Pitch to Pro

Ep. 53 - What MLS NEXT Really Looks Like

• Ozark United FC • Episode 53

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0:00 | 38:12

What does it really take for a young player to chase a professional dream beyond their hometown club scene?

Wes sits down with Ozark United FC Academy goalkeeper Zach Taylor and his parents, Beth and Joel, to unpack the family, sacrifice, and belief behind a 14 year old’s journey from Olive Branch, Mississippi, to MLS NEXT soccer in Northwest Arkansas.

Zach shares how his life has been “soccer, soccer, soccer” for as long as he can remember, from pounding the ball off the wall in the backyard to treating the garage as his best teammate. He talks about the standard at Ozark United, what it felt like stepping into his first MLS NEXT match in Louisiana, and why the playing style, speed of play, and role of the goalkeeper made him feel like he had finally found “home” with his new teammates.

Beth and Joel pull back the curtain on the commitment behind that dream. They talk about balancing work, school, and travel, what it is like to have dad as both airline pilot and full-time “Taylor transportation coordinator,” and how owning a small plane turns a 5-hour drive into a 1-hour flight to train in Bentonville. They share honestly about finances, time, and why the level of buy-in from parents and players matters just as much as the letters on the league.

Zach then looks ahead and gets real about his goals. From earning a spot in Division 1 college soccer, to breaking into the US Youth National Team pool, to one day playing professionally in Germany for clubs like Wolfsburg or Dortmund, he shares how he pairs big dreams with daily work, no off days, and a mindset that “if your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”

If you are a parent, player, or coach trying to figure out the “right path” in youth soccer, this conversation gives you a relatable, behind-the-scenes look at one family’s route, the decisions along the way, and what they are learning about joy, pressure, and keeping the game fun.

Welcome And Podcast Mission

SPEAKER_04

Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of Ozark United FC. This will be our platform to tell our story about the club and the special place that we call home Northwest Arkansas. This is a journey. We want to bring you along for the ride. We'll share what's going on behind the curtain, help educate the community at large about soccer, our league, and give updates on the progress of the club along the way. Together we'll explore and unpack our journey to professional soccer, the magic that is NWA, our community, and talk all things soccer from on the pitch to behind the scenes, telling the story of our club. Pitch to Pro Podcast is proudly sponsored by PodcastVideos.com. Podcastvideos.com is Northwest Arkansas's premier podcast recording studio. Equipped with industry-leading equipment, the recording studio and services save you time, money, and hassle.

Meet Zach And Family

SPEAKER_03

They are dedicated to helping you create, record, and publish high-quality podcasts for your audience. Be sure to check them out today at podcastvideos.com.

SPEAKER_04

Hello, everybody, and welcome back to the Pitch the Pro Podcast. I'm your host, Wes Harris, Managing Director for Ozark United FC, Northwest Arkansas's professional soccer club, playing in the United Soccer League. I'm really excited for this discussion today, guys. Joining me, I've got Mr. Zach Taylor, Mom, Beth, and Dad Joel, all the way here from Memphis, Tennessee, but playing for our Ozark United FC Academy. Zach, Mom and Dad, welcome to NWA for the weekend. And thank you guys for joining me.

SPEAKER_00

Thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_04

It's fabulous. Awesome. Well, Zach and Mom and Dad, let's let's let everybody get to know you first before we get into Mr. Zach and his playing and you know OZFC Academy experience and all that. I want everybody to just get to know you guys a little bit. So who are you? Where are you guys from? And and kind of how did you find your way here?

SPEAKER_02

Well, basically, I grew up playing soccer. It was always every single day. It was soccer, soccer, soccer, and everything. And like that's how like I've always like dreamt of being MLS next. I have a little joke that I have. I don't like I don't try and go find a bunch of friends. I my friend is the ball. My friend is that little wall that'll just ping against bang, bang, bang, just pass against all the time.

SPEAKER_04

A wall is a soccer player's best friend. I try to tell people all the time. Yeah, well, as long as dad can fix it. We gotta holy hell. Yeah, yeah, that's okay.

