Best Practices | Ep. 147

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Welcome to a special edition of Breaking The Line - The ECNL Podcast. For this week’s episode, the Breaking the Line team takes a look back at episodes through the years and pulls some of their favorite clips. These clips share a similar theme, and for this week, it’s all about coaching. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken have spent numerous episodes speaking about coaching, and this collection of clip...

24 MIN

Why International Competition Matters For Youth Soccer Development | Ep. 146

Let us know the topics of interest to you! In Episode 146, Breaking the Line - The ECNL Podcast tackles a question raised before, that has been answered many different ways: Does International Competition Matter when it comes to youth development? ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken emphatically answer: yes. In this week's episode, the pair dive into this question and give their opinions why international competition is important to a young playe...

66 MIN

Does The Transfer Portal Really Begin at 10? | Ep. 145

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking the Line returns to your airwaves and ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken asks a question that is fundamental to understanding the youth soccer landscape while also examining what is important to players, coaches, clubs and parents when evaluating talent and development: Does The Transfer Portal Begin at 10 Years Old? In this hour-long episode, Lavers and Bracken examine how do clubs prioritize develo...

54 MIN

The Youth Soccer Playbook: Advice for Clubs, Coaches and Parents for a New Season | Ep. 144

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The 2026-27 ECNL season kicks off this weekend, and ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken return to the Breaking the Line airwaves for a fantastic discussion about advice they would give clubs, coaches and parents as everyone gets ready for the new year. What are the best practices for sharing a club's vision with parents? How do clubs build that vision? How can parents support their athlete when things are goin...

78 MIN

A Discussion Continued: Ideas to Improve American Youth Soccer Part 2 | Ep. 143

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Following a robust discussion and an incredible response from you, the Breaking the Line listeners, ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken continue their discussion of ideas to improve youth soccer within the United States, and expand on topics previously discussed in the Special Edition episode two weeks ago. Since the last podcast, Lavers did a deep dive into how solidarity payments and training compensation wo...

67 MIN