Welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast! (S14 E12)

                           Welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast!  (S14 E12)

Proud member of the Sports History Network and endorsed by the National                                                  Soccer Coaches Association of Canada.     

Host Giovanni Pacini welcomes his worldwide audience to yet another exciting show. Don't forget this season will feature World Cup "bonus content" throughout the season and beyond!

This week's "Conversation with the Coach" is with the legendary American soccer broadcaster, JP Dellacamera. "Coaches Corner" features Erik Eisenhut where he talks about the role of the goalkeeper while in possession. "News and Analysis" will feature Giovanni Pacini with news from the AP and Ralph Ferrigno checks in with the European Soccer Report where he talks about Euro teams competing in the World Cup. The "American Soccer Revolution" features Dr. Nick Pocius and the topic of youth sports having a retention problem. 

The GP Soccer Podcast features new shows every Wednesday and can be found anywhere you listen to your podcasts. Listeners are encouraged to "Like" and "Subscribe" the GP Soccer Podcast and share the show amongst those within their social media network! Those interested in advertising on the show can contact host Giovanni Pacini at gp4soccer@yahoo.com. And be sure to check out the show website at www.gpsoccerpodcast.com. 

                    GP Soccer Podcast enjoys continued support from-
United Goalkeeping Alliance - Music Meets Sports - National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada - The Sports History Network - Feedspot.com - GP Voice Over Services - Zone 14 Coaching

GP Soccer Podcast welcomes a new sponsor- Zone 14 Coaching! Check it out at Zone14coaching.com. Use promo code GP20 for 20% off!

To purchase a signed copy of Dr. Joe Machnik's book- "From the Sandlots to the World Cup: 7 Decades of American Soccer", e-mail "Dr. Joe" at joemachnik@no1soccercamps.com. Be sure to mention the GP Soccer Podcast!

Enjoy the show!