SPEAKER_00

Um I'm an accountant, so work for the power company for almost 20 years now, and yeah, try to support him as much as possible. So years and years ago, that's I used to play soccer, and so I was the crazy goalkeeper, and yes, I used to ping the wall off the my garage floor. I'd had went through multiple boards. And so, you know, sports was always a thing for me. I made friends through it and got to go all kinds of different places, and you know, that was me and my parents' best time. So just trying to give him a good experience with sports. So and get take him different places and have a good, you know, experience as a kid that I did.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

No, that's great.

The Commute By Airplane

SPEAKER_01

What about you, Dad? Uh I'm a airline pilot for a cargo company. Okay. And uh been there eight years, but I've been flying for all my life, but um 30 plus um has a certificated pilot. Um, which helps with this, but I my main job is to Taylor Transportation Coordinator. My soccer experience is absolutely zero, uh, but I know how to set up a VO or find a a field. Yeah. And uh I'm happy on the day that I can figure out what an offside position hit. I like that.

SPEAKER_04

I like that. Yeah. Important uh with the goalie and figuring out if the goal stands or not. But that's great. I mean, and you guys are from Memphis, right? If I'm not correct, just not mistaken. Just South Office Branch, Mississippi. Olive Branch, Mississippi. Okay. Yep. Um total sidebar. I used to work for uh, well, a client of mine had a manufacturing plant right outside of it was like an hour and a half south of uh Memphis and Mississippi. Um and I will I'll remember the name after we get done recording and tell you guys later, but I can't I for the life of me I can't remember the name of the manufacturing plant, but um I know the area is what I'm saying. Uh but you guys play for Ozark United FC on the U-15s, but you live in Memphis. So let's talk about that commute.

SPEAKER_00

Five-hour drive when we make it. So, but luckily um we've been a partner in a Bonanza airplane for going on about 10 years now. Okay. So it's about a little over an hour flight that we fly in to Bentonville, and you know, they've got they've been great with us. We can usually use one of the uh cars that they have. Like the other day we flew in, they have the car for us, jump out of the airplane, take them straight, practice, practice for an hour and a half to two hours and fly home at night.

SPEAKER_04

Just for listeners jumping out of the airplane when it's on the ground. I have done that a couple times, but when it's in the air, but on the ground for you guys.

SPEAKER_01

That's one of the big questions I'm always asked. Have you ever been in a parachute like no? Pilot's in a parachute. That's a bad day.

SPEAKER_04

That's a bad day. That's a bad day. Well, I mean, that's uh you know, fortunate to to have a nice uh pilot in the family and and dad and be able to cut that uh commute in you know almost a fifth.

SPEAKER_01

Well, it helps definitely with with the educational piece to where it's minor disruptions to where maybe we pull him an hour, you know, before, you know, during study hall time for that last period, and we'll have him home by 10 o'clock. Yeah. So he can go to bed and do it all again the next day. It's it's a grind, but it's worth it and it and it happened. And it it it's helpful. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. And then like sometimes on like the commutes and everything, I'll just be like, sometimes I'm like trying to watch film or anything, but don't really get much self-service up there, sadly.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's also a time where you can I don't even know what homework looks like these days, but uh if it doesn't if it doesn't require uh uh internet, uh at least some reading maybe um or something like that, you can get that done on the community.

SPEAKER_00

I'm done with a passenger pertinentist. I sit in the back and usually sleep and chill.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. No, that's great. That's great.

SPEAKER_02

Sometimes I need a power knob because I know I got training that night.

Finding Ozark United Through Coaching

SPEAKER_04

I'm like, yeah, as well get some rest and be ready. Yeah. Okay. So how did how did you guys find Ozark United? Coach Kevin Tego. Mr. Coach.

SPEAKER_01

We met Kevin uh over four years ago.

