In Part 1 of our powerful two-part conversation, we welcome renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to Chat By The Pitch. With over 30 years in high-performance sport and clients ranging from Premier League stars to F1 drivers, Dan breaks down how our culture around youth soccer is failing young athletes. From misguided sideline behavior to a broken obsession with early winning, Dan gives us a blueprint for healthier environments focused on joy, development, and lifelong participation.

🔑 Key Talking Points

Why winning should never be the priority in early youth soccer

How parents and coaches impact performance psychology, often unknowingly

The bio-psycho-social model and how it applies to kids on the pitch

Culture-building at clubs and how it shapes player outcomes

What true development looks like, and how parents can get out of the way

📌 Tune in to learn

How the world’s top athletes win by not focusing on winning, and what that means for your child’s soccer journey.

💬 Quotes from Dan

"It baffles me why adults think they have to introduce children to sport through the prism of winning and losing."

"Let’s begin at the beginning: soccer should start with fun, enjoyment, and participation."

"Your child is not a mini adult. Your child has a child’s brain in a child’s body."

"So many kids quit sport not because they’re losing—but because they’re no longer enjoying it."

"Culture isn't just a buzzword—it's the operating system of every club, every team, every sideline."

"We have to start by letting kids fall in love with the game."

"The mental side isn’t a luxury; it’s the core of long-term development."

"The behaviors you see on the field are just the tip of the biopsychosocial iceberg."

"We’re not raising champions. We’re raising humans through soccer."

"Coaches need to be more than technical experts—they need to be emotional architects."

📲 Connect with Dan Abrahams

📷 Instagram: @danabrahamssport

📘 Facebook: Dan Abrahams Soccer Academy

🌐 Website: www.danabrahams.com

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#DanAbrahams #YouthSoccerCulture #SportsPsychology #SoccerParents #CoachingMatters #BioPsychoSocial #MentalSideMatters #PlayerDevelopment #ChatByThePitch #SoccerEducation

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Ian Babcock sits down with Rey Torres, founder of PAYD FC (Professional Academy of Youth Development), to unpack the heart behind one of Mesquite’s most intentional independent clubs. From his own journey as a player to his philosophy as a coach, Rey explains how he’s building PAYD not just to win, but to shape lives through culture, consistency, and a commitment to development.

We dive deep into what makes PAYD different—from how they blend personal training with club play, to their structured off-season and in-season programming, and why he believes Classic League remains the gold standard for Texas youth soccer. Rey talks about developing players from age 5 to U18, how promotion and relegation fuels growth, and what it takes to truly prepare a player for college or the pros—without selling out to flashy badges or trendy leagues.

🧠 Key Talking Points:

• Rey’s path from West Mesquite to founding PAYD FC

• The meaning of Professional Academy of Youth Development

• Why starting young builds stronger bonds and smarter players

• A breakdown of PAYD’s dual-track model: club + personal training

• The philosophy of training by season, not just by week

• How promotion/relegation in Classic League shapes competition

• Building a player-first pathway aligned with US Soccer values

• Preparing players for opportunities: ODP, MLS Next, and beyond

• Why club culture and parental education go hand-in-hand

• PAYD’s long-term vision: agents, growth, and purpose-driven expansion

🔍 Tune in to learn:

• Why small, development-focused clubs like PAYD matter now more than ever

• How training cycles should mirror professional soccer preparation

• The hidden value of loyalty, culture, and community in youth sports

• How Rey Torres prepares players for the next step—and then helps them get there

• What truly separates PAYD from “alphabet league” culture

🗣️ Quotes from Rey:

“Classic League is the best league competitive-wise here in the Metroplex, specifically because of promotion and relegation.”

“I don’t want to lose players either, but if it’s for the right situation, I feel better about it.”

“Our goal is to take players from the rec level all the way to the professional level—on a structure built around development and culture.”

“We're not just a club—we're a training system, a mentorship program, and one day an agency.”

“If you're doing things the right way, you're gonna be seen. You don’t need a big badge.”

“It all starts with culture. That’s what made me successful in business, and now it’s why PAYD thrives.”

“I’m the first coach most of these kids have ever had—that bond is different.”

“The goal isn’t just to win; it’s to build. Win the right way.”

“If you're ready for MLS Next, we’ll take you there. But not just to say you’re there—when it’s the right time.”

“I ground my feet. Where we are today is built on doing it slow, right, and with purpose.”

📲 Connect with Rey Torres

Instagram: @paydfc | @paydtraining

Facebook: @paydfc | @payd

Email: Torresrey9@yahoo.com

🎙️ Follow Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

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Love the episode? Make sure to subscribe to Chat By The Pitch on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review! Your support helps us grow and bring more in-depth conversations with players, coaches, and leaders shaping the future of the game.

#ChatByThePitch #PAYDFC #YouthSoccerDevelopment #TexasSoccer #SoccerCulture #PlayerPathways #ClassicLeague #IndependentClubs #SoccerTraining #BuildFromTheGroundUp

In this powerful episode of Chat By The Pitch, we welcome Victor Jaramillo of SportXplore Travel to peel back the curtain on one of the most frustrating parts of youth sports: the "stay to play" tournament model. Victor breaks down how families are being squeezed by hotel schemes, what really goes on behind those “official travel partner” links, and how clubs, coaches, and parents can push back without risking their players' spots. Whether you're new to the travel game or a seasoned parent navigating another tournament season, this conversation is your roadmap to informed decisions, financial clarity, and better experiences for your team.

📌 Key Talking Points

• What “Stay to Play” really means and how it impacts families financially

• How the hotel cost structures are inflated—and who benefits

• The leverage clubs do have, but rarely use

• How to negotiate hotel rates without being a travel agent

• The importance of communication between parents, coaches, and club leadership

• Real examples of tournaments that rejected the system and thrived

• Why language barriers create a bigger issue in tournament logistics

• Tips on navigating cancellation policies and refund traps

• How Victor leverages his travel agency to advocate for families

• What it will take for the youth sports community to change the system

🎧 Tune In To Learn

• How to identify red flags in tournament lodging agreements

• The exact questions to ask your team manager before the season starts

• Why “going rogue” might be the only way to regain control

• How clubs and parents can work together to break the cycle

• What Victor believes is the tipping point to fix youth travel culture

💬 Quotes from Victor Jaramillo

• “A hundred-dollar hotel rate can turn into $180 overnight—and the quality often doesn’t match the cost.”

• “Parents are being held hostage by a system they don’t understand and didn’t choose.”

• “The teams that reject ‘stay to play’ and choose their own path? I respect that deeply.”

• “This isn’t just about saving money—it’s about building trust, clarity, and fairness.”

• “Tournaments bake kickbacks into hotel prices, and families are left paying the bill without knowing.”

• “The players may speak English fluently, but their parents might not—and that silence creates a power imbalance.”

• “You have power as a customer, but the system counts on you not realizing that.”

• “I’m not here to make a quick buck. I started SportXplore Travel to solve a real problem.”

• “It’s time for big clubs to take a stand and say, ‘We’re not playing by these rules anymore.’”

• “Never arrive. Stay ready, stay learning, and stay in the fight for what’s right.”

  
  

📲 Connect with SportXplore Travel

📷 Instagram: @sportsxplore_travel

📘 Facebook: sportsