Big changes are coming to the youth soccer landscape, and families need to know what they mean. In this episode of Blue Chip Strong: The Total Athlete Podcast, hosts Gene and Alex sit down with Kevin McGovern of Coast FA to break down the US Soccer–US Youth Soccer takeover: what's changing, why it's happening, and how it could affect players, parents, coaches, and clubs here on the Grand Strand. Drawing on their own years as club and high school coaches, Gene and Alex keep the conversation practical, so you leave knowing what to watch for and what questions to ask your club. We Train Athletes.

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Every youth game has a referee, but few people know what it takes to earn the whistle. Gene sits down with two veteran officials from the Grand Strand: Jack Schultz, a referee since 1989 and State Referee since 2005 who has worked up to the USL Championship level, and John Santos, Area Referee Administrator for Myrtle Beach and Florence, who advanced to Regional Referee in 2024 and currently officiates UPSL and USL League Two.

They discuss the three relationships that shape every match: referee and coach, referee and parent, and referee and player. They also explain how games get assigned and how local officials move up the pipeline. If you're a player, coach, or parent, you'll come away with a better view of the game from the center of the field, and you may want to try it yourself.

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This is the forth and final episode of the Meet the Coaches Series. Coach Gene Dougherty sits down with Coach Terrance Butler to discuss the recruitment process for high school athlets.

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Coach Brian DiStefano is a former college athlete and parent of future college athletes. He is the Director of Myrtle Beach Lightning Lacrosse club and Lacrosse Skills coach at Blue Chip Performance Center. Coach Brian sat down with Coach Gene to discuss navigating the college recruitment process for parents.

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In Episode 3 of Blue Chip Strong Coach Gene and Coach Alex sit down with the owners of the Grand Strand's new semi-pro soccer club Carolina Strand United SC. Coach Gene and Coach Alex discuss the state of sport along the Grand Strand before sitting down with Zach and Tre to discuss their new club and their coaching backgrounds.

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Episode 2 of Blue Chip Strong Introduces Coach Clinton Patton. Clinton coaches volleyball, basketball and sports performance at Blue Chip Athletic Performance Enhancement. Clinton speaks with Coach Gene about what commitment and dedication looks like for youth athletes juggling responsibilities.

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Episode 1 of Blue Chip Strong introduces Coach Alex Ibanescu. Alex is a soccer coach at Blue Chip Athletic Performance Enhancement. Alex speaks with Coach Gene about being a parent and coach for a talented youth athlete.

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