SPEAKER_02

Four years ago through a I was 10. Yes. I was 10 years old, and it was basically this training company. My friend, his parents actually told them about this. It was called Magis. Basically, they would do one-on-one sessions. It was like the best training you can get. And we went over to them and we were going to do it. We told them, would y'all be able to get a keeper coach soon? And they said they'd work on it. And about, I think it was about like two months later, two or three months later, after we asked that, they said, Hey, we got a keeper coach. His name's Kevin Teller. He's the goalkeeper coach at Memphis. And during that time, I worked with him about two years associated with matches. But then he got the assistant coach job at Memphis and he said he couldn't coach at matches anymore. And I was like really destroyed about that. And then he told me um we can probably still get some sessions in while I'm at the campus in Memphis during the offseason, we can work one-on-one. So I did that for about I think about three more years.

SPEAKER_01

Two degree. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And then like when we um heard about him going to Ozark, I was destroyed. Yeah. Because I would never have a coach that would make me succeed like that again. Because he taught me absolutely everything.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Every single thing of my technique, distribution, power, strength, everything.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And he suggested Ozark at that time for me to come with him. Yeah. But at that time we weren't really in the position. So I had to stay back while he was up there.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And then about two months ago.

SPEAKER_01

It's been worldwide.

SPEAKER_02

Two two months ago, he uh gave us a call and said, Hey, uh, we think you'd be a great fit with our team. Come try out, we'll come take a look at you. Yeah. And uh first session, I fell in love with the team.

SPEAKER_01

Again, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Jumped out of the airplane onto the airplane.

SPEAKER_01

Went to the first training side. Yeah.

unknown

Right.

SPEAKER_02

That's why I stepped on that field. I fell in love with the team. I did not want to go back home. Yeah. I loved every single one of my teammates because the trainings were amazing, the coaching was amazing. I just was like, this is my home that I've been longing for for so long.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And when Coach Thomas pulled me off to the side, it was after the session, and he said he would take me on the team when we got in the car. I screamed my head off. I was so excited.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_02

That I got on the team.

SPEAKER_04

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02

Because I was like, finally, yeah, my people, my family, yeah, I can go to them, I can play with them. And it's just always like every single day. It's been like more strength to me. Yeah. Power. I've been like waking up. I'm like, I gotta do these for these guys. Yeah. These guys have been, they took me in on the first session. Like, that's why I say about Bentonville.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

The city that gave me a chance.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. That's awesome. Well, that's great. I mean, mom, dad, talk about what that meant for you guys to kind of get that call and then see kind of see the experience with the team and the setup and just have have that experience of of coming and being able to to watch him kind of assimilate and and find a home.

First Training And Team Fit

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. I mean, honestly, it's um he's been wanting to play MLS next for a while. We've had the opportunity to play ECNL E C R L and he's done great with it um with the teams back home. But um all these different alphabet suit things that are all trying to push you to different organizations and MLS next seems to be a good opportunity to be seen. So we're trying to, you know, okay, let's let's try this opportunity. Let's let's see where we can be seen with it. Because like he said, he wants to go play, he wants to go pro, he wants to go play at a D1 or a D2. He's trying his best, he works out. He I mean haven't had a single off day in about like most I mean, all summer long we're doing practices, going here, going there. So it's it's what he wants to do. So as a parent, he's our only kid. Yeah, we're gonna try.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I mean as far as you know the what would impress me uh uh a lot. Um I mean, I enjoyed the enthusiasm and the coaching in the first um in the first session when he came to try out the the the enthusiasm and the coaching and on the part of the player, coming they were serious yet having fun. Yes. And it was one of those things to where, okay, because we've been on teams where there's been fun, no serious. Um never really had a team that was all serious and no fun, but this one seemed like okay, they're they're not it's not so overbearing that they're still not having a good time, but they are playing at a very high level and being held to a high standard. And I think that was the other thing that really impressed me is I'm an analytical guy, I'm a you know, 25-year military guy, retired. And the the structure, digging it. I love it. I mean, you know, when you show up from away an away game and you've got an itinerary and itinerary to where even the warmups is not just warmups, it's warm-ups consisting of X, Y, C, and the whole breakdown. Um, and I mean, I was really impressed with week we had Houston. Uh yeah. The Friday, Saturday, Sunday, the Saturday cancels for weather. And traditionally, you know, we're I'm talking about all right, well, I might get with some of the parents and figure out something to do. Nope. The new schedule pops out on Saturdays, even though we're not, you know, obligated to a game, the coach has already put out a new itinerary. The kids are accounted for, you know, and and so it's it's very regimental D1 soccer like. And I like that. I like the the structure.

