Soccer 101
Episodes
#151 Why do throw-ins exist and how have their rules changed over time?
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Graham and Taylor toss themselves into the world of the throw-in. It's more interesting than it sounds, I promise! What is a throw-in...
#150 The growth of the record transfer fee in soccer
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham and Taylor discuss a moneymaker... the expansion of the record transfer fee over the years. Why did the transfer record grow so quickly? Which ...
#149 Scarves! Why did they become so widespread in soccer, what are the different styles, and more!
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham and Taylor discuss your grandmother's favorite topic... scarves! How did they first become common in football, how have their usage and sales e...
#148 What is the ‘league pyramid’ in English soccer and how does it work?
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham and Taylor get into a topic that just sorta... keeps on going: the English league pyramid! How many different levels are involved and how many ...
#147 How does prize money work in soccer?
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
PRIZE TIME! We're answering all your questions about prize money in soccer, including how do teams get it, how does it differ between club and interna...
#146 Why are gambling and football so intertwined, and how big a problem is that for sport in general?
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Graham and Taylor tackle a concept that is ubiquitous in soccer (and sport in general) but simultaneously seen as a problem and potential s...
#145 What is Team GB, why is it controversial and will it be involved with the next Olympics?
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Graham and Taylor dive deep into the branding statement/actual sports team known as Team GB. What is it, which countries are involved...
#144 What are coefficients, how are they calculated and why are they important?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, we answer a question from the Discord, courtesy of Scouto: What are coefficients, what are they used to determine, how are the...
#143 More terminology explained! Recovery, duel, reducer, corridor of uncertainty, and more!
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Taylor and Graham spend some time discussing a few terms that get commonly thrown around, but can be a little more challenging to und...
#142 Why was the England-Scotland rivalry so significant? Plus, why it's lost some of its luster more recently
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham and Taylor explore the history of the historic rivalry between England and Scotland. What is the history of England v Scotland in soccer? Why d...
#141 What is VAR, how does it work and why does it make people angry?
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Graham and Taylor delve deep into a topic that isn't at all divisive and doesn't make people completely lose their minds... VA...
#140 What are 'half spaces' and why are they important?
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Graham and Taylor discuss a phrase that gets thrown around a lot but might not be as easy to understand: half spaces. What are...
#139 How do teams prepare for a World Cup?
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Graham and Taylor go deep on World Cup preparations! When do teams announce their squads for a World Cup? What do warm-up friendly...
#138 All about season tickets
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Graham and Taylor delve deep into season tickets: what are they, what are the benefits and drawbacks to becoming a season ticket h...
#137 Why is it a yellow card for taking off your shirt?
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham (who managed to keep his top on the whole show) and Taylor answer the following listener question:Taking a shirt off is an iconic football cele...
#136 What is the Gold Cup, and why does it seem less important these days?
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the 2023 iteration of The Concacaf Gold Cup right around the corner, Graham and Taylor discuss the history of the competition, how it has evolved...
#135 Where does transfer speculation come from and what’s the fascination with it?
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The season is coming to a close, which means the silly season insanity is about to ratchet up! But instead of looking at specific rumors or pending tr...
#134 What is the A-League Men, is it the same as the A-League, and how has Australian club soccer evolved over the years?
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham and Taylor discuss all-things Australia, without attempting to do accents or make jokes about shrimp and barbies. Instead, they focus on The A-...
Bonus episode! Part 2 of our crossover with the Can I Kick It podcast: Understanding the Culture
13 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I joined my buddy Elliot Barr on his podcast Can I Kick it, and we went way way over time. So, we split our chat into two segments. Part 1 is availabl...
#133 Why is multi-club ownership becoming increasingly common?
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Graham and Taylor delve deep into an increasingly common setup: multi-club ownership. Along the way, they answer questions like... Wh...
#132 What is relegation? Plus, the ways teams cope with it, the disastrous ramifications, potential silver linings, and much more!
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a logical counterpoint to last week's Promotion special, this week we're tackling Relegation! What sort of damage can relegation cause? How do rele...
#131 It's a Promotion special! What is promotion, what are the benefits and drawbacks, and how do clubs approach trying to stay up?
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Graham and Taylor dive into one of the happier things that can happen to a club: promotion! What are the approaches to getting promoted and...
#130 Why does Graham dislike Dumbarton FC? Or, the proper protocol for postponing a match
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With Graham thoroughly enjoying his 4th cancellation of the season courtesy of Dumbarton, we discuss why a match might be postponed, who makes the dec...
#129 All about stadiums!