Transcript

SPEAKER_10 1:21

Well, hey there, everyone. Giovanni Pacini here, your host of the GP Soccer Podcast. Great to be with you once again talking about all things soccer. Now, if you you sense a little bit of uh uh difference in my voice, as you know, last week I shared with all you I was suffering with a little bit of a cold, had some sniffles, and it was messy with my voice. I I got over the cold. I got over the sniffles, but I just got back from New York City having seen Bruce Springsteen at Madison Square Garden the other night. And uh yeah, my voice is just now just now starting to come back. Just in time for me to come down here and into the studio and and do the show. Um great, great, great show. My 72nd show, by the way, uh in my history of Bruce Springsteen. But that's a that's a topic for another day, and certainly a topic for another another podcast. But all in all, uh great to be with you once again on the GP Soccer Podcast. So I took a little bit of lighthearted, and it really was lighthearted. Agreed from some friends of mine, people that I know who listen to the show, and and it's great. They share with me their comments, their thoughts, and which is always appreciated. But they were breaking my my you know what's a little bit about last week's um comments that I made about the you know, the New England Revolution and our Boston Legacy FC getting buried deep in the sports pages of the of the local Boston Globe. And I, you know, I kind of called them out a little bit on that and uh made a little bit of a broader statement about the importance of uh making sure that soccer is has its place literally and figuratively in sports media, which obviously includes a newspaper. A newspaper, still people still read the newspaper. Um and, you know, I I I thought maybe it'd be the last time I'd have to talk about it, but no, no, I have to talk about it again because in yesterday's, yesterday's Boston Sunday Globe, uh dated May the 17th, in the next to the last page of the sports page, buried in the lower left-hand corner, with two articles even smaller than last week's. We had the New England Revolution getting a tiny bit of ink about their two-to-one win over the Minnesota United, a good comeback win uh for the Revs, um, who were still very much in second place. And just below them, in a tiny, tiny article, uh, our Boston Legacy FC uh received a tiny, tiny, tiny bit of ink uh regarding their one-to-one uh draw with with uh uh the Bay Football Club. And it's their um they they stretched their unbeaten streak to five games, two oh and three. Um if there's any any consolation above that with a little bit more ink, we we've got a story about Man City uh you know winning the FA Cup final with a 1-0 uh victory over Chelsea. Um and I guess I I guess I'll you know kind of you know reinforce what I talked about last week. This just doesn't have to do with the newspaper, but social media in general or wherever you happen to get your news um regarding the sport of soccer. Just make sure that as you you know you peruse your your your sports pages, or whether it be in a newspaper or in your laptop or your phone or wherever, your computer, that soccer gets its just due. Now, listen, you know, I I've been around a long time, and we've come a long way in the sport of soccer. Uh I go back to the days, and I'm not going to give you any age or anything like that. You probably all know that already, but there was a time when you barely could find any kind of soccer anywhere. Uh I go back to the days of uh you know soccer made in Germany on PBS, which came out every week with Toby Charles, and uh basically was a highlight show about the previous week's games in the Bundesliga. So if you already knew the scores, you kind of already knew the outcome. But it was really, you know, one of the only things, only areas or only places we could go to watch soccer. Uh I remember my dad, God rest his soul, taking me down into the north end of Boston in uh one of the many social clubs that on a Saturday or Sunday morning, via closed circuit television, we would watch games from Italy. We'd be sitting there in the in the social club and you know, uh seeing this uh grainy screen slowly and surely come to life, and then bang, there were the uh there was the game coming from Italy. And, you know, there wasn't a lot much after that. You know, you didn't get much in your newspaper because back then there was no such thing as social media or technology like that. You did indeed rely on your newspaper, and there was just very, very little. But as time has gone on, at least in my lifetime, my lifetime, we've come a very, very long way. Are we where we need to be regarding uh coverage of the great game of soccer? No, not yet. But that uh requires you, the fans out there, to make your voices heard and make sure that we get ample coverage that the game so richly deserves. It is not just football, basketball, baseball, hockey. It is football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and yes, indeed, soccer. So there you have it, folks. My ranting and raving about uh, you know, our our local teams here, the Revs in the Legacy getting buried in the sports pages of the Boston Club. Our show today, our show today. We have a great uh returning guest, and he's a legend, and I mean that in all sincerity. Uh my conversation with the broadcaster is with JP Della Camera, and uh he is the iconic voice of American soccer. You have heard him over uh countless uh overseeing uh calling countless games uh for the United States of America, from World Cup, Men's World Cup, Men's Women's World Cup, NWSL, MLS, uh, indoor soccer, and even a hockey guy way back when you're really going to enjoy my conversation with the terrific JP Della Camera. In Coach's Corner, Coach's Corner, we have the great Eric Eisena returning, uh, talk about all things goalkeeping. Soccer news and analysis is with yours truly, Giovanni Piccini, with news from the Associated Press. The European Soccer Report is with Ralph Regno, and it is his latest review of European teams competing in the upcoming World Cup, which is just uh a few couple, three, three short weeks away. In the American Soccer Revolution, uh, this is a this is a nice piece that I'll share with you. It is from uh a gentleman by the name of Dr. Nick Potius, and he's the founder and co-owner of the House of Hoops. And the topic that he oversees is entitled, Youth Sports Has a Retention Problem. You're gonna want to not gonna want to miss that. Checking boxes, checking boxes, checking boxes. Uh, well, you know, World Cup, as I know, is is uh is uh is is gonna be here pretty quick. Some things to keep in mind. Um, this is kind of gonna be a little bit of a a Boston-centric uh you know report here, but a lot of things I'll share with you here certainly uh you know has to do with with uh all of the venues across the three the three nations that'll be that'll be uh hosting the World Cup, the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Uh but here in the Boston area, I uh happen to watch uh a news conference um from uh Jim Nolan, who is the chief operating officer for the Crafts Sports and Entertainment Group, and he talks about you know getting down to Boston Stadium. Um his advice is to drive. Drive. Uh now there will be other modes of transportation, you know, most likely the train service that'll be coming down. Um but his his advice was to drive down. Um thing to keep in mind though, if you're gonna come to Boston Stadium, uh make sure you've got a ticket. Now that may sound awful silly, but there will be folks, and there have been folks who just want to go and experience the vibe of the World Cup. But um, you know, you you better have you better have a ticket because there's gonna be uh uh these your tickets will be scanned three times. Once you enter the parking lot, that's assuming you're driving. You're gonna be scanned again to go through security and then entering the actual uh stadium proper itself. Uh and if uh from the uh from the new press conference, um it noted that uh if you don't have a ticket, don't come to Gillette. Pretty good advice, pretty good advice. Um there is the uh customary clear bag policy, which if you've come to you know Boston Stadium, Gillette Stadium, you know what that's all about. Um the gates will be open in about three hours before the matches. Uh the fan experience zone is located just inside the gates, and it'll be active as soon as the gates are open. If you want to go buy stuff, uh the stadium will be cashless with cash to credit kiosks that are available. Um and there will be, there will be, happy to report, uh tailgating. There will be tailgating. That was uh not going to happen uh for quite some time, and they they finally kind of I guess kind of came to their senses uh allowing people to uh you know to uh to tailgate, which is uh such a popular thing to do. Now, one of the other things that came up during the press conference that there have been some reports that some European fans will be walking or taking bicycles uh and trekking the uh the many miles uh down Route 1 to get to uh Boston Stadium. Um the local chief of police down there in Foxborough, whose name is Michael Grace, uh, he indicated that um, you know, they don't appear to be on on a list of significant security concerns. But nonetheless, all kidding aside, if you're on your way down to Boston Stadium and you're in a car, uh realize that there may be some fans that uh may be walking and getting on a bike to come down there. So just be extra, extra careful. Uh details regarding uh the registration process for the Boston City Hall Fan Fest uh here in the city of Boston. Should be ready uh in about a week or so, according to the press conference. And uh last but not least, um, the Patriots Pro Shop, the Patriots Hall of Fame, Gillette Stadium Lighthouse, and access to the Tom Brady statue outside of the North Entrance will be closed through mid-July. Uh the Pro Shop will move to a temporary location in Patriot Place South Marketplace. So if you want to get a little taste of uh New England Patriots and Tom Brady and all that stuff that goes along with the New England Patriots, uh you'll have to go out to the uh Patriot Place South Marketplace. Here's the last story I want to share with you. This is terrific. Um, and it's about the Scotland fans uh traveling in style, and I put that in quotes to uh Boston Stadium. Um as is reported here, eleven hundred Scottish World Cup fans, they plan to take school buses to the stadium. This is this is kind of a cool story. Um the Tartan Army, T-A-R-T-A-N, the Tartan Army, uh Scotland's national uh soccer team's fan base, um, you know, they had a bit of a problem uh in getting to to World Cup matches without paying an arm and a leg. Uh and it is it is an expensive proposition. Uh and for many, many, many, many Scottish fans, uh the city of Boston was just too expensive to stay in. So a lot of the fans, or the majority of the World Cup fans from Scotland, um, are turning down to to play in uh to stay in Providence. Uh they found it would be much, much cheaper there. Now, getting to the game was another challenge as well, and it was all about cost, you know. Long story short, uh they were able to uh uh put together a group of school buses uh from uh the the town of Foxborough and will be attending um will be making their way to the to the stadium in uh in school buses. And it's about I got about 1,100 Scottish fans making their way to this uh stadium in yellow school buses. That's it's gonna be fantastic. And as I noted, you know, it's a little bit cheaper. Um these uh uh yellow buses, these fan-organized buses, will cost around $47 versus the $95 per person if you were to take it um in a more formal, formal way to get to the stadium. So this is gonna be terrific. Look, look for those yellow school buses. Scottish fans are arguably the best in the world. Um I thought I would share all that with you. Again, checking boxes, checking boxes, checking boxes, and um, should we be having some concerns about our U.S. men's national team as we draw so painfully close uh to the opening of the tournament? Um two or three things I want to kind of cover here uh as we close out the opening block here of the GP Soccer Podcast. Now, the the the 26-man roster uh will be uh announced on May the 26th. So it's coming up in about a week or eight days away. Uh so we'll know exactly uh who will be donning the Stars and Stripes uniforms representing the United States of America. Um and then uh Mauricio Pochettino uh and his crew will be running themselves for uh you know two friendlies, one against Senegal and the other one against Germany at the end of the month, to kind of fine-tune everything and kind of you know familiarize the final squad with one another. Uh that's kind of a small window of opportunity to get a group of 26 players to gel. Um never mind the 11 who are going to be starting the game and maybe carry most of the load. It's really, really a short period of time, but that's the the way the way they've uh kind of planned this out uh with the roster being named on May 26th, and then just very short period thereafter, um, you know, get getting prepared themselves with Senegal in Germany. It's gonna be very, very interesting to see how the team plays and if they if there are any issues regarding any aspect, any aspect of play, from the 11 who start the game for the players who get it who come into the game in the later stages of the match and get and get to the final whistle. That's gonna be it's gonna be a challenge. A couple things that that kind of kind of stick in my crawl a little bit, or or I have a little bit of concern. Christian Pulisic, he's he is, as we all know, our best player, and maybe the best player to ever have ever donned a United States uh men's national team uniform. Um he has not performed well, and that's a gross understatement. Uh he's 27 years old, and he's, you know, and arguably he's in the worst form uh of his pref professional career. He hasn't scored for the United States uh since a oh goodness, a 4-2 win over Jamaica at the Conquerc Nation uh Nations League in November of 2024, and he has not scored in the past 18 games with AC Milan dating back to last year, 2025. And now he opened the 25-26 City R season in an amazing, amazing fashion, but has has hit the wall for whatever reason. For whatever reason. Athletes in every sport, they have their ups, they have their downs. He's had his certainly had his ups, and he's in the midst of a problematic down. Um, it's gonna be real interesting. Uh what what what does his tournament look like? He he is the you know, he's the he's the one that uh allegedly is the is going to be the driving force uh behind our team, hopefully doing well. Um we'll hope to see that um you know he he he kind of you know bounces back. The other concern I have is the goalkeeping. Now the odds unfavored is Matt Freeze. That is the expect he'd be the expected starter for the U.S. men's national team. But there's always been that air of question regarding Matt Freeze, and the the second name in this group would be Matt Turner, would be Matt Turner. Um I I I have nothing against Matt Turner as a as an athlete, as a as a human being, as a soccer player. I'm he's uh I'm sure by all accounts, wonderful, but but I don't think he's got what it takes to you know be the man between the pipes, to be the one to stand on his head when standing on your head is necessary to make the appropriate saves, the big time saves, to keep your get keep your team in a match. I'm not convinced about that. Uh and as I said, he's got the inside track. Um, he's had some disappointing performances in Mexico and in Canada in the last year's CONCACAF Nations League. Um, he made every start, and he was impressive enough, you know, to you know, uh in the run to the 2405 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. But then they, you know, as you know, um they they you know the United States fell to Mexico in two to one. Um he's got experience. He's 31 years old. Uh excuse me, th talking about Matt Turner. Matt Turner's 31 years old, and he's he's a veteran. He's a veteran. Um and he started all four of the U.S. men's national uh national team matches in the 2022 World Cup. He was the man, he was kind of the odds-on favorite to be the the uh the goalkeeper, uh, you know, moving moving forward, but that has since changed because of the rise of Matt Freeze. You know, he's been playing regularly here in the Boston area for our very own uh New England Revolution. Um and he's been playing well. He's been very, very, very, very competitive. Uh he did make a bit of a blunder a couple of matches ago where he misplayed a ball uh with his feet and cost cost a revs uh uh you know uh uh the match or a goal uh against Nashville. But that aside, and you look at his his uh you know t to total uh you know to total uh uh amount of productivity, he's he's been doing fairly, fairly well. And then last but not least, and I don't care you know if you coach high school, college, club, whatever, but every team has has a culture, every team has an identity, I guess the word I'm searching for here. With such short notice in terms of you know putting the the announcing for the roster and then a very short turnaround to to play a couple of games against Senegal and in Germany, and then we're so painfully close to the to the World Cup. Do we even have an identity? Is there enough time to create one? Will the identity manifest itself when the tournament begins? Goodness, I hope not, because then that's too late. It's too late to have an identity, to have a culture, have a character uh when the World Cup has already started. I think Mauricio Pochettino uh might have uh put himself behind the eight ball just a little bit with all of this, waiting so long uh, you know, to put together a a team without officially naming the team, but heck, you can read between the lines when you see the same group of guys, you know, you know, uh being out there on the field uh playing as much as they do, and and the and the and the players who who are on the bench to you know getting ready to back them up. Um it's it's a bit of a concern for me. A bit of a concern for me. The U.S. national team, men's national teams, uh, you know, their their character, their identity, their personality. Is it too late? Is it too late to really uh you know put that all together? Only time will tell. That's the opening block of the GP Soccer Podcast. We're gonna break for a couple of commercials, you know how that works, and then we'll re-engage in the other side of uh our terrific interview with JP Della Camera. Don't you dare go anywhere. Youth soccer has changed. Expectations are higher, but the systems haven't kept up. Coaches juggle endless tasks, players chase progress they can't measure, and clubs struggle to create consistency across teams. Zone 14 coaching was built for this moment. A company built by coaches or coaches, Zone 14 coaching next generation journals for coaches and players help plan every practice, reflect on what worked, and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, Zone 14 coaching brings structure and purpose to your training. The founders of Zone 14 Coaching watched it awe as some of the game's best tacticians and mentors spent every precious moment with a simple pen and paper, meticulously sketching, writing, and planning in a journal. It was a powerful and humbling sight. The foundation of great coaching was a commitment to preparation and a passion for player development. This simple observation sparked a question What if we could give every coach, from the passionate parent at the recreation level to the club coaching director, access to the same level of structured thoughtful planning? Zone 14 Coaching is the answer. Visit zone14coaching.com and use the promo code GP20 for 20% off. And if you want to outfit your entire organization or even just one team, contact Zone 14Coaching at Zone14coaching.com for bulk pricing. Zone 14 Coaching for high-level soccer knowledge and structured planning is accessible and simple.

SPEAKER_06 21:23

The United Goalkeeping Alliance is the world's number one virtual educational platform for goalkeepers. The UGKA emphasizes a goalkeeper culture while supporting goalkeepers around the world through every stage of their development. The United Goalkeeping Alliance is an ever-growing network of goalkeeper coaches with agreed upon goals of educating generations of goalkeepers around the five elements of a goalkeeper's development tactical development, technical knowledge, physical growth, psychological balance, and social connections. If you'd like to learn more about our memberships for goalkeepers, for goalkeeper coaches, and for clubs, please. Please reach out anytime at 781-424-3028. Or you can email us at info at United GKAlliance.com.

SPEAKER_04 22:11

Hey, this is Alexi Lawless. Uh, I am uh, well, I'm a legend. I'm frickin' awesome. Are you kidding me? Well, anyway, you know where you are. You're listening to the GP Soccer Podcast with Giovanni Pacini. Gibbendo!

SPEAKER_08 22:41

And welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast Conversation with the coach.