SPEAKER_02

Yes, it's because like if I do go to like a D1 school or professional team, I've already like experienced it. It's exactly like that.

SPEAKER_00

It's just uh the team building is very nice. That he's the coaching and stuff, and they try to get the boys together to work together, no matter if it's having game night in the conference room at the hotel, playing dodgeball at you know, a bounce place, you know. It's you know, they're they try they try to and honestly that team environment makes them play better because they got their back on the field.

Why Choose MLS Next

SPEAKER_04

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you have to you have to have some level of that to be able to to gel together on a field, right? They're you can't just show up. They're not robots. You know, they can't just show up and perform and expect that to happen.

SPEAKER_00

So they're still kids.

SPEAKER_04

They are kids. They were. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00

And that's one thing we figured out is that sometimes they show up at a soccer field and they know how to kick a soccer ball. And sometimes they show up and they're like, what type of kid do we have today? It's all these different hormones and stuff they got going when they're 14, 15 years old.

SPEAKER_04

It's so true. I mean, we talked a little bit about it, but I mean, you guys have obviously stuck with it at least for a few months. Um, so you know, why I guess you you talked about it a little bit, but I mean why was it I want to hear from like mom and dad, why was it so important for you guys? And and I'll come back to you too, on finding, you know, Memphis has got a good soccer scene, right? Why was it important for you guys to explore this? And you know, that's a big commitment to make to come up here and play for OZFC while still living in Memphis. Why is that like how did you guys, I guess, uh come to that decision with as a family?

SPEAKER_01

Um, well, a lot of trust in Kevin for sure. I mean, he he's not steered us the wrong way. I mean, it one of the other benefits of having him as a as a one-on-one coach is you know, anytime you got a camp invite, anytime anything like that, you could run it through a D1 soccer and see them lay D1 soccer coach who does their recruiting and he could do it. Well, yeah, that's that's a money grabber. Or this one, that's a good one. I know these guys, that's a good one. Right. So we really trust his judgment. And um the you know, the the name MLS Next, that's kind of a big ticket item too, because we you know, if we're we're kind of a geographic anomaly in the to where we have, yeah, we have MLS Next. It's four and a half hours this way, it's five hours this way, it's four and a half hours this way, it's six hours this way. So in any case, we're going for plus hours of a drive. And, you know, like Beth said, that there is some alphabet soup, but when you're talking to a lot of college recruiters and you're hearing, well, yeah, we go to to ECNL events, but if there's an ECNL event and it overlaps with an MLS next fest or come up, we're not going there, we're going probably MLS next. So that that's where the name became important. But Ozark specifically, um, you know, we trusted, you know, Kevin's judgment and honestly, I I started looking at the organization, and you know, there's not any other organizations I've seen that have this much infrastructure already, you know, and and then and then hopefully the the future really, really bright as well. Um I'm working on it. That that and just coming in on the ground floor of it, it was kind of cool too. Yeah, was a thought. I mean, that that was that was the more chancy part to where it's okay, yeah, this is we're taking a chance here, but you know, there's not much loss that happens if we go here. And uh it's it's just been really, really joining in the area, love the area. I mean, yeah. MLS next in Bentonville, Arkansas, MLS next, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Yeah. You know, I uh Bentonville has you know a little bit more to offer, I think. Yeah. Um as far as an area is concerned. I as a kid, I they you know we did our vacations at and you know, those arcs at you know, Buffalo and stuff like that. So familiar with the area. So that one too. Gotcha.