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Graham and Taylor are taking a look at a big ol' concrete structure of a topic: stadiums! What makes a great stadium? What are the main dif...
#128 What is The Old Firm Derby and why is it so historically significant?
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham and Taylor spend some time discussing the historic rivalry between Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers, AKA The Old Firm Derby. How did the rival...
#127 Why are entrance anthems played before games, what makes a good anthem, how do their vary between clubs and international competitions, and much more!
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Graham and Taylor do their best to avoid having to sing while discussing anthems in soccer: when did the tradition begin, how do they diffe...
#126 What are reserve leagues and how do they work?
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, it's a look at not-quite-ready-for-primetime competitions, aka development leagues. What is a reserve league, is it different ...
#125 What is The New Manager Bounce, and is it a real thing?
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham and Taylor take a look at a narrative that pops up every time a coach gets sacked: The New Manager Bounce. When things aren't working and clubs...
#124 The Backheeled Show: What’s wrong with England? And can the USMNT take them down?
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We don't know about you, but we're pretty excited for the USMNT's game against England that's coming up next week. On this special episode of Soccer 1...
#123 The Backheeled Show: How to win the World Cup, by the numbers
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What if we told you there were some tricks that your team could use to boost their odds of making a deep run in the World Cup? Sounds pretty good, rig...
#122 Why do children escort players onto the pitch before a game?
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Ryan and Taylor answer a listener question that felt Soccer 101 appropriate: why do little kids walk onto the pitch with playe...
#121 Does politics belong in soccer? AKA Why soccer and politics will always be intertwined
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, we're tackling a topic that won’t cause any furor online, never has copious columns written about it in newspapers, and always...
#120 Everything you need to know about the Women's Champions League
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The 2022-23 Women's Champions League season is underway, so Ryan, Graham and Taylor are here to explain the history of the competition, its dominant t...
#119 What is a 'Golden Generation' in soccer?
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan, Graham and Taylor convene to discuss the meaning of the term 'Golden Generation' in the beautiful game, while offering some examples of the team...
#118 What does a scout do and why are they important?
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ryan, Graham and Taylor dig into the world of scouting. Why do teams need scouts, how does one become a scout, and which teams hav...
#117 What is a medical and what happens when a player fails one?
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, we're taking a closer look at something that every player does when they join a new team, but something we don’t necessarily...
#116 How to host a World Cup and what makes a good one
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
WE’RE DOING A LIVE SHOW!The TSS foursome will be in New York for a live show on Sunday, November 20th. We’ll be talking World Cup, USMNT, and so m...
#115 What is a ‘number 9’ and how has the position evolved?
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, we're looking at a position on the field that's made a comeback on the pitch, quite literally in most cases: The Number Nine. ...
#114 Why are World Cup jerseys such a big deal?
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan, Graham, and Joe talk all about World Cup jerseys. Why are they important? What can they look like? How have the c...
#113 How did the Premier League become the most dominant league on the planet?
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Premier League is regarded as the gold standard for global domestic soccer. It has the most fans, the most money, and the biggest brand of all the...
#112 How has the Qatar national team been preparing for the 2022 World Cup?
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the 2022 World Cup looming, Taylor is joined by Graham and Joe to discuss the Qatar national team itself... a team, we should note, that has neve...
#111 What are the most surprising relegation campaigns in soccer history?
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to discuss all-things relegation: what is it and which teams have successfully avoided it? We then turn our attent...
#110 What makes Jurgen Klopp such a good manager?
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From his days as a prospective med student-turned-footballer to winning the Champions League with Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has had a fascinating career...
#109 It's kicking off! How have the rules for kickoff changed, what are the best approaches to getting the game underway, and how could we improve on the present system?
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan is joined by Joe and Taylor to answer the age old question (in your best Jerry Seinfeld impression), "What's the deal with kickoff?!" How does a ...
#108 What is a front office and how does it work?
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who makes what decisions? We have answers! Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to discuss front offices in football: what they are, how they work, whi...
#107 Everything you need to know about preseason
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s preseason time! On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven, and Joe Lowery dive into the world of preseason. W...
#106 How to become a referee, and why someone might do that to themselves?
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, we're taking a deeper look at officiating! Why become a referee, what are the paths to qualification in the US and the UK, are...
#105 What is the soccer schedule for the rest of 2022?
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, we go through the remaining calendar for 2022 to determine what competitions are happening and when, how the winter World Cup will...
#104 What are coaching badges, how long do they take to acquire, how do they differ between federations, and how should they evolve?