SPEAKER_10 22:59

And welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast, conversation with the coach. Well, today, uh, it's not the coach. You know how this all works. Sometimes it's a conversation with an author, conversation with a player. But I guess uh today it's a conversation with a with a bit of a legend, uh, a broadcasting legend uh here in the United States of America. And who am I talking about? Well, it's JP Della Camera. He is arguably one of the pioneering voices of American soccer. Uh JP serves as a Fox Sports play-by-play announcer for the network's premier soccer portfolio. He is the Carlin Joseph Media Award recipient and winner of the Clay Burling Media Career of Excellence Award. JP has been a fixture in the Fox Sports booth over the years. JP is regarded as the original voice of U.S. soccer with a broadcasting career spanning 40 years. He brings decades of experience covering a total of 18 FIFA World Cups, 11 men's and 7 women's, on television and radio beginning with ESPN in 1986. He was the lead ESPN radio voice for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2014, and will call matches once again this summer at the FIFA World Cup 2026. He has called four consecutive women's World Cups on ESPN, spanning from 1995 to 2007. His most famous assignment dates back to the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final at the Rose Bowl, when the U.S. women's national team lifted the trophy against China in a memorable shootout victory. On the club level, JP has lent his commentary to many other soccer broadcasts on the Fox Sports family of networks, ESPN, ABC, and Comcast SportsNet. The 2019 Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame recipient was the lead television play-by-play voice for Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union for 13 years. On the One World Sports Network, JP called the New York Cosmos Games from 2013 to 2016, in addition to Wednesday night soccer and NASL Game of the Week segments. And in 2000, he was the lead voice for the inaugural season of the W USA, the country's first women's professional soccer league. Beyond his soccer highlights, JP has called hockey for the NHL network and ESPN. He was the local TV voice for the Atlanta Thrashers for five seasons and fill-in play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes on Fox Sports Regional Networks. For six years, he also covered NBA and college basketball games for ESPN and other various networks. JP Della Camera, welcome back to the GP Soccer Podcast.

SPEAKER_05 25:21

Well, thank you for having me. I didn't realize I did all that stuff. Now I feel older than I actually am.

SPEAKER_10 25:29

The longer the resume, the the shorter the hair. You know, you lose your hair, that type of thing, you know.

SPEAKER_05 25:34

But uh I still have mine, but who knows how much longer, right? You never know.

SPEAKER_10 25:38

No, JP, you got me beat. You've got me beat. I've lost mine a long, a long time ago. A long time ago. Well, listen, welcome back to the GP Soccer Podcast. You're a dear friend of the show, and it's always a joy to connect and talk about all things soccer and otherwise. Um as we spoke about before I hit the record button, I want to take a little bit of a twist with you today. Uh we we know, and and people now know your resume in the world of soccer, but I want to take a little bit of a nuts and bolts approach to our conversation, and that is, you know, what it's like to prepare, you know, for soccer matches and um the nuts and bolts of of preparation, the things you do, the research that you do, those types of things. Um but to start, um, I want to talk about your voice. You know, we we make, well, you make a living, and I make somewhat of a living using our voices. It's our our instrument, so to speak. Um we're both from the Boston area, you're from Waltham. I grew up in Weymouth down on the South Shore, and we be we come cursed with the Boston accent. Um, all kidding aside, how much work did you have to go into to kind of get rid of or minimize or mitigate, if you will, that cursed Boston accent?

SPEAKER_05 26:44

Uh I used to say Pac the Car, like you used to say Pak the car, but I don't anymore. But I thought getting rid of the Boston accent was so easy for me and so quick. It's really simple. All you do is pronounce the letter R. That's it. And so every day, like whether it was breakfast, lunch, dinner, around the family, I would say, um, I had a hard time today parking in the car, and my brother would start laughing at me. And that's when I knew I had it, because he thought, now I'm the one that sounds funny doing it. So I knew I was perfecting it based on his laughter, but I think it's simpler than most people realize. Boston accent is really just there is no R sound, right? It's PAC, but it's actually park in the rest of the country. So I found that Giovanni to be one of the easier things I had to do.

SPEAKER_10 27:39

You know, I took uh when I get into uh podcasting, uh I took a course over at Boston Casting. Um, took a course with the great Jordan Rich, who was a legend over at WBZ here in the Boston area, and um he used to give us uh these sentences that were layered upon layered upon layered with the, you know, the pox, the cas, you know, the Rs, which you talked about. And we had to practice. And I had that sheet for the longest time, uh JP, uh practicing and practicing and listening very close and recording myself to see I'm like, okay, am I losing this R? Am I losing the Ah? Um and then it reached a point, as I'm sure it has for you, obviously, where you don't even think about it anymore.

SPEAKER_05 28:18

It it's it's not part of your your I don't even slip unless, you know, unless you ask me to do an impression, uh I don't slip back to it. Like nobody says, oh yeah, I I hear that Boston accent because I've not had it for years. And then part of that too, I think when you move, you know, you move to various parts of the country, uh, you tend to lose that accent automatically.

SPEAKER_10 28:39

I was with a group of folks this past weekend, and uh, you know, some folks that I had just met for the first time, some others that I knew. And um, one of the folks came over, they go says to me, You're from Boston? I says, Yeah. He says, You don't have a Boston accent. I'll tell you what, JP, that was a bit of a compliment. I'm like, okay, I've I've hit it. I don't I can fool them now and uh into thinking that I that I'm not from Boston. But uh so circling back to your voice, are there anything is there anything special you do to take care of your voice? Um is there anything you do to kind of uh prepare your voice going into let's say a broadcast? How do you how do you take care of your voice and how do you use your voice in terms of preparation for an upcoming broadcast?

SPEAKER_05 29:18

I would say I'm lucky, Giovanni, in the sense that you know, knock on wood never really like lost my voice like like some people have, or had a ask out of a game because of something with my voice. So I I think I always talk about the element of luck in somebody's long career, and that that's part of it. But the only thing that I've ever done with my voice is uh protect the neck in the winter, you know, no open-collared shirts, you know. I wear a scarf, soup in the winter, more so than the summer. You know, try to stay hydrated as best you can. I I would say that's it. Uh, first sign of any kind of a cold, uh take something for it. I don't think it goes away on its own. And so I I think that's been part of it, as as well as the luck part of it. You have to have some luck in this business. I know it's not many people, but I know a couple of people whose careers ended because of voice problems. So there's only so much that you can really do to protect it, but I would say the stuff that I do is common sense, I think, for most people.

SPEAKER_10 30:29

How has your voice changed from the early days of your career to today?

SPEAKER_05 30:35

That'd be a question, probably more for a listener or a viewer. I I don't think my voice has ever changed. I I don't know if it's I don't know if it's deeper than it ever was because you get older. I I have no idea. Like if I listen to an old an old tape or or video, um I don't notice a a real difference. But I think the difference is not in my voice, but maybe in style and how it may change over the years. You know, you try to say less with more words. I don't think that when I was in my twenties, I certainly didn't think about saying less words. Like we didn't know about that stuff back then. Now, like concise is the best thing that that you can do on a broadcast. Say the most with the fewest words. And I think that's a trick that young broadcasters have to learn. Um, veteran broadcasters probably have learned it, but you should always remind yourself so that you're not caught up in a game, you know, telling stories that you really shouldn't be telling. Be mindful of if it's soccer, where the ball is. If it's hockey, you know, where the puck is, who has it, who's in control, what's the situation? Can I get burnt if I tell this story? Is this story that important to bring in here? Can I wait for it? Those are some of the things that you'll think about probably more in your subconscious than anything else.

SPEAKER_10 32:05

Yeah, I think um, you know, the the best broadcasters out there, despite the sport, are the ones that know uh when not to speak and allow the game to be the you know, to be the voice, so to speak, of of what's transpiring. Um getting that that that balance, that sensitive balance squared away, I think is is is certainly the key.

SPEAKER_05 32:24

Um we did uh an NWSL boot camp this year where we had athletes come in, current players, uh, and some that have just retired who want a career in broadcasting. And and I was asked to speak, and one of the things that I talked about was um from an analyst or a play-by-play standpoint, I said to be able to describe, if you're an analyst, what has taken place with the shortest amount of words that people can understand. And from a play-by-play standpoint, being able to identify who has the ball, what the situation is, um you know, time and score, and and knowing when to let the game breathe. And I said to that group, remember this. In the history of broadcasting, I've not heard one fan ever say, I wish those announcers would speak more. It's never happened. I've never heard one fan ever say that. I wish you guys or you and he or you and she or just you would talk more. It's usually, I wish those people would just take a breath. I wish they would stop talking. Why are we still talking? That's that's what you get. So if you think about it that way, it'll remind you, I think, to be concise. Say the most with the less or least amount of words, and that's a that's a trick you have to learn. That's a talent.

SPEAKER_10 33:54

Talk to my audience about the differences in styles from say a broadcaster like yourself versus um, I'll I'll use Ian Dark as an example. The way the way he calls the game is historically different than you know, almost anyone else. Share with it stylistically. Share with my audience the the differences between, well, say yourself, we'll use you, um, uh given your given your your your resume. And a guy like Ian Dark. How are you guys different?

SPEAKER_05 34:23

Um, I'm not sure how different we are. He's a he's a colleague of mine at Fox and was at ESPN, also a friend and somebody that I I respect. I think the only difference really in broadcasters from England, and you could say Ian, John Champion, Martin Tyler, uh whoever you want, and announcers here, whoever they are, is some of it is style, right? Some of it is how how you've grown up. But I think Martin Tyler lets the game breathe. I think Ian Dark lets the game breathe. I don't I don't think they over talk it. I think the biggest differences between, let's say, announcers from England and announcers here in the US is this. In England, they're not doing promos. They're not concerned about squeezing in too many replays like we tend to do. They don't have all kinds of reads like we have to do. They don't have features that they lead to in-game. They're just calling the game. American broadcasters really, if you go back decades, have never really had that. That's one of the biggest differences. Our shows, whether it's NWSL, MLS, um, CONCACAF, there's a lot more inventory than there is on those games in England. That's one major difference. And then the only other difference I I think depends on who the announcer is. I might call a goal and lay out longer than Ian or Martin or John might. Their call might be more exciting to viewers because they are punctuating that maybe longer than I would. I think it's just a style. I don't even know if it's country to country so much as broadcaster to broadcaster, but there's room for both. I enjoy watching games, whether it's Ian, John, Martin, or any others that you would name, as well as you know, watching American Voices too.