SPEAKER_00

I mean, just honestly just trying to help him. I mean, um with ECNL and ECRL, you know, that's mainly what's in the Memphis area. Um we even did the E64 stuff. So um, yeah, he's he's get let him experience all of it as much as we can. Um so when this opportunity came up, because yeah, we you you see MLS stuff on TV all the time. And yeah, let's let's see what it let's see where it goes. I mean, you know, now there's a lot of USL stuff popping up.

On-Field Level And Culture Shift

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. You guys had it in your backyard. Uh R R I P R I P. Well, it's coming back, apparently. USL two team. Okay, yeah. Yeah, USL two, there you go.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so we're just kind of seeing where it goes.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

You know, and kind of like I told you before, is that you know, when it's when it's not fun anymore, it's time to quit. So um let him enjoy it as long as he wants to, and when he gets tired of it or see where it leads us. So just enjoy being a kid as long as you can.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. What about you, Zach? What why was it important for you to explore outside of what you had uh on offer for you in Memphis?

SPEAKER_02

Basically, from what people told me in that area is like you can be ECNO, you can be ECRL, but like I had one coach tell me, Division I schools, if you want to go straight to D1, you have to be out on this next because it's so heavily recruited by Division I schools. Like there is something Kevin told me, D two and D3 schools, they go to ECN Elements, they go to the ECR Elements, D one schools, they go to the Fest, they go to the Cup, they go to Flex, they go to GA Cup. That's all that like that's why I was like, I'm gonna have to explore outside of it. Because no matter what, if I want to get to the highest level, highest potential I can have, I'm gonna have to go somewhere else. Because I knew with the work I put in, with all the work that I did, I knew that it would pay off. Yeah, definitely. Um basically I saw like the clubs like that were in our area where like we had to decide.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Because like there was actually a little while ago, we were figuring out every single trial date for all MLSX teams in the area. There's that time, and then Kevin shoots us that text. I'm I'm going nuts in the backyard.

SPEAKER_01

It it literally was, you know, we're we're we're trying to map out our future, and as we're trying to, you know, look at these, you know, okay, Hansville has their trial dates at this, but I don't know if they're doing a U14 team trial right now or blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then, you know, I get a text. Yeah. Hey, what age group is that? You know, it's from Keppel. And then, you know, and that's another thing. Is it's it's kind of, I don't know, you know, one of those things where you do you pass up on something as you're thinking about it, and then all of a sudden, you know, dynamically it you know, it just shows up. Right. That's something that's like, yeah, maybe this maybe we're being pointed towards a direction. Yeah. And let's take it for the the ride and see.

SPEAKER_02

And then like we trust Kevin. Yeah. No matter what. To be honest, I would go into a burning building for him, definitely. Because basically, every single camp he's told me to go to. I went, it was great. Every single one. Yeah. And every single thing he's told me to do, every single thing he told me to work on, every single thing. Yeah. It's just once I get all that, I'm like I can trust him.

SPEAKER_04

Build the trust over time. And yeah. Well, that's good to hear.

SPEAKER_00

I mean, we obviously one thing he does, he does um coaches, he's always taking it to heart.

SPEAKER_04

So No, I mean coaches are um some of the most and can be some of the most influential adults in children's lives. Um whether that's sports or teachers, um I coach and I take that role very seriously. Um because I know what type of environment and a coach that I would want for my kids. It's good to hear from um folks that even knew him well before we did, um just about it. It just we know we have a good one in in Coach Tao. Uh, but it's good to hear, you know, that was long before uh he ever got here, which of course we knew, but it's fun to hear.

SPEAKER_01

Coaching is important because mom and dad can say the exact same thing the coach says, and we are absolutely wrong. But if the coach says what the coach says, yeah, then we're right. So I know.

Coaching Philosophy And Team Identity

SPEAKER_04

At some point I'm gonna need to stop coaching my kids' teams because I am coach and dad, and so dad is saying it and coach is saying it. And so that like at some point I'm gonna need to hop off and and just no, your coach said it.

SPEAKER_01

See I'm gonna go with 10 plus, pretty much eight to ten and all no week, nothing until probably about 30.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, no, that's great. So, what has the experience been like for you playing uh in the league? Do you notice a difference? Definitely 100% in who you're playing, how you're playing with the team, the coaching, either on our staff or others, mom dad experiences like from other leagues, and those other leagues, by the way, I just I want to be really clear because there's some great leagues in in this in it, you know, this is not the only path uh by any means. Um, I think that it's important to call that out too, because everybody's journey is different. And what works for you know, Zach and you guys may not work for for other folks, but um it certainly is becoming more uh talked about and and things that we're hearing, and we felt like that was the right platform uh to bring into the area. But I just wanted to level set that piece of it. But I want to hear from you guys on like experience, and you guys have experienced both, right? And we we, you know, I personally haven't. So I would love to hear some of the differences, kind of what you're what you're seeing out there, feeling, playing.

SPEAKER_02

Basically, I like to describe it by this because my first game, Louisiana Elite. I get there and I'm still like in shell shot because I'm like, am I really doing this? Am I really playing at this level with these type of guys? And then like first kicking the ball, and I'm like, they can do that, yeah. And because like the level is just so high, yeah. And like the passing, the dribbling the shots, everything. I'm like, wow, yeah, and then I get on to close out the game, and I'm like, this is like the style, this is the style I want to play all the time because it's so fast, involves the keeper a lot with his feet. Good. And I love just distributing the ball at the back, and like I have guys checking in and out every single time. I don't have to like tell them to, they're just doing it no matter what.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And I'm like, wow, yeah, these guys truly are some of the best of the best.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. Well, it's good to have everybody kind of bought into the system and and you know, when you get to that certain level, I mean it it it's second. I mean, you guys have been how long have you been playing?

SPEAKER_02

I've been playing since I was like five.

SPEAKER_04

You know, and that's a lot of these guys, right? Um, maybe not five, but seven, eight, you know. And so at this point, especially when you start getting to this level, a lot of that stuff is just understanding the system from the coach and how they want to play, and then it becomes not automatic, but gets close to it.

Support Systems And Sacrifice

SPEAKER_00

Well, especially like at this age. So um teenagers are starting to choose different sports. They're track starting to choose, you know, maybe girls, stuff, you know, want to stay home, want to date, stuff like that. So um every level has a different commitment based on parents, income, stuff like that. Um and everything is, you know, sometimes maybe your kid is on this one team and well, you can kind of tell the kids that are like, okay, yeah, I I think I'm gonna play school sports and at home and enjoy it. I mean, because playing school sports, you know, it's it's great walking down the hall with that letter jacket and all that stuff, but and then but sometimes, you know, when you're playing the competitive and you're going out and stuff like that, you can he he likes that. He wants them the competitive and traveling and seeing the different parts of this United States and stuff. So it's he likes it. So and we're just trying to really help him. I mean, competition level, sometimes we show up and you know, they're you know, it it doesn't matter what alphabet they are. It's mean I mean they're some teams are just really, really good.

SPEAKER_04

Really, really good.

SPEAKER_00

And some teams, you know, like oh we're kinda you know, matter what team we're on, it's we're gonna we're gonna win.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

So it's it's all about, you know, where we're going and stuff like that. So it's it's it's nice to see all the different levels and so but just give an opportunity to your kid on on the level they want to play.

SPEAKER_01

For me, I think a lot of it is I mean it I know we get wrapped up in the alphabet suit, but yeah, if you look at NL, MLS next, eventually the the price tag goes up to where there's more buy-in by the parents. So, you know, when we talk about the seriousness of the the kids, which they're kids, yeah, to show up on time and to play. Well, that that goes up a few notches. And uh, you know, it's a whole lot as you know, you play with my money or play with my emotions where when you're on some teams and the parents aren't holding a standard and the kid just kind of shows up and then you could they disrupt training or something like that. I don't I feel like I'm like, wait a minute, you're you're kind of picking my pocket a little bit here. I you know, this guy is really he wants to come have fun, but he wants to come and play hard and have a good training session. We're we're we're sacrificing, you know, money and time to for this to happen. And when you don't have a good session, you feel, I mean, come on. Yeah. So I think the level of buy-in, I mean, the the parents are serious on the sideline to where there's you know, you know, it it's there's not a lot of chatter across the board. I mean, even the officiating, it it seemed I mean, we've played our first game, the the the Hun, the crew with the the ref crew was micing up. Yeah. Really? All right. So it's not been that way every game, but I mean it was very impressive for that one. Um so yeah, uh just just the I think you can tell the level at least is dictating the amount of buy-in for the parents. Yeah. And that translates all the way down to the to the kid.