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, we're taking a deeper look at Coaching Badges (aka coaching licenses). What are they? Why does soccer have them? Can you coach...
#103 What is 'S***housery'?
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Soccer is a game of fine margins, which is why it is fairly common to see the dark arts employed to gain an advantage. In this episode, Ryan Bailey, G...
#102 The best and biggest transfers of all time
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're in the midst of another summer transfer window, so the Soccer 101 team are looking back at some of the landmark deals that have shaped the histo...
#101 The 101 soccer terms you need to know, part two: N-Z
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of our 101st episode, we finish off our list of the 101 soccer terms and phrases that you need to know. This one starts with "nutmeg" and run...
#100 The 101 soccer terms you need to know, part one: A-M
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's a two-part Soccer 101 extravaganza! As we near our 101st episode, we're running through the 101 key soccer terms that you need to know. On this e...
#99 What makes Pep Guardiola such a good manager?
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pep Guardiola started his playing career in Barcelona's "Dream Team" and graduated to become one of the most successful managers of the modern era. Wh...
#98 The past, present and future of boot sponsorship in soccer
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're discussing a piece of soccer apparel that's been around since the 1500s, the football boot/soccer cleat! How have they evolved, who broug...
#97 How to start a soccer club in the United States
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to discuss a super-straightforward topic in the United States: how to start a soccer club! What should people know...
#96 The past, present and future of jersey sponsorship in soccer
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Soccer is a multibillion dollar business, thanks in part to the revenue clubs make through selling real estate on their kits. But how does sponsorship...
#95 What are the differences between club managers and international managers?
22 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are the qualities that make for a successful club manager? And what are the qualities that makes for a good international manager? How are these ...
#94 What was the European Super League, why did it fail, and why might it return?
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On April 18th 2021, a news story dropped that heralded some of the biggest changes ever seen in the modern game: a group of soccer's elite European cl...
#93 What made Sir Alex Ferguson such a successful manager?
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the news that Eric ten Hag could soon be named the next Manchester United manager, Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to take a look back at the...
#92 What is the World Cup, how has it evolved since the inaugural tournament, and what will future iterations look like?
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The usual foursome are together to discuss the history of the World Cup: what is it, how has it evolved since Uruguay in 1930, and what will future it...
#91 "Are we the baddies?" What constitutes a poorly-run club? Plus, some of the best (and therefore worst) examples in world football!
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to... basically do the opposite of what they did last week: discuss the qualities that make the most poorly run cl...
#90 What constitutes a well-run soccer club, and what are some examples in world football?
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Graham and Taylor list the 5 main categories they value when determining if a club is well-run, and provide examples of each... culmi...
#89 How has TV coverage helped grow the sport of soccer, as well as shape our understanding of it?
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor (but not Graham Taylor) to discuss the history of soccer on TV. When was the first broadcast? Whe...
#88 How does MLS expansion work, and what comes next for the league?
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, with the MLS season kicking off this weekend, Graham and Taylor take a long look at the league's expansion history. What did they ...
#87 What happened to all that money being pumped into Chinese soccer?
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Five years ago, Antonio Conte, Arsene Wenger, and many more notable figures were worried about the looming giant wading into the world of football: Ch...
#86 What is Boxing Day and why is it such a big day for British football?
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery look at the British cultural phenomenon of Boxing Day soccer: its origins, i...
#85 How and why are games postponed, abandoned or canceled?
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast usually looks at what happens during soccer games, but for today’s episode, we look at the times when soccer does not happen! In light...
#84 Everything you need to know about MLS Cup
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery take a look at the showpiece event of the Major League Socc...
#83 All about that Ballon d'Or! What is it, how did it come to exist, who are some lesser known winners, and does it matter all that much?
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Graham, Joe, Ryan and Taylor get into a timely topic: The Ballon d'Or! We attempt to explain the following: 1) What is ...
#82 Playoffs in soccer: their origin in the sport and weirdness throughout history
27 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery go deep on playoffs: their history, their usage around the world, and some o...
#81 Where did the terms brace and hat-trick come from, and what are our favorite examples of each?
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Ryan is joined by Graham and Joe to learn from history and reminisce about spectacular moments as they go deep on the origins of the ...
Bonus Episode! Can I Kick It presents... A History of Cobi Jones
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our friends over at Can I Kick It are chatting with Cobi Jones about his life and legacy. So, we're airing their original bio episode of th...
#80 New to soccer? Things to consider when picking a soccer team to support
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, it's semi-strange topic for Graham and Ryan and a more relatable topic for Joe and Taylor: how do I choose a club to support? ...