SPEAKER_10 36:27

You know, I enjoy uh being Italian, I enjoy obviously watching, you know, CDI soccer. And I I can tell you that the broadcasters uh who are calling those games the only term that comes to mind, JP, is rapid fire. The rapid fire approach of which they call the game is absolutely extraordinary. And if a goal is scored, they go from rapid fire to something else. Um it's a completely different approach, uh, if you will, to uh to to calling a game. But um let's shift gears.

SPEAKER_05 36:56

I mean, I would tell you this. Like, I like to lay out. I like to lay out for big moments. I like to, for television, you know, radio is different because you're painting the picture, but for television, they're seeing what you're calling. And I was recently interviewed in Philadelphia for a show. And when I when I go on shows in Philadelphia, they always want to talk about a particular game and a particular goal that Jacob Glesness had scored. I want to say it was a hundred and twenty-third minute of a game, playoff game against the Red Bulls, that the union won. It's the goal that I remember the most in my union career. And when I go on shows and they ask me about it, I always go back to it, just in case there's something I forgot. And I thought, how long did we lay out for? It was myself and Danny Hagenbottom, who is a British broadcaster who's now living in the U.S. and working with Apple TV, and Danny's a good friend too. And I timed the layout. It was 45 seconds that we laid out. Somebody else would have talked over that. We laid out because the pictures that we were shown by the producer, by the director, by the camera operators were extraordinary. Cutting from players celebrating on the field to the coach at that time, Jim Curtin, who ran the entire sideline to join in the celebration, to the fans who on that day in Philadelphia were the loudest I had ever heard in that stadium. Uh, I choose not to talk over that. You know, that's that's a moment for the producer, director, camera people to shine. That's what they do best. And talking over those pictures to me would have made no sense at all. I would have been screaming, probably at the top of my lungs. Um Danny would have been doing the same thing for the Philadelphia Union, for their fan base, and for those watching us at home. And so, you know, we said nothing for 45 seconds, and that was uh 45 seconds of what I would call great television.

SPEAKER_10 39:08

Yeah, again, circling back, it's allowing the game, allowing the situation, allowing the moment to speak for itself. Um JP, take us, um, walk us through what you would do, let's say, 72 hours out from a match, um, the day before, the day of a match. Um, and and is there anything that you flat out will refuse to leave to uh you know a last-minute bit of preparation? What what does your prep time like timeline look like?

SPEAKER_05 39:33

Ooh, people always ask about the time and how many hours, and I always tell them that you can't really, I can't anyway, put a number on the hours because when I just finished my last game on Saturday for NWSL, I did a game on Saturday night, and when that ended, I still watched another game that night. I watched parts of two games on Sunday, even though I didn't have those teams. That's part of my prep. You know, I'm following the league, I'm following the storylines, I'm following the players, and so I started there. And then on Monday, first thing, I'm writing in the lineups that the teams used for the previous game. And and it also depends, Giovanni, and are you studying for one game or more? Like as as we tape this show, I'm preparing for three games and three nights, and so it's a different prep. You have to time it so that you don't have three games in your head and all of those teams in your head, and all those stats and all of those numbers. So you you do some initial prep on the on the last game that you're gonna do, and then you put it away. Then on the second to last game, you're doing some more, and then you put it away. And then on the first, you do the same thing. But then as you get deeper into the week, you start to focus more on that first game that you have, and you watch some video, you'll go over some notes, you'll watch video from the previous game. It's like it's an endless amount of hours. There'll be coaches' calls, calls with the producer, so that's why I can't put like an hour on it, and everybody is different. Some broadcasters will put more time in it. That doesn't make them more prepared or less prepared. It just uh comfort level, I would say, for them. There's there's no right or wrong. I know some people that have a uh photographic memory, and they sh they've shown up at games with not a single note, not a briefcase. And yet, when they go on air, they're spouting off incredible facts that I read in the game notes, right? Their prep, they didn't have to do what I had to do. They didn't have to write it down, they had it committed to memory. So um everybody's situation is different. I I find two things to be different among a lot of people. One is when do you start the prep for that particular game or that particular tournament? And also when do you end it? Because in today's world with the internet and social media, you could study right up until uh five seconds before they blow the whistle to start the game. There's so much information that's out there, and I think at some point you gotta know when do I turn it off? The hardest part for any announcer, I would say, based on experience, when you're doing the Olympics or you're doing a World Cup is how to prep for it. If you've never done it before, it's totally unlike prepping for one single game, as you can imagine. So you've got the whole tournament in mind, you've got the big picture, but now what's the small picture? The smaller picture is, you know, your game or your games, and how do you prep for that? And knowing that only 30% of what you've studied for will probably go on that show. If you get more than 30% on air, you probably over talk the game. And so why would you study for I'll just throw out numbers, why would you study for 20 hours if you're only gonna use one hour of what you studied for on air or on your test? So there's there's gotta be a way for you to figure it out and be comfortable with it. And I think once you've done one World Cup or one Olympic tournament, you now know how to prepare for the rest. Even in this one, where it's more teams, more games, and more countries, you still have a basic format in which to start.

SPEAKER_10 43:49

In keeping with that preparation, when when you put together like, for example, like a broadcast board, like what are some of the categories that that are like non negotiable? You've got to get it on the broadcast board, it's gotta be part of your preparation. For example, like tactics and player notes and storylines, set pieces, referees, trends, whatever. And how do you decide what makes the cut in terms of information and what becomes well, heck, there's just too much I put on this on this broadcast board.

SPEAKER_05 44:14

Well, you're asking good questions. Most broadcasters that I know uh have a good memory, but you can't remember everything. You know, you've got to have notes in front of you for quick reference. Uh and some of it, uh, I try to keep I try to put in a piece of paper what I think I will use on air. Nothing that's gonna be like a long story or long storyline, but but stuff that I think that I can comfortably fit into a show. If I'm doing my boards, you know, let's say it's NWS, so players' name and number. Uh the first line is their bio, like how tall they are, um, how many years pro, maybe what their college is. The next line is what their stats were from last year, and then the third line on that would be um played in three World Cups, two Olympics, four NWSL teams, or four uh MLS teams. Whatever that is, that's on each player. The only thing that changes is the birth date. I would put that this person is going to be 30 on 9-9. So when 9-9 comes, I know that that person is now age 30. The only thing I do change, I update their stats in pencil, game to game, whether it's uh regular season, whether it's World Cup Olympics, that's the part that I update. And then on my notes, if it's if it's a league, you know, their their record, their record home and away, who their leading goal scorers are, who their other statistical leaders are, injuries, uh streaks, you know, things of that nature are put in there. If it's if it's a World Cup and it's the opening game, um, I'll have who they're playing in their next two in the group stage, um, what their path may look forward if they advanced, how they got there in qualifying, and then as you go deeper into the World Cup, you've got results from game one, results on game two. Here's what they need to do today in order to get to the knockout stage.

SPEAKER_10 46:26

JP Della Camera isn't the only face, if you will, of a match. This is a this is a collection of people to put forth, you know, that that that uh are quote-unquote kind of behind the scenes. Let's talk about relationship building as part of preparation. Uh who do you try to speak with before a broadcast? Coaches, players, uh, PR people, analysts, but your broadcast partner? And what kind of questions are are some of the things you might go over in terms of prep preparing for a broadcast?

SPEAKER_05 46:53

You're really challenging me with these questions. These are really good, and most people don't ask them, so you're you're making me think. So I think that's a good thing. But I would say in the in the old days, when you had like one game a week and you were at the stadium, then you would, you know, go to watch training, you would speak to at least one coach, uh, try to get the other coach over the phone, talk to producer, talk to your broadcast partner. You know, these days a lot of stuff is done off the monitor. And the only access that you have to coaches or players is through Zoom. And we do that during the week. We'll get a um a coach and a player from each team before a broadcast. Uh I'm speaking about NWSR now because that's what I've been doing on a regular basis each week down in Florida. Uh, you'd also speak to your producer during the week about some of the potential storylines, and then the analyst as well. And then usually before a broadcast too, I work with Jill Lloyd, who was a goalkeeper on the U.S. women's national team. And I find, by the way, Giovanni, goalkeepers to be so uh perceptive about the game because when they watched the game, everything was in front of them. And so I work with a lot of great analysts, field players, and goalkeepers, but I always notice, you know, the goalkeeper's vision from their position. So I'll talk to Jill before the game about not just storylines, but what the coaches told us in those coach calls. So if they talked about the key to the game is defending the flanks, or the key to the game is dominating in the midfield. Uh the key to the game is where we activate our high press. I'll ask Jill what's the best way for you to explain that? And then I'll say to her, if you can do this on your own, it doesn't need a setup, go for it. But if not, I need to know how to bring you in. And so those are the conversations that you have, and it's easier when you're working with the same person every week as I do with Jill. But there are other times where I'll do games with different people, and so that becomes a different process. Is it uh an experienced analyst? Is it a rookie analyst? How do I make them feel comfortable? They might be nervous going into the game. So sometimes those discussions are different. If you're working with a new producer, I'll tell him or her what I like or what I'm used to. They can tell me the same thing because now it's a different voice in my ear. And sometimes that can throw you off if you're used to hearing one particular voice all the time, and now you've got a different voice. You know, what's their cadence like? There's so many things that that actually go in with it. But the thing you said before, you're 100% on top of it. It is a team, it is a team broadcast, and part of what a play-by-play person does or should do is make the analyst better. If you make the analyst better, you're making the show better. I've never taken it as a compliment. I've taken it more as an insult if somebody has ever said during my broadcasting career, hey, I I listened to your game last night. I I liked you, but who was that analyst? I I didn't like the analyst. To me, that's insulting to me, not the analyst. It's that I didn't find a way to make them better. I didn't find a way to incorporate them into the show the way I should have. For for somebody to say, eh, analyst wasn't good. I I take that more as a critique of me rather than as a compliment when they say, Well, you sounded good. Uh I don't look at it that way. So, and I was taught that years ago. Years ago when I first started in this business, I thought I used the analyst quite a bit. And I was told by an executive at Bud Sports at the time, they control the soccer broadcasting rights. After he complimented me on a lot of things that I did well, he had my attention, and he said, if you'd like to be better, he said, uh, I just have one suggestion for you. And he just left it there. So I thought, well, he's just complimented me. Uh, I gotta listen. I said, Well, what's your suggestion? And he said, I think you should use the analyst more. And I said, I I think I do use the analyst a lot. And he said, You do, but you want to take it to the next level, you gotta make them better. Because nobody should be judging you on your own. It's a team. And the better the analyst sounds on their own, the better they sound with you, the better the show. And I learned that at a very young age, even though I thought I was doing it, he said I was, but I could be better. And that's what I strive to do over the years.

