Pitch Talk: Lessons from the 2026 World Cup and Some of Sport’s Sharpest Minds | Ep. 139

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Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast 1h 21m 2 speakers 8 chapters transcribed 1 month ago

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What is the focus of the episode’s opening ECNL playoff recap?

Unknown 0:00

Welcome to Around the League on Breaking the Line, the ECNL podcast, a bi-weekly look at all things ECNL. The first two ECNL Region League playoff events have been completed, and congratulations to LAFC SoCal for claiming the West U1819 Boys Championship and to Slamers FC for claiming the West U1819 Girls Championship. In the South, FC Wichita won the UAT nineteen girls' championship, while Dallas Texans earned the UAT nineteen boys' championship. Still to play are the ECNL Region League playoffs Southeast, Central, and East. Also taking place at the ECNL Regional League Playoff Central will be the ECNL Girls U1819 Championship. Eight teams have advanced through the opening round of 16 and will compete in St.

Unknown 0:45

Louis for the ECNL Girls U 1819 National Championship. Those teams are MVLA. VBA, Slammers FC, Ohio Premier, Michigan Hawks, FC Dallas, Penn Fusion, and FC Prime. Looking to head to the rest of the ECNL Girls and ECNL boys playoffs, eight clubs have qualified five out of possible six teams for the ECNL girls playoffs, an additional five clubs have qualified four. On the boys side, eight clubs qualified for all six age groups, ten clubs qualified five teams, and fifteen clubs qualified four. Of all of those clubs, only two qualified five or more teams in both ECNL boys and ECNL girls. Crossfire Academy and Charlotte SA. The pre-ECNL would also like to recognize the top performers for the Pre-ECNL Champions Cup.

Unknown 1:38

On the boys side, El Camino FC Salinas, Crystal Lake Force, Florida Premier, Roadrunners SC, and Central Washington Sounders. And for the girls, MatchFit Surf, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Navy, Philadelphia Ukrainian nationals and crossfire premiere. On an individual level, two Chicago City Regional League Boys players have seen success internationally. Joaquin Vega earned a tryout for the U 16 Mexican national team, while Dante Frauchel had a successful trial with Waliga's side Rayo Velcano. where he will now captain their twenty eleven Academy team. This has been Around the League. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll see you next episode.

Christian Lavers 2:19

And here I am looking at the very dapper Mr. Bracken in uh I'm I'm all ECML today. All branded. Uh as as good as you look right now, I am gonna be tested in my ability to stay focused here because over my shoulder over here I do have the Belgium Egypt game on which At times is going to be more compelling than you, Doug, but that you know, that's because it's once every four years, not because of anything personal.

Doug Bracken 2:46

I do think it's one of the more compelling games in the first round, actually. So I I I will not take it as any any level of offense. If you uh occasionally glance over to the game or There's some noise that comes out of you o over some celebration, but uh Keep me updated because I actually In my office I do not have a TV, uh, so I don't I can't see it.

Christian Lavers 3:11

Uh, see that's that needs to be rectified and Also joining us today is uh Mr. Glenn Crooks, who I think Is this is the first time you've been on our podcast, Glenn? Am I right in saying that? At least in a long time.

Glenn Crooks 3:25

That is true. Uh two books, but the first time. And I really do appreciate ya having me in to talk uh talk a little footy. It'll be fun.

Christian Lavers 3:35

So for those who don't know, uh Mr. Crooks uh was a longtime coach at Rutgers University, uh for the women. And uh more recently for the last, I don't know, Glenn seems like five or more years here, maybe you have the Exact number, but have been a host of the coaching academy on Sirius XM on uh XMFC and the I think the ing announcer play uh play by play or color announcer for New York City FC in MLS, if I got that right.

Glenn Crooks 4:10

Yes. And uh the show the Sirius XMFC shows in its twelfth year. Twelve years, all right. Yeah. Twelfth year and thirteen hundred interviews. So there you go. And you and you've been one of them. I don't think I've had Bracken on, so I apologize, Doug.

Doug Bracken 4:23

You got the better of the two of us. Probably.

Christian Lavers 4:27

But the interview wasn't wasn't probably good enough 'cause I'm not sure it got into either uh of your books.

Glenn Crooks 4:33

No, it is it's in book two.