SPEAKER_04

I think that's a really important factor too, is kind of club culture. Um and that also doesn't necessarily have um that can that is very true no matter what alphabet soup you play in. Is do you feel like you're in the spot for you?

SPEAKER_02

And then like when I got to the first training session in Coach Thomas, I fell in love with the style of coaching. I loved how he did things because he has he has all these crazy sayings that I love.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

He has K O B K, which is all the time, which is killer be killed.

SPEAKER_04

Okay.

SPEAKER_02

And then like practice, during he says killer be killed in practice because he has to say K O B Kames.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And then like our themes for Houston, we had defend like Vikings, yeah, burn the boats, yeah, all these sayings, and then like all of us keep saying them all the time during the games, and that's how I just fell in love with it.

Zach’s Ambitions And Next Steps

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. I heard I I was watching one of you guys' games at uh Hebron a couple weeks ago, and uh you guys scored, and at the kickoff he was screaming Fortress. Yeah, which I know what he's trying to say, but uh I don't know if people know this. Most goals in soccer are scored within two minutes of a stoppage of play. So whether that's a free kick, a goal being scored, uh it could be the same team scoring again, but a lot of times it's the other way. Uh and either even things out or pulling one back or whatever it is. So I know that I know why he's saying it right after you guys scored, like Fortress where Fortress we can't let up.

SPEAKER_02

Yep, and that's what we did during our first Dallas Hornets game. It was against Dallas Hornets East. And our call-up was Fortress on B Fortress on three before the game started because we wanted a complete clean sheet that game. Yeah, because that's what he challenged us to do, because we always have like challenges before games. Yeah. Like our challenge for that first game was it was three goals in 10 minutes in six and twenty, I think.

SPEAKER_04

Wow.

SPEAKER_00

That's yeah, he has to be challenges for the boys each game, like we're gonna do this much. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_04

Gives them something to focus on.

SPEAKER_00

Right. So, you know, and he he's a he's a really good coach. We're really getting to know him and stuff like that. So every coach is great.

SPEAKER_04

All the coaching staff are great. Thomas Thomas is great. Um, we're very, very fortunate to have the coaching staff that we do uh across the board. We we hear it from parents, we hear it from other coaches, um, and we're just we're very fortunate to have be able to put the type of program that we have um right from the get-go. And I'd be very remiss not to mention uh sporting and everything that they do on the admin side and making sure that things run smoothly. So big shout out to them and Scott and and and Jen and and Kevin for for overseeing the program.

SPEAKER_00

Um definitely make or break the CNOs, yes, their future, where they want to play, where they want to go. Well just like their attitude off the field too.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, the opportunity. Um we came up for fall break for training and wound up guest playing with sporting for one of their tournaments. So we actually got to enjoy the experience with just sporting as well.

Closing Thanks And Where To Listen

SPEAKER_02

Funny part was basically that Sunday we came in and then Kevin shot the text that night and was like, Can you are you free tomorrow? Yeah. Are you playing in the tournament tomorrow? Yeah. He's like, You come play for the U-16s, we're playing in the U17 division. I'm like, I can do that for you, coach. And I come in, play that morning, we win. He's like 4-0. Yeah. I sprint over for the final two minutes of the U-15 game. Yeah, they stick me in, and I make like a really pretty good save.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And all of us are laughing.