SPEAKER_10 51:57

It's a delicate dance that is taking place, the things you just described between yourself and and your and your fellow analysts there, uh, you know, in terms of you know, dividing up the responsibilities, who does the tactical versus the narrative versus player backgrounds and that type of thing. Um I'm sure everyone you've worked with are wonderful human beings. Uh, and I guess like anything else, when when you when relationships are are are in question or relationships are discussed, do you gel better without you'd have to name names obviously. Do you gel better with with one person versus another? Things just don't quite uh connect, so to speak, in terms of um, you know, meshing to do an effective broadcast. Is that a challenge?

SPEAKER_05 52:39

No, I'll lose friends if I name names. Well, that's why I said don't name names. No, I've worked with so many really great analysts and also great people. And I'm proud and pleased to say that not only have I worked with great analysts, but they're my friends and they've been my friends for years. And so I I think that's a fan thing more than anything else. I I think there are people out there that would probably say to you, I sound better with this person or that person. And that's that's their opinion. I don't I don't know that it's factual, right? But I think that um it's it's human nature, right? It's common sense to think that, you know, if I've worked um a hundred games with somebody and I've worked with this other person for ten games, I'm probably more comfortable and sound more comfortable with a person with a hundred, right? Uh let alone somebody that I've done a few hundred with or a thousand or more games with, right? Because the more you work with somebody, if they're beside you in a booth, I know when they're coming in before they do. Like I can feel it. I can I can see their body move out of the corner of my eye. I can I can feel it. Like I know they're coming in. Whereas, you know, if you're re if you're remote, let's say, and there are there are times where through technology now, I can be in Stanford, Connecticut doing a game, and my broadcast partner could be in Los Angeles. And nobody knows, but yet I don't know when they're coming in. It's a it's a timing thing, but I can't be sure because they're not beside me. I can't I can't feel that, if that makes sense. So I think that uh long story short, you know, the more you work with someone, the more comfortable you should be. But there have been times where I've worked with with an analyst and I've said to people after that, oh wow. I said, I feel like I've worked with this person for years, like there was no learning curve. You know, they just uh jump right in and sounded like they had been my partner for a long time.

SPEAKER_10 54:50

Let's talk about you know, the game that's in process. Your in-game adaptability, shall we say? Do you have any cues or what are the cues, uh, if you will, like a tactical, emotional, or statistical that basically say, I need to pivot. I need to pivot the story like right now, um, because the game is is offering something else. Uh those are those pivotal moments um you know very, very obvious? And if if they are, how do you how do you deal with that?

SPEAKER_05 55:15

I don't know if they're obvious. I think it's a feel. Um I think it's a field. I think when the game is is slow, dull, boring, uh, sometimes it's more of a challenge for the analyst, right? Because uh play-by-play is is who and what. Analyst is why and how, right? So I think that even if the game is slow, um, I'm okay. You know, I'm identifying players, I'm I'm describing various things, but if the game is like a chess match and nothing is happening, sometimes it's difficult for the analyst to think of creative ways to talk about a game that they frankly find somewhat boring. So part of my job would be to sense that I'm not hearing the analyst as much as I should. How do I engage? Um, you know, this game is slower than we thought. Why is that? You know, this game is more physical than we thought. Why is that? Why is so-and-so's press not working? Why has this team not been able to find their number nine player? Like, there's always going to be an answer from the analyst. They know the game. They played it, they coached it, they studied it, you know, for years. So it's it's finding that way to bring them in. I always tell them, I leave a lot of space during the game. I'm letting the game breathe. You don't have to identify every single touch in the ball because sometimes it's just going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Same two players could make six passes together. There's no point in identifying the same two players. So I always say, I give you plenty of space to come in. If I don't hear you, I'll pick up. But feel free, you know, to jump in. And I I think that at least I'd like to think this. I'm pretty predictable. So I think over the years, uh if people have worked with me, I'm not surprising them from game to game. They know where the space is, they know I'll engage them, they know they can come in on their own. They know this stuff. They know, you know, where to go with humor, they know I'm not I'm not one to have a lot of laughs during a game, but but you can make me laugh. And I I could come up with a um a random line that's you know, maybe it's funny, uh, but I I don't usually do humor. Um, but they know me. And so if it's somebody that's brand new, but they've watched me over the years, they still know. You know what I mean? Like if I said somebody that was brand new, when I tell them I'll leave you space, uh, whatever else I tell them, they'll say, No, I know, I've watched, you know, I I know where I can come in. So I I think that's comforting uh for them, especially if it's somebody new. Uh they've already they're already dealing with nerves in in some cases. Uh if I can make them feel more at home, already that's gonna bring out the best in them.

SPEAKER_10 58:25

Is it a broadcasting taboo, JP, to say, I'll be very arbitrary here, my God, this game is just a snooze fest. This is just one big snooze fest. Or team A can't be.

SPEAKER_05 58:37

There's a way to say it. Yeah, there's a way to say it without probably having the league or a network say Well, that's why I asked the question. How would you say there? Yeah. Did you have to go there? You know, like you could say, um, you said it was a snooze fest, right?

SPEAKER_10 58:52

I'm being kind, yes.

SPEAKER_05 58:53

Uh I I could say um this game is certainly not living up to its expectation. You know, this game is uh being played at a tempo that uh is much slower than I would have thought. You know what I mean? There's a way to say it where your audience knows, yeah, it's a snoozer because they're saying the same thing, but you have to make it interesting for them because if it's a snoozer to me and my broadcast partner, then we could potentially make it a bigger snooze fest for those that are watching, right? So um we have no control over the game. The game could be good, bad, or it could be a great game. It could be a great game, right? I I just had a game recently where it was Boston and Chicago, NWSL. They had the two worst records in the league, and the game was great. Chicago won 2-0. Boston had 27 shots. A lot of them were off-target, but 27 shots for one team in a soccer game, uh, women or men, is an amazing number, right? And yet, when people saw that I had that game, you know, some of my colleagues there were saying, ooh, you got Boston, Chicago, good luck with that. And I said, No, I think this will be fine. You know? Sometimes the the bigger the matchup, the more marquee the game. It doesn't live up to expectation. Washington was playing Kansas City, might have even been the same weekend. Um, Kansas City, a lot of stars on their team. Washington, uh arguably the best team, or one of the top two in the NWSL. And it was a blowout. Washington won, I want to say it was a 4-0 score. I don't like doing blowouts. You know, uh there's something about that. Like, I'd much rather have a 1-0 score line where the game is in the balance than a blowout game. Because I I think broadcasters can do a lot more with a tighter game than they can where, you know, part of the reason people tune into sports is, you know, what's the outcome? And if the game is over, arguably at halftime, uh, how do you keep them there? How do you keep that audience there? That's where I think good broadcasters can help or hurt you. People are not tuning in to hear the broadcaster, they're tuning in to hear the game, right? So, hey, I've turned off Super Bowls before because the game was over at halftime. You know, not recently necessarily, but I can remember going to Super Bowl parties and turned it off at halftime because the game wasn't compelling, right? Uh but if you have broadcasters that can keep fans' interest in the game, can do some teachable moments, I think fans will stay longer in a game that they know is over based on the announcers. But they're not tuning in to watch us, they're tuning in to watch the game.

SPEAKER_10 1:02:02

Yeah, you make a great point about the 1-0 match versus the you know the five to four uh type of game, where in the 1-0, uh and again and the game being in the balance, as you so aptly describe, uh, that's almost like in uh an inviting tension in a good way. I I'm I like the fact that there's now tension in the air because this match is so tight. And I think, and please correct me if I'm wrong, I think it makes not only the play-by-play announcer better, but it certainly makes the analyst better because of that that invited tension uh that now lingers throughout the course of a broadcast. Does that make sense?

