{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"SportsEpreneur","title":"Why Youth Soccer Needs Player-Led Pathways | Brando Babini of Youth 4 Youth FC","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3466,"description":"Brando Babini started Youth 4 Youth FC when he was 16 after realizing his own soccer path was changing. Instead of walking away from the game, he built something for the players coming next.Eric Kasimov talks with Brando about player-led development, college soccer recruiting, pay-to-play, MLS, the World Cup, parents, leadership, and why young players need mentorship from people who have lived the journey.Topics covered:Why Brando started Youth 4 Youth FCWhat player-led mentorship looks like in youth soccerHow college soccer recruiting is changingWhy goalkeepers face a difficult pathThe impact of international players on domestic recruitingWhy pay-to-play remains a major problemHow players can take ownership of their journeyWhy street soccer and culture still matterChapters00:00 — Brando Babini, Youth 4 Youth FC, and building while at Brown00:50 — Starting Youth 4 Youth at 1602:15 — A winding recruiting journey and choosing a different soccer path03:23 — When the pro dream shifts into something else04:13 — What Brando wished existed when he was younger05:05 — Street soccer, Nike, and expression beyond exposure05:45 — College soccer recruiting and the transfer portal07:00 — International players and eligibility questions08:00 — Protecting the domestic player pathway08:36 — The goalkeeper recruiting problem11:26 — Building a better domestic soccer system12:00 — MLS, USL, and the future of soccer in the U.S.14:13 — Charlotte FC, accessibility, and the live soccer experience16:20 — Where MLS fits compared to global leagues19:13 — How the World Cup can change U.S. soccer20:00 — Breaking pay-to-play barriers23:08 — Showcases, costs, and why talent should be free to show24:00 — Profit incentives, player development, and investment27:00 — Subsidizing players and creating access28:00 — Game time, competition, and player development31:20 — Parents, pressure, and letting players own the journey34:05 — Scaling Youth 4 Youth through regions36:10 — Brown University,...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/xnVD5lo-InuYCbkJy3t8DMot3yiB7IaPdbxc-_U877w/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mYjQ3/ZWU3NzBiYjAwZWQ3/NGI3MTAyNjY3NDQz/YTc3My5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}