SPEAKER_01

They're like, How did you get in for two minutes? He originally just went over to see how the game was going, and the coach said, Hey, get your cleat on.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, that's too funny. That's it. No, no, you're going in. That's too funny. Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02

And the funny part was at the end of the day, we won with the U 16s and the U 15s.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, that's great. It's a lot of fun. That's good. I I mean, I'm I'm super happy to hear about, you know, the experience um from you know parents' perspective as well. Um, obviously for you, and and I'm glad, especially with the type of commitment that you guys have made. So um just thank you for believing in in Coach Kevin. And you know, it's it's amazing to see. I hope you know how lucky you are to have parents that are willing to make that type of sacrifice and commitment. Um I'm sure he does, but from somebody not mom and dad, right, right, that say things, um that's pretty darn special. So um, you know, kudos to you, mom and dad. I uh I was the oldest of four. And for one season, my dad drove me two hours one way to train up in uh it was just south of Philadelphia. I grew up in Maryland uh for a club and it just got to the point where it was like I'm missing too much at home with the other kids and mom can't handle, and nobody else lives by us. We can't carpool. So I ended up being just fine and found another really good opportunity. But um, you know, everybody's situation is different, and you're very fortunate to have uh such supportive parents that are just like, hey, let's let's support them however we can and and figure it out. So that's awesome. Um well Zach, what what do you what what is your best case scenario? What's your dream, man? What do you are you I I want to go to college and get an education play, I want to go all the way to pro. I want to play Champions League. Like, what are we what are we doing?

SPEAKER_02

I've always wanted to go pro. Like, you know, I always like work out scenarios in my mind, like in my head. I'm like, I always like I thought to myself, when Ozark was probably not having a club, I was like, you know, I could get signed. Yeah. So I wanted to like maybe stick around and then maybe get signed. Yeah. And then start playing USL2, maybe get scattered by MLS. Yeah. And I wanted to always play for the US youth national team. Yeah. And like my overall biggest dream, I wanted to go to Germany and play like Wolfsburg, Dortmund, yeah, all the big German clubs because you used to fly the National Guard to Germany.

SPEAKER_04

I've always just had this. I was gonna say, where's the German connection? Yeah, grandmother's maiden name was Kopf. So turbulence. Gotcha.

SPEAKER_02

So and then like I've always wanted to like make a start of national teams. It's just always been like, I'm always looking to the best. I've always wanted to be the best. Because like he's a dreamer. The reason the reason, like I told myself was basically if your dreams don't scare you, they're not good enough. Yeah, they're not gonna make you work hard enough. Because if you really, really want it, yeah, you dream that big, you'll work and you'll work and you'll work till you get it.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. I was gonna say it's one thing to be a dreamer, it's another to be a dreamer and a worker. And it sounds like you're the one that puts the work in. So uh just keep doing that and head down and surround yourself with good people and you'll be in a good place.

SPEAKER_02

Yep. Solid awesome.

SPEAKER_04

Well, guys, thank you. I will let you get to uh I guess the pre-match uh for the game here. Uh so I won't keep you too much longer. But I just want to really say thank you guys so much for believing in in the club and and Coach Kevin and you know, at least coming to explore the opportunity and then leaning in and and seeing what it was about. And it sounds like you know, we've found a nice mutual fit here. So uh just congrats on everything so far, Mr. Taylor, there, and uh keep working. And mom and dad, keep doing what you're doing. You guys are awesome. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00

Well, thanks for having.

SPEAKER_04

Thanks for having us. Awesome. Well, that's it for this episode of Pitch the Pro. We hope you guys enjoyed it. Uh be sure to catch all of our episodes on pitchthepro.com or look for pitch the pro on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcast for more content. Until next time, cheers, Northwest Arkansas.

SPEAKER_03

Thanks for joining us on this episode of the Pitch the Pro podcast. Be sure to tune in again in two weeks for the next installment and check out the stoppage time series for a recap of today's episode. Be sure to find us at Pitch the Pro on YouTube, Instagram, and everywhere you get your podcasts. Until next time, Northwest Arkansas, cheers.