SPEAKER_05 1:02:35

Yes, it does. I I think if you had a 5-4 game, it's it's probably not a lot for the analysts to do other than um analyzing how the goal was scored, right? Because there's probably not that much in the way of tactics to get to 5-4. Somebody's making mistakes, somebody's going up the field, somebody's in transition, counterattack goal here, giveaway here, penalty here, whatever it is, and the goals are probably coming fast and furious, that you don't really have time to um portray what is happening on the field. A 1-0 game, I I think it does make you sharper or 2-1 if you want, um, because you know that, first of all, anything could happen, even if it's in stoppage time, right? Boston Legacy scored two goals, one in the 90th minute in their first ever win, and then 90 plus four, they were losing that game two to one in the 89th minute, right? But you're still on top of it because, hey, nobody expected them to score twice, but there was enough time, you know, in stoppage time to at least get one. And I I think it makes you more. If a game is a blowout, let's say 4-0, we'll go with that one. If it's 4-0, I think announcers are more likely to uh go off track. They know that the game is over, it's a one-sided game. Uh, what are you gonna ask the analyst? You can't say to the analyst, how is this team coming back from a 4-0 deficit? Because they're not, right? So there's not as much you can ask them. But in a game that's close, one goal separates. Both teams have chances. Um, you're not gonna gamble on a story or a storyline or extra verbiage when you know that if that ball is turned over, I could miss the game time goal or the game winning goal. So I think it makes everybody sharper. I think fans are more tuned in when they when they're sitting at the edge of their seat, knowing that, you know, next shot, next big play could win a game rather than, you know, if the score is 4-0, well, is my team going to get one or is the other team going to get a fifth goal? I I don't think the fan engagement is the same.

SPEAKER_10 1:04:54

Since you brought up storytelling, um, and by association, obviously your audience, do you find that you're speaking to a different type of viewer in the NWSL broadcast versus say MLS? And how does that influence uh, you know, how much context you provide about the players, the club, the league history, that that type of thing. Um how does that work?

SPEAKER_05 1:05:16

I don't go as deep as that. It's a great question, though. Um, I think um a soccer fan is a soccer fan, whether it's men or women, um both are passionate. Um, by the way, both are passionate club level and also national team level. They can be super supportive and also super critical, which I think is a good thing. It it it um keeps people accountable, I would say. But I think both are interested in a lot of similar things. I I think the difference probably with with men and women, uh, we don't talk as much about family, let's say, on the men's side, whereas with the women there are so many soccer moms out there and like Sophia Wilson. Has come back from um having her child, Gigi. Um Mallory Swanson is um attempting to come back after maternity leave. So many of them, right? Where families are involved. Um Mother's Day celebrations, sort of different than Father's Day. So I think that from a human nature thing and from a storytelling thing, there are more things on the women's side that maybe we don't on the men. But the women are serious about the game, you know, and and the tactics of the game. And so that stuff doesn't really change, I would say. Um the one time it it can change, when you do Olympics or World Cup, I think, and the networks will always remind broadcasters of this, you are going to be dealing with people that have never watched before or just started to watch. And they don't want you to dumb it down, obviously, but they do want you to consider that there are newcomers that are tuning in, especially the Olympics, I think. I think World Cup people are more used to World Cup soccer. I think with Olympics, a lot of casual fans tune in to watch sports that we don't watch unless it's in the Olympics. And so if somebody is not a soccer fan, they're still more likely to watch Olympic soccer, I would say, just turning the dial than they would watching a World Cup. I think the World Cup is a different audience, even though it's broader, bigger, uh, grows every tournament. I think those are real soccer fans more than the casual one compared to Olympics.

SPEAKER_10 1:07:43

Since you mentioned the World Cup, let's um shift gears here to uh to the upcoming World Cup, which I as we record today. I think it's 30 days out, it's getting close. Um some of the things I think are you've kind of already addressed, but we're talking about a different beast altogether here. And I think the key word there, JP, is beast, that being the World Cup. Um, you know, in terms of you know, scaling things up, for the lack of better words, from you know, league prep, whether it's MLS or NWSL, to World Cup prep. What does your World Cup prep or study plan look like? Uh, how do you organize research across, well, heck, we've got 48 teams now, different confederations and and and players that aren't always in the U.S. media spotlight. How do you juggle all that uh given the magnitude of the World Cup?

SPEAKER_05 1:08:27

Well, it's 48 teams for the first time. It's three countries for the first time, and and not the last time, I would say. Uh 16 cities, the majority of those in the U.S. But let's not forget Mexico and Canada are also co-hosting. Sometimes, you know, we as a nation will say the World Cup is here. It is, but it's also in Canada and Mexico, full disclosure, right? So uh it's huge, it's massive. Uh the hardest part for me for a World Cup is that you can study, like I've got some background notes on the teams, I've got you know, background notes on whatever previous winners, um, only two repeat champions, only eight nations have ever won it, and who they are and how many times. You know, I've got that, who the top goal scores, got all that stuff. But my real serious prep comes when those rosters come out, which will be in June sometime. Like, I wish now, today, I could get started on, let's say, my first game, uh, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. I wish I could. But I don't want to go through, I just saw yesterday, I think, Argentina released a preliminary roster. I thought, wow, that's great. And there were like 55 people on there. Well, if if you're only gonna have 26, just do the math. You're wasting a lot of time if you research bios, if you had Argentina and you did all that. That's what I mean about knowing when to start prep and knowing when to finish prep. I'll do bios if it's like 30 players, but not if it's 50-something players. That's a that's a total waste of my time. I can do I can do more with my time than that, right?

SPEAKER_10 1:10:12

So you talked about you know preparing for for World Cup teams that you you ha have never seen. Um, you know, you've got to sound like an authority, you know, in terms of your your preparation in terms of the World Cup. Are there are there go-to things that you you know you can rely on, that you can sound like an authority when that that red light goes on and you're broadcasting? What are those things that uh that you can kind of you know uh look look at uh and absorb, if you will, to make you sound like an authority with these two map these two teams who you might not have ever seen?

SPEAKER_05 1:10:42

That's another good question that makes me think. Um, well, in the case of Ivory Coast and Ecuador, uh I have done Ecuador in in Copa America, had them at the at the last World Cup, too, even though you know players will change. I I think the best thing that you can do, and the only, you know, I think helps you with the viewer, they know you're on that game and they know your style and the way you call games, I would say. But pronunciation is key for me. I think you you'll sound more like an expert if you're pronouncing players' names correctly or as close to correctly as possible. Uh Ecuador's more easy probably than Ivory Coast. You know, South American names just seem to flow better, I would say. Uh so pronunciation for me is key. And I think, you know, when it's a World Cup, for me anyway, I I try to speak less and let the drama go. World Cup games are a different level with the drama, I would say. And so you're not you shouldn't be over talking, especially in the beginning. And I think um my other go-to, I get the analyst in very early, get them to say, you know, what the storylines are as they're talking. I'm looking around to identify players because it'll take you a little bit to get to know where, who and where everyone is, and and where their position is on the field. And if I can, Giovanni, I will have video of both Ivory Coast and Ecuador before I'm on air. But I think pronunciation, going back to what you said, uh, is key. If you're starting a show five minutes in, and it's a it's a nation where names are more challenging, maybe, than others, and people are listening and they're saying, wow, he's not even close, uh, I think you lose credibility.

SPEAKER_10 1:12:47

I want to wrap this up with the physical toll that the World Cup um will take on you and your broadcast partners. Um there's quick travel, there's quick turnarounds, I'm assuming limited sleep. Um you know, what does a typical match day schedule look like for you in terms of you know all the preparation that you do? And you know, does it affect your physically? Do you do you do you do you sleep well at night because you're so tired, or you don't sleep well at night because you know you've you've you've uh you're just so uh you know uh in the moment, so to speak, in terms of calling all these games. Does it take a physical toll on you?

SPEAKER_05 1:13:23

Um I guess if you let it, it could take a physical and a mental toll on you, right? So just speaking from experience, let me go back to something. 2022 in Qatar was it wasn't the easiest World Cup, because I don't think when you say easiest or easy, you're giving somebody the wrong idea. I say it was the least challenging World Cup because we were in one country, small country, size of Rhode Island, from what I remember. Um, all of our games were in a car going to the stadium. And so we would get to the stadium, we would call the game, we had a driver that got us right away, right where we were, and got us back to our hotel at a reasonable time at night so that if you wanted to, because you're wired after that game anyway, you know, you decompress for 30 minutes or an hour most, and then you're on to the next game. And not only could you do homework that night for the next game, but also in the morning you had to do it as well. You had no travel, you had no packing of a suitcase, you had no flights to catch, no train, no anything. You were there, right? You were home for, I was there, I think it was four weeks at that time, others were there longer, but that was a great way to do a World Cup. In this case, you're in the US, who has states that were bigger than Qatar as a country, and so you're talking about back-to-back nights of games where we're in Kansas City one night and have to fly, I think it is, to Miami the next day. It's a 5 a.m. flight, but you're doing that because you need backup in case there's a flight delayed or canceled. Uh you gotta make the game. So this will be more challenging because of 48 teams, means that I didn't look at other broadcasters' schedules, but I know mine, and I have two where they're back to back and they involve travel and early morning flight. So I would say you don't have the chance when the game ends, you don't have the chance like you had in Qatar to work on notes. You you gotta let that adrenaline uh you can't really the adrenaline is there, right? But at some point you gotta fall asleep. And you'll probably sleep, if you have a 5 a.m. flight, you might sleep only three hours before it's like a nap. And then you get on the plane. I'm lucky too. I can sleep on planes, so I might sleep another two hours there. And then when you check into the hotel, if you can, maybe you get another hour. But it only happens a couple of times. But if you don't know that, Giovanni, going in and you don't think about it so that you can, you know, mentally prepare yourself for it, then you could struggle. But as long as the flights are good and you don't have anxiety with that, I think we'll be okay.

