CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe

Send us Fan MailOwen Miller is the co-founder of Flow Soccer, a year-round player development and mentorship program based in the Boston area. He played college soccer at UMass Lowell, where he served as team captain, before spending six months in Spain coaching a gap year program and observing academy training at Villarreal, Valencia, and Levante. Back in the US, he served as a volunteer assistant at Boston College and worked in the club system for several years before stepping away to launch Flow Soccer with co-founder David Gydus.In this conversation, Alf and Owen cover a lot of ground. They discuss what Owen observed in Spanish academy training — the efficiency, the tight spaces, the coaching philosophy of loading instruction up front and letting the game run — and how that shaped the way he approaches sessions today. They talk about what Owen found frustrating in the US club system, from the geography of elite travel to the toll it takes on coaches and families. And they dig into the concept at the heart of Flow Soccer's identity: the flow state, as described by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and how Owen builds sessions specifically designed to help players reach it.The conversation also covers Flow Soccer's no-questions-asked pricing model, the program's partnership with Boston Scores, the importance of mentorship for young men, and why Owen believes a good coach's job goes well beyond what happens on the pitch.This one is for youth coaches, club coaches, and anyone who's ever asked what it really means to develop a player. Hit play and enjoy the conversation.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailPaul Barry is a UEFA A licensed coach developer and the current Head of Coaching for the Foundation Phase at Crystal Palace FC — and in this conversation, he brings the principles that shape one of England's top academy programmes directly to grassroots coaches.We talk about one of the most common mistakes coaches make: judging players on outcomes rather than decisions. Paul explains why praising a young player's intention — even when the execution falls short — is the foundation of developing real game intelligence. We also get into what "winning" actually looks like at the foundation phase, how to create the conditions where young players feel safe to try things and fail, and what Paul has learned from writing children's books about growth mindset and emotional resilience.If you coach young players at any level and want to think differently about how you give feedback and measure progress, this episode is for you.Hit play and enjoy the conversation.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailACL injuries sideline thousands of young female athletes every year—but it doesn't have to be this way. In this episode, 17-year-old high school soccer player Maya Lanfer shares what she's learned from researching this injury, interviewing sports medicine professionals, and creating educational resources for coaches and players.Maya breaks down why female athletes are more susceptible to ACL tears, what the research says about prevention, and the simple warm-up exercises that can significantly reduce risk. She also discusses the emotional toll these injuries take on young athletes and makes a compelling case for why coaches need to move beyond thinking of ACL injuries as "bad luck."Whether you coach girls or boys, this conversation offers practical insights you can bring to your next practice.Maya's Videos on YouTubeAttention Female Athletes: How to Save Your ACL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhQVSvzjNrgHOW TO: ACL Injury Prevention Warm-up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za65nYmyr8QFor more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailTommy Geis, Technical Director at Massachusetts Youth Soccer, joins us to explore why coach education transforms not just how we coach, but how we understand youth development itself. With over 40 years in the game, Tommy shares his journey from thinking he knew everything about soccer to discovering "how much he didn't know" through formal coach education. We discuss the critical difference between telling kids what to do versus helping them discover their own solutions, why coaches need to see the game through children's eyes rather than adult perspectives, and how to meet players where they are developmentally. Tommy walks us through the coaching education pathway in Massachusetts, from grassroots certification to advanced licenses, and explains why even parent volunteers coaching for just one season can benefit from training. Whether you're new to coaching or have years on the sidelines, this conversation offers practical insights on becoming more effective at developing young players while keeping the joy in the game.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, Alf Gracombe engages in a deep conversation with coaches Temisan Williams and Mike Smith about the critical role of player feedback in youth development. They explore how cultural backgrounds influence feedback reception, the importance of individual coaching versus team coaching, and the necessity of specific, actionable feedback. The discussion also touches on the use of technology in coaching, the significance of player agency, and the evolving role of coaches in fostering a positive learning environment for young athletes.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailCaroline Foscato, President and Founder of Soccer Unity Project, shares her journey from organizing neighborhood pickup games in Boston's South End in 2008 to building one of the city's most impactful youth soccer organizations, now serving over 1,400 young players. In this conversation, we explore how Soccer Unity Project prioritizes diversity and community-building over competitive outcomes, the real challenges of scaling a grassroots nonprofit in urban environments, and why the current youth soccer system needs fundamental rethinking. Caroline discusses the barriers that keep families and coaches from participating, the importance of meeting communities where they are, and why every decision in youth sports should start and end with one question: What about the kids? Whether you're leading a grassroots program, coaching at any level, or thinking about how sports can be a force for positive change, this episode offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for making youth soccer truly accessible to all.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailBoston City Councilor Ben Weber joins the show to discuss the intersection of youth sports and local politics. From coaching grassroots soccer to serving at City Hall, Ben shares insights on the resource disparities facing city athletes, the controversial White Stadium renovation and Legacy FC partnership, and why Boston's young athletes are underperforming despite the city's size and talent. We explore what it takes to advocate for youth sports infrastructure, how professional women's soccer could inspire the next generation, and practical ways coaches and parents can make their voices heard in local government. A timely conversation about community, investment, and fighting for opportunities for all kids.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt episode, host Alf Gracombe honors the legacy of Dean Conway, a beloved mentor and coach who passed away earlier this year. Through conversations with Chris Hoeh, a long-time collaborator of Dean, the episode explores Dean's profound impact on youth sports, his coaching philosophy centered around fun and mastery, and the community he built through soccer. The discussion also delves into personal anecdotes that highlight Dean's character, his approach to coaching, and the lessons he imparted to those around him.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Neil Harris shares his extensive coaching journey, transitioning from a player to a coach at Manchester United and eventually becoming self-employed. He discusses the importance of building trust with players and their families, the challenges faced in modern youth football, and the impact of professionalism on player development. Harris emphasizes the need for individualized coaching approaches and the significance of mentorship in shaping young players. He also reflects on the pressures of professional football and the importance of maintaining a love for the game.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

Send us Fan MailToday's conversation is with Joe Cummings, a longtime leader in American soccer who knew and worked with Dean Conway going back over 40 years. Joe's career has spanned coaching, education, and executive leadership roles throughout the soccer community. He served as CEO of United Soccer Coaches from 2009 to 2015, was Technical Director at the New England Revolution, and worked as President and General Manager of the Boston Breakers. But before all of that, Joe was a 7th grade teacher who met Dean in the 1980s when they were both helping to build the foundation of coach education in Massachusetts. Their friendship and professional partnership would span decades. Joe brings a unique perspective on Dean's impact - having witnessed firsthand how Dean helped shape not just individual coaches, but the entire framework of youth soccer development in New England.For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.