“More Than a Club, It’s a Culture” — Jason Carney on Fixing U.S. Youth Soccer

In this eye-opening episode, Jason Carney—former pro coach and current Director of Coaching at FC Portland—breaks down what's really wrong with youth soccer in the U.S. We dig into his brutally honest book, US Grassroots Soccer: Great on Paper S**t on Grass, and explore how the adult obsession with results is crushing kids’ development.

From game models and coaching culture to what parents should actually be asking clubs before joining, Jason delivers truth bombs every minute. If you’re a soccer parent, this episode will challenge your thinking and leave you better equipped to support your player’s journey.

Key Talking Points:

• Why most youth clubs don’t actually have a real development plan

• How a long-term culture beats short-term wins

• Why jumping clubs every year is hurting your child more than helping

• The real damage of helicopter parenting in sports

• What it means to build a game model—and why most clubs fake it

• Parent behavior and its impact on referee retention

• Why coaching made Jason a better player—after he stopped playing

• The truth about talent vs. character and mental toughness

• Creating a culture where kids navigate their sports experience

• Why clubs need to show, not just say, they’re developing players

🎧 Tune In to Learn:

• What questions you should be asking before joining a club

• How to support your child without living through them

• The vital difference between talent and teachability

• Why a game model is more than a playbook—it's a culture commitment

• What accountability in youth soccer really looks like

🔥 Quotes from Jason Carney:

"Society is fighting back against what I believe in, but I’ll keep banging on the door of long-term development."

"It's not just parents—it's all adults who ruin the game for kids."

"You wouldn’t enroll your child in a school with no curriculum. Why do it with a soccer club?"

"If your child’s been at a club for 8 years and still doesn’t understand the game, something’s wrong."

"A coach’s life can be very lonely in a win-at-all-costs culture."

"No player will ever be cut from my team after a year with me—because they'll be better than when I got them."

"We talk a lot about game models, but the hardest part is executing them."

"Helicopter parenting won’t help your kid reach the top. It does the opposite."

"Every decision we make starts with our culture. Not just the game model—the people."

"We love our kids too much. We solve problems before they’ve even tried to."

Connect with Jason Carney:

• Website: www.FCPortland.org

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-carney-56876636

• Book: US Grassroots Soccer: Great on Paper S**t on Grass → on Amazon- https://a.co/d/75SSywU

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