Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast

Elite Clubs National League

The Elite Clubs National League was founded in 2009 and continues to lead by daring to do things differently, embedded with grit, collaboration and tenacity – all things learned from the beautiful game. The ECNL protects and propels the integrity of the game and everyone it impacts by facilitating the perfect symmetry of excellence and humility, exclusivity and accessibility, freedom and community. We believe that challenging everyone to rise to their best creates game-changers that live well, long after cleats are unlaced. Born out of the belief in a better way. Continued in the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence.

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How Athletes Can Get the Most From Individual Training | Ep. 135

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Following a riveting episode regarding sport specialization, Breaking the Line welcomes David Copeland-Smith, founder of Beast Mode Soccer, to discuss all things regarding individual training. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken converse with Copeland-Smith about a variety of topics surrounding individual training, including: Copeland-Smith's experiences training world-class athletes such as Kennedy Fuller, Ale...

Mar 26

1 hr 21 min

The Truth About Sport Specialization And Injury Risk In Youth Soccer | Ep. 134

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking the Line welcomes ECNL Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Drew Watson to the podcast for Episode 134 to discuss his latest research from the ECNL Center for Athlete Health and Performance. Watson sits down with ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken to discuss the injury risk with sport specialization in female youth soccer athletes. Through a two-year study within an ECNL Club, Watson did not find any statistica...

Mar 11

1 hr 20 min

Build The Pyramid, Inspire The Journey: A Conversation with ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney | Ep. 133

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Following a highly successful ECNL Coaching Symposium at the Circa Resort in Las Vegas, ECNL President Christian Lavers sits down with ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney for a candid conversation about the ECNL Boys as a league and the youth soccer landscape as a whole. In this hour-long conversation, Lavers and Kutney discuss new membership for the 2026-27 season, how the league looks at club promotions every season, its approach to the club...

Feb 25

52 min

Understanding Youth Soccer's New Pyramid | Ep. 132

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking the Line returns to the airwaves with more news regarding youth soccer's newest pyramid: a collaboration between US Club Soccer, ECNL, NPL and now USYS. Building off of Episode 131, ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken expand further on the youth soccer landscape with the additional news that USYS will be joining NPL, and that US Soccer bought the managing contract for US Club Soccer. Soccer's la...

Jan 21

43 min

New Pyramids, Postseasons and Pathways: A Look Inside The Collaboration Between US Club Soccer, ECNL and NPL | Ep. 131

Let us know the topics of interest to you! It's 2026 and Breaking the Line is back for a brand new episode following the holiday break, and it's a meaty one as ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken sit down with US Club Soccer President Mike Cullina to discuss a major announcement in the youth soccer world. On Dec. 18, US Club Soccer, ECNL and NPL announced a new postseason integration for the 2026-27 season, along with a new competition pyramid placing E...

Jan 5

1 hr 8 min

Playing Formats in American Soccer: Smaller Sides = Bigger Gains | Ep. 130

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking the Line returns to the airwaves for Episode 130 with a Thanksgiving flair. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken tackle a hot topic within soccer circles, one that will be moving to the forefront ahead of the World Cup and beyond: playing formats and player development. Bracken asks a simple question: how much does playing format dictate player development? The answer: a great deal. The BTL...

Nov 26, 2025

53 min

From the US to Finch Farm: A Conversation with Everton International Academy's Mark Thompson | Ep. 129

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking the Line has gone international! After the historic announcement of the ECNL International Tournament, Powered by Coaches' Voice and in association with Everton International Academy, ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken sit down with EIA's Mark Thompson, one of the major players in the creation and implementation of the International Tournament. In Episode 129, Thompson discusses his playing and coachi...

Nov 13, 2025

55 min

The Lifespan of a Coach: When Should Change Happen? | Ep. 128

Let us know the topics of interest to you! Breaking The Line returns for Episode 128 with ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken getting inspiration for this week’s topic from breaking news on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Hearing news of LSU firing football coach Brian Kelly and Nottingham Forest sacking manager Ange Postecoglou, the Breaking the Line crew asks the question: what is the average life span of a coach in the United States, and in soccer ...

Oct 29, 2025

57 min

The Economics of Youth Sports: The Factors And The Future | Ep. 127

Let us know the topics of interest to you! This week's edition of Breaking the Line features a hot topic across the soccer landscape and the sports world as a whole: the economics of sport, and youth sport in particular. ECNL President Christian Lavers and ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken dive into this nuanced topic, discussing the current economic model of youth sports and the reasons behind it, the emerging role of private equity and big business in the youth sport space, and what a...

Oct 15, 2025

1 hr 3 min

A Growth Mindset: Facilitating Player Development | Ep. 126

Let us know the topics of interest to you! The Breaking the Line team has returned for another player-focused episode, this time discussing player development. ECNL Vice President kicks off the conversation with a thought-provoking question: if you were building an ECNL club from scratch today, where would you start? With that as the starting point, he and ECNL President Christian Lavers weave their way through all the different aspects of player development: coaching, training, club r...

Oct 2, 2025

1 hr 1 min