SPEAKER_10 1:16:48

Well, uh I'm I'm glad, JP, that uh we had a chance to spend some time together talking about the nuts and bolts uh of broadcasting. Um I I could talk about this for forever and a day, as you very well know. Uh well, first and foremost, thank you very much for taking the time to come on the JP Soccer Podcast. Uh, I know you're a busy guy, and uh I want to wish you the very best going forward. And again, about 30 days, the uh World Cup will be starting, and we'll we'll be tuning in to not just JP Della Camera, but all the wonderful broadcasters who will be uh who will be uh describing the games to us. So our guest today has been the terrific, the voice of American Soccer, JP Della Camera. This is Giovanni Pacini. This is the GP Soccer Podcast. We're gonna break for a commercial or two. You know how all that works. We'll re-engage on the other side. Don't you dare go anywhere. Soccer is known around the world as both a sport and an art, with players of all ages and abilities enjoying the game. Now, the art of the game is only realized after hours of mastering ball skills, learning to communicate with your teammates, and receiving support and instruction from the right coaches. With over 100 years of coaching experience, Director John Virata and the coaching staff at the Beautiful Games Soccer Academy are pleased to offer their expertise to players and their parents. Coach Barrata is one of the most decorated and accomplished soccer coaches in the Northeast with a proven track record of developing both talented players and coaches. The Beautiful Games Soccer Academy believes that success on the soccer field breeds success elsewhere in a young adult's life. Players who attend learn the importance of forming good habits, attempting new challenges without the fear of failure, and seeking out support and advice from others. The program fosters the creativity within each player and encourages them to experiment, improvise, and problem solve on the fly. At the Beautiful Game Soccer Academy, every day starts with a smile on our face and a ball at our feet. To learn more about the Beautiful Game Soccer Academy, visit www.beautifulgamesa.com.

SPEAKER_04 1:18:53

This is Rad Felman, voice of the New England Revolution.

SPEAKER_10 1:18:56

You're listening to the GP Soccer Podcast with your host, Giovanni Picci. And welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast, Coach's Corner, where you'll find great tips and advice on how to teach the great game of soccer.

SPEAKER_06 1:19:12

Hello, this is Eric Eisenhoot of the United Goalkeeping Alliance. I'm here today to present the Coach's Corner for Goalkeepers on the GP Soccer Podcast. Today's topic, the goalkeeper's role when in possession. The goalkeeper's role isn't only reactive when defending, a goalkeeper also plays a vital role when the team has possession of the ball. Our positioning, communication, and decision making are key elements to ensuring we as a team continue to keep possession of the ball. As a friend once told me, eleven players being able to handle the ball and pass the ball around is a stronger team than ten field players plus one goalkeeper. Goalkeepers must properly position themselves to support the buildup of teammates. They will constantly be moving based on the location of the ball. When the ball is in the defensive third and they're just starting to build the ball out of the back, their positioning will be more central and more conservative. When the ball is in the middle third of the field, they might position themselves top of the 18 so they can be there for teammates and call for the ball to switch fields or to relieve pressure that they may face. When in the final third, a goalkeeper's positioning might be 10 yards outside of their 18, and they'll be proactively organizing their back line in case the opposition were to break out. Communication is key for goalkeepers when in possession. They can direct play and help teammates see the field because they can understand the opposition's locations and tactical decisions and help teammates understand exactly what the opposition is doing. As mentioned earlier, goalkeepers can call for the ball to switch fields or relieve pressure, and they can also proactively organize their back line when the ball is in their offensive third. And also remember, the tone of the commands dictates the situation at hand. An increase in tone should show an urgent situation is taking place. I hope this was beneficial to all of the coaches and goalkeepers out there. And once again, this is Eric Eisenhunt of the United Goalkeeping Alliance. If you'd like to learn more about the UGKA, please email info at United GKAlliance.com or DM at United GK Alliance. Thank you for listening to this Coach's Corner for Goalkeepers on the GP Soccer Podcast.

SPEAKER_08 1:21:49

This is soccer news and analysis with Giovanni Pacini.

SPEAKER_10 1:22:02

PSG striker Osmana Dembele will undergo treatment over the next few days ahead of the Champions League final. His club said on Monday, citing discomfort in his right calf muscle. PSG coach Luis Enrique said after the game he thought Dembele's substitution was due to fatigue. PSG said in a statement Monday that the player was, quote, taken off as a precaution. Title holder PSG takes on Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 30th at Pusca Arena in Budapest. Dembele starred in PSG's league title win last season with 21 goals and went on to win the Ballon d'Or, but made less of an impact this time mainly because of nagging injuries in the first half of the season. But he still managed 10 goals and seven assists in 22 league appearances overall, as coach Luis Enrique used him, Enrique used him more sparingly in League 1. Luka Modric was included Monday in Croatia's squad and is set to play in his fifth World Cup. Croatia coach Latko Dalich named a 26-man roster, also featuring Ivan Peresic, who has scored in the last the past three tournaments. Modrik broke his cheekbone last month, but with but the Croatia captain is expected to be fit when Croatia kicks off its World Cup campaign against England on June the 17th. It also plays Panama and Ghana in Group L. The 40-year-old Modrik won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, ending the long reign of Lila Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He made his international uh debut in 2006 and is the most capped Croatian player with 196 international appearances. He could hit the 200 cap milestone at this World Cup. And finally, FIFA added another gambling industry sponsor to the 2026 World Cup on Monday, signing Greece-based betting brand Betano to a regional deal covering Europe and South America. Betano was the World Cup's first ever betting sponsor four years ago when parent company Kaisen Gaming signed a European-only deal for the 2022 edition in Qatar. The value was not given for the new deal covering the 104-game tournament being played across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11th. Quote, since we first partnered with Bitano four years ago, we have seen a genuine commitment to sporting integrity, bringing fans closer to our game, and finding new, engaging ways to entertain them, FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Guy said in a statement. That's soccer news and analysis. Next up, the great Ralph Ferrigno with the European Report.

SPEAKER_09 1:24:56

This is the GP Soccer Podcast, English Premier League, and European Soccer Report with your host, Ralph Ferrigno.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:15

