Soccer Parenting Plays a Role in New AppleTV Series
Apple’s latest dark comedy‑thriller, *Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed*, could give soccer parents something new to talk about on the sidelines. Premiering May 20 on Apple TV, *Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed* is a half‑hour, 10‑episode series that blends domestic comedy with mystery and suspense. The show stars Tatiana Maslany as Paula, a recently divorced mom whose already chaotic […]
MLS Next Club Met Oval Partners with Grassroots Soccer Stars United
This week, New York-based MLS NEXT club Met Oval and Soccer Stars United announced a new partnership, presenting the relationship as a player-development pathway that links one of the city’s best-known grassroots and travel brands to one of its top elite academies. On its face, the deal looks like a local club collaboration. In context, […]
D1 Soccer New Two-Semester Season Model Approved by NCAA
The NCAA’s Division I Men’s Soccer Oversight Committee adopted legislation to spread the championship season across both fall and spring semesters, effective August 1, 2027, pending review by the Division I Cabinet in June. Under the new model, teams can still play up to 25 matches, but they will be split into a fall segment […]
UEFA and Disney Launch “Play Games” to Keep More Girls in Soccer
UEFA and The Walt Disney Company have launched a new initiative, “Play Games,” aimed at helping girls aged 5–12 stay in soccer by turning early curiosity into long‑term participation. Building on the success of the existing UEFA Playmakers programme, Play Games uses story‑driven, small‑sided soccer activities to help young players grow in confidence, skills, and […]
Elite Soccer Is Moving Younger: What U11-U12 Pathway Expansion Means for Parents
Elite youth soccer is continuing to move younger, and parents of late-elementary and middle-school players are going to see more “pathway” options in the 2026-27 season. The latest example comes from the Girls Academy, which announced a new U11-U12 platform designed to introduce younger players to the GA environment before the traditional U13-U19 pathway (Girls […]
When “Accepted” Becomes a Gate: What National 1 League Means for Clubs Left Out
An EDP announcement this week about “first wave” clubs applying for acceptance into the new National 1 League quietly surfaced a big change: not every current National League or NPL team is guaranteed a spot in the top tier. When EDP emailed families this week to celebrate a “first wave of clubs… looking to transition […]
Red Bull NY Opens $100 Million Training Complex as MLS Next Academies Gain Pro Development Momentum
Red Bull New York unveiled the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center in Morris Township, New Jersey, on April 21, marking the latest significant investment in MLS academy infrastructure. The $100 million, 80-acre complex features eight full-size outdoor pitches, an 88,400-square-foot main building, and integrated facilities for the first team, Red Bull New York II, […]
No Dark Corners: How a New App Is Rewriting the Rules of Coach–Athlete Communication
High school sports are racing to catch up with a new reality: protecting young athletes from abusive or inappropriate adult behavior is no longer just an ethical imperative, it is becoming a regulated communications problem — and a pair of University of Cincinnati students believe they have built an app that turns those rules into […]
More Kids Want to Play Soccer! The Aspen Institute’s Project Play Youth Soccer Report
The Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative has released a landmark report on youth soccer—and while the data comes from New York City and North Jersey, the findings will feel familiar to families across the country. After 10 months of research, the study delivers a clear message: more kids want to play soccer than the […]
MLS clubs face a teenage talent test
Editor’s Note: We’re pleased to republish this article from The Soccer Business with permission from the author. Thank you to Simon Evans for generously allowing us to share their reporting with the U.S. Soccer Parent community. Please support their work by subscribing to their newsletter and podcast: newsletter link I podcast link The most striking and interesting aspect […]