#79 What is the Golden Goal rule and why isn't it around anymore?
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Taylor is joined by Graham and Joe (whoever speaks first wins!) to discuss the Golden Goal rule. How did it first come to be, how lon...
#78 Everything you need to know about pressing: what it is, its many forms, how it evolved, and much more!
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In an homage to Daryl Grove's introductory explainer on pressing in episode 27, your intrepid podcasters take you on a longer journey through the topi...
#77 Who can own a soccer team, and how does club ownership work?
15 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, we discuss club ownership: who is allowed to own a team, and how do the regulations vary between leagues? Which owners ...
#76 What are fan-owned clubs and how do they work?
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The first part of the above question might seem straightforward... and it is. But! There's a lot more going on. If a thousand people own a team, who m...
#75 The comprehensive history of the soccer ball
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery are talking balls. More specifically, the history and development of the hum...
#74 The best (and least best) approaches to soccer commentary
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Graham, Joe, Ryan and Taylor take a quick look at the history of commentary in soccer, before discussing their favorite play-by-play and color comment...
#73 "You're not singing anymore!" A brief history of chanting and singing in football
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to discuss the history of chanting and singing at football: how did it start, how has it evolved, why does it lend...
#72 How does World Cup qualification work? AFC, CAF, Concacaf, Conmebol, Oceania, and UEFA explained!
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of 101 fell in an international break, so Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Joe Lowery and Graham Ruthven are here to discuss the process of ...
#71 Why isn't Scotland better at football, aka fitba?
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Graham Ruthven takes us through a history of Scottish football, from their role in helping develop and spread the game to The Three Kings era to a myt...
#70 Everything you need to know about MLS All-Star Game, past, present and future
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery discuss Major League Soccer’s showpiece event, the All-St...
#69 The complete history of soccer kits
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery talk about uniforms! When did they first appear in soccer, ...
#68 What do footballers do in the off-season?
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery look at what happens between seasons! Do players actually g...
#67 Your Guide To Cheating In Soccer
29 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery delve into the dark arts! What constitutes cheating in socc...
#66 How do academy systems work?
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Joe Lowery and Graham Ruthven are on hand to answer a listener’s question about Academy systems. What ar...
#65 How did Argentina win the Copa America and how much does it mean for Lionel Messi?
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Taylor is joined by Felipe Cardenas to break down Argentina's victorious campaign at the 2021 Copa America. Specifically, our goal is to figure out 1)...
#64 What is the ideal pitch size for a professional soccer game?
03 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Taylor takes a deep (but brief) look at some different leagues and clubs around the world to determine 1) the actual requireme...
#63 Why do the Dutch wear orange, the Italians blue, and the Australians gold? Explaining some of the iconic kit colors of international soccer
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Taylor takes a look at some of the iconic kit colors in international soccer and tries to get to the bottom of how they came t...
#62 Commentator terminology explainer: Zone 14, half turn, sixes and sevens, under the cosh, and many more!
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Taylor breaks down two different senteces that are each chock full of soccer phrases and terms that are commonly used but not ...
#61 What is the Concacaf Nations League and why does it exist? Plus, a preview of Honduras ahead of their match with the USMNT
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Taylor explains all you need to know about the Concacaf Nations League: what is it, how does it work, and why did it need to e...
#60 What is the Copa America, what are its biggest rivalries, and why won't Colombia be hosting this summer?
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Taylor is joined by Felipe Cardenas of The Athletic to explain the basics on the Copa America itself, as well as its biggest rivalries. Felipe then gi...
#59 How does a transfer work and why do they get so complicated so quickly?
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts David Gass and Josh Schneider-Weiler go in-depth on all things transfer, and share some of their favorite transfers of all time. Why are agents...
#58 Where did the penalty kick rule come from?
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe digs into the penalty kick rule. Where did it come from? When did it originate? And who invented it? All that, and ...
#57 Why didn’t Matt Le Tissier play more for England?
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the legend of Matt Le Tissier—and his distinct lack of international call-ups. Premier League fa...
#56 Did Didier Drogba really stop a civil war?
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode tells a story of political strife, armed conflict, World Cup qualification, missed penalties, and the power of one individual to inspi...
#55 Why is Marcelo Bielsa so beloved in world soccer?
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Taylor takes a looong look at the career of Marcelo Bielsa to determine why he is so revered by so many people despite never winning that m...
#54 Why are there eleven players on a soccer team and how did that number become standard?
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Taylor gets to the bottom of a question that no-one is asking but everyone might want to know: why are there 11 players on a soccer team? O...