This is my fourth and final look at the European teams that will be competing in the 2026 World Cup here in North America. And we're just over three weeks away from the big kickoff. So I'm starting off today with the number four ranked team in the world and a tournament pre-favourite along France and Spain, and that's England. And in the group stage, England brought in a new manager, the German Thomas Tuchel. The team went undefeated and didn't even concede a single goal during European qualifying. And they have a star-studded squad, which includes a couple of Englishmen playing abroad, Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid, and Captain Harry Kane at Bayern Munich. And they go into the tournament placed in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. As I said, they are one of the pre-tournament favorites with an 11% chance of winning the tournament according to Opta. And they should really comfortably win their group, though they do have a heavyweight clash with a familiar tournament rival in Croatia. Beyond that, a deep run to at least the semi-finals is perhaps the baseline expectation. Having said that, I think there is a key challenge for the team, and that's living up to the expectations. As England have done well in recent World Cups and Euros. And under Gareth Southgate, who was the then manager, England went very close and then at the last moment seemed to fall down. And a lot of criticism was because of Southgate's conservative style of play. And so now with a manager like Thomas Tuchel, who has won the Champions League and has a CV behind him of great success, to some of the English media, this is an appointment whereby only a trophy lift will be deemed successful. So that's a tough challenge to live up for the manager and a team. He does have an elite squad in terms of depth. He has unmatched attacking options in the wide areas, and as I said, he has a history of success in tournaments. Under his manager led leadership, Tuchel has installed a structure, a degree of pragmatism, and a fixed mindset to address what was previously viewed as England's weakness, which was defense. Of fragility. England on the transition can be very, very lethal. Plus, they are traditionally strong at set pieces. So putting all these elements together, they are going to be an incredibly difficult team to break down. Some of the key players, I'd mentioned Harry Kane. He's a veteran forward, but he's having the season of his life over in Germany with Bayern Munich, scoring in excess of 50 goals this season. But beyond that, England does have great talent, but do they have too many number tens vying for the same position? So you have Jude Bellingham, a dynamic powerhouse driving transitions from one box to the other box. You have Cole Palmer, who can also play wide, but very much a creative engine. He provides fleur and goal scoring spark, though this season has not been the best for him at Chelsea. And then there's um Foden over at Manchester City, and he has had a difficult season this year, only a year or two after being player of the season in England. There has been the emergence of Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa, and he in recent games has been Tuchel's pick to play in this position. So can he bring all of these players to the tournament? Can he keep them all happy? And more to the point, can he keep the media happy? Because you leave one out and somebody's going to be whining about it. Anyway, those are issues for Thomas Tuchel to sort out. The prospects for the team is that they are tipped to challenge for the first major trophy since the World Cup triumph back in 1966. But there will be others to challenge them, and not the least, the next country that we're going to look at, the number 10 ranked team in the world, and that's Germany. Germany are considered to be serious title contenders. They dominated their qualifying group and got direct qualification through young manager Julian Nagelsmann. And the Germans are determined to bounce back from consecutive group exits in both 2018 and 2022. Nagelsmann's squad has a lot of young talent and they also have a share of experienced veterans on the roster. In the group stages, they are heavy favourites in their group alongside Coraçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador, although the latter two should provide them with a good challenge. The strengths of the team are the high intensity counter pressing. Nagelsmann is tactically flexible, and like England, they have an overload of versatile central midfielders to choose from. Nagelsmann likes to control the matches by suffocating possession and with lightning speed on the flanks counter to carve up the low block defenses that they undoubtedly will come up against. So they're key players. First of all, Florian Verts. Now Verts at his best is a dynamic playmaker capable of unlocking tight defensive setups. However, he's not had a great inaugural season at Liverpool and most recently has been struggling as the season ends. Alongside him is Jamal Musiala, who is a world-class dribbler, capable of bypassing defenders and single-handedly working in tight spaces to hurt opposition. Behind them is the veteran Joshua Kimmick, who can play in midfield or back in defense. He is very much an experienced onfield general capable of dictating the tempo and rhythm of a game. They are regarded overall in terms of their prospects as a major threat, with their baseline being at least the quarterfinals, and a 5.6% ranking by Opta to win the tournament overall. So they enter the tournament, as I say, highly motivated to rebuild on its reputation after the previous humiliations in the last two World Cups. They are the overwhelming favourites to win their group. So they are regarded as slightly behind the top three favorites in overall tournament win probability. However, they have been revitalized under Nagelsman, and that makes them a locked-in threat for a deep run, not just from the group stage, but into the knockouts as well. Another Dark Horse team, number 22 ranked in the world, is Turkey. So the Turks have qualified after a 24-year wait. This is their first World Cup since their successful campaign in 2002 when they finished in the top four. They have navigated a high pressure playoff route, defeating Romania and Kosovo both by 1-0 and have qualified. They are managed by the Italian Vincenzo Montella, and they have an exciting youthful squad that features emerging stars such as Arda Gula and Yenan Yildes. And behind them in North America, with a large Turkish population, they can count on massive, passionate support, and they will be expected to advance from their group, which is Group D, with the host nation United States, Paraguay and Australia. The strengths, highly technical midfield with youth-driven energy and intense defensive aggression. Montella has designed a setup which is fluid, counterattacking, that thrives on rapid wing play and relies on high work rates to disrupt opponents. Who are their key players? Hakan Kalahanu. I'm not great with those names, am I? The intimal land captain. He serves as the unquestioned orchestrator of the team and he's very, very strong at set pieces. Arda Gula, who I mentioned earlier, plays at Real Madrid and regarded as a generational talent, very unpredictable, a genius in the final third. And from Juventus, there's Kenan Yildas, and he has the experience of spearheading the front line for Turkey as they go into the World Cup. As I said at the start, they are considered a contender as regards as a dark horse type of team. They are placed in one of the most balanced and competitive environments in the tournament, which is alongside the co-host United States. Yet, with a passionate fan base and a highly technical, useful squad, Turkey has a very strong prospect of advancing to at least a round of 32. They will have to survive physical challenges in regard from the USA and Australia, but they do have the technical capability to frustrate the bigger teams if they get into knockout play. Last but not least, we have the lowest ranked European team entering this summer's World Cup, and that's the number 65 ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina. Categorised as resilient underdogs, Bosnia pulled off a massive qualification upset by eliminating four-time champions Italy on penalty kicks. They will be guided by the veteran striker Edin Jekko, and they will be making their first tournament appearance since 2014. They did get through a tough group stage, as I said, and had those dramatic playoff wins against Italy and Wales. And they find themselves in group B alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland. Their strength is their physical resilience in the air, they have aerial dominance, and from very few chances they seem to clinically convert. They play with an unbreakable low block defensive system, looking to frustrate opponents, and they are capable of absorbing immense pressure and then countering to hit opponents directly. Now Jekko is undoubtedly the key player. He's 40 years old, but has very much made himself a legend. He's the captain, he's the target man up front, and he remains a clutch goal scorer, as I think going back in his career to Manchester City, the fan base there will agree with. Alongside him, they have uh Demerevich of Stuttgart, who brings a high energy pressing and has the amil has the mobility to work alongside Jacko to great effect. Dedic of Benfica is a fullback that provides top-tier defensive reliability and is very, very strong with his overlapping runs. And then they have a young 18-year-old breakout star in Karim, and he invites vital pace into their attacking play. So this is their first major tournament since 2014, and the Bosnians do have an incredible momentity, sorry, momentum after the spoiler to Italy in the playoffs. Group B, I think is fair to say, is volatile and wide open. So whilst the Swiss may be the favourites, Bosnia's exceptional late game resilience and defensive steal give them a realistic shot at fighting co-hosts Canada and Qatar for a top two spot and advancing maybe even as one of the best third place teams. So that concludes my look at all 16 of the European teams that will be competing in this summer's World Cup in North America. Let's see how they all do. It appears that some of the favorites are coming from Europe, but undoubtedly I'm sure that Brazil, Argentina, and the South American teams will have a lot to say about that. So next week we will return to a look at Europe again in terms of club soccer and also to see how the how the closing stages of the three UEFA competitions are looking at this time. So until then, enjoy your soccer, and I'll see you then.

SPEAKER_10 1:39:24

Hey, this is Giovanni Pacini. You all know me as a soccer coach and a clinician, but did you know that I'm a professional voiceover artist as well? I own and operate GP voiceover services, and my voice has been heard on radio, television, and over a variety of media platforms. Anywhere a voice is needed to tell your story, promote your organization, or bring words to life, GP VoiceOver Services is your choice. I have a background in radio, have appeared in professional video productions, as well as having hosted cable television programs. I will work with you for your production to understand your preferences and plan just the right approach for your project. I also offer private consulting and training for those interested in exploring the voiceover profession. To learn more about GP voiceover services, visit my website at GPvoiceoverservices.com or email me at GP4 Voiceover, and that's the number for, at gmail.com. Hey there, Giovanni Piccini here, host of the GP Soccer Podcast. And I want to reach out to all of my great listeners who own pets and even those who don't. Listen, your local animal rescue organization is on a mission to provide loving homes for pets in need, and they need your help. Whether through adoption, fostering, or financial contributions, every bit of support counts. Join me in making a positive impact. Visit your local shelter today and help give these wonderful animals the second chance they so deserve. Together, we can create a community where every animal is cared for and loved.

SPEAKER_07 1:41:00

Hi, this is Joe Macknick. Some of you know me as Dr. Joe. I'm so happy to be on a podcast, GP Soccer Podcast with Giovanni Pacini, talking about so many things in soccer and my latest book, From the Sandlots to the World Cup, Inside Seven Decades of American Soccer, which we talk about a long career that I've had in so many things of player, a coach, referee, rules analyst for Fox Sports TV, and I hope you enjoyed the show.

SPEAKER_10 1:42:08

The uh part of the show that we've called the American Soccer Revolution, where I analyze, throw out, dump, blow up, dissect, rethrink, overhaul, and scrap. All things having to do with American soccer, or a lot of things that are happening in American soccer. Uh I want to share with you today, uh, as I noted in the opening, uh, a gentleman by the name of Dr. Nick Pocius, and he's the founder and co-owner of the uh House of Hoops. And his topic today is youth sports has a retention problem. And I pull this uh off the proverbial internet where I find a lot of great stuff, as I'm sure you do as well, and it goes as follows Youth Sports has a retention problem, and it's not about the kids. A recent survey highlighted that one of the one of the top reasons youth coaches are leaving is the behavior of managing parent behavior. Now let that sit for a moment. Not time, not pay, not even the increasing demands of the role. Parents. As someone who has spent over two decades in education and coaching, this isn't surprising, but it is concerning. Coaching has always required teaching fundamentals, building relationships, developing confidence and resilience in young people. But increasingly, coaches are also navigating unrealistic expectations, constant second guessing, communication that bypasses process and professionalism. And here is the reality. When adult behavior becomes the barrier, kids lose. They lose stability, they lose the experienced coaches, they lose the very environments designed to help them grow. The best programs, whether in sports or schools, are built on alignment, clear roles, trust in leadership, a shared commitment to develop to development over immediate outcomes. Now, no coach is perfect, no program is without flaws. But when the environment becomes adversarial instead of collaborative, sustainability becomes nearly impossible. If we want youth sports to thrive, we have to ask a hard question. Are we creating environments that support coaches or drive them away? Because when good coaches walk away, it's not just a staffing issue, it's a cultural issue. And ultimately, it's the kids who feel it the most. Well, this is certainly not only part of the American Soccer Revolution, but it's it's part of the American uh youth sports uh revolution. I could I could call this segment of the show if I if I chose to, because it would indeed be apropos. Uh you know, I have said this on countless occasions, and I'm I I firmly believe this. Um our our national discourse, and I'm not getting into politics, that's not where I'm going with this, but uh it's an appropriate place to begin. Our national discourse, our national capacity to discuss the issues uh uh of the day have reached such a a dark and dangerous point uh that there is no no longer a line that dictates, that says, you know, you don't cross that line. You well, you don't say that, you know, uh in that way. You don't you don't need to come across in a in a particular manner, if you will. There's that proverbial moral and ethical line that rears its head that kind of stops you where it needs to be stopped. That's gone. That's gone. The national discourse has now trickled down to youth sports, has made its way all the way down to youth sports, and that's a very, very sad commentary. Uh and and taking that into consideration, we see you know situations like you know, Dr. Posh's uh notes in his his piece there. Um it starts it starts with with one person at a time, one parent at a time, who you know says enough is enough, and they act accordingly, then another parent, and then all of a sudden it's a group of parents, and then all of a sudden it's a community, and then it's coaches, and you know, hopefully at some point, uh hopefully in the near future, I I hope to I hope to God that um you know we can we can go back to a uh an air of civility and and and enjoy the things that youth sports are supposed to be all about. Just just joy and fun and community, the things that uh were once very, very present uh all uh not not that long ago. Not that long ago. So there you have it today. That's our show for today. If you like what you hear, please tell everyone. And remember those likes matter. Please uh hit those likes buttons as often as you can. Uh you can follow the GPSoccer podcast all over social media, and new episodes are available every Wednesday morning. What a great way to start your Wednesday. Don't forget to check out my website at GPSocapodcast.com. And if you're interested in advertising on this show, well then email me at GP4Soccer, and that's the number four at Yahoo.com. This is your host, Giovanni Pacini, still still battling raspy voice. Thank you, Bruce Springsteen, for doing that. And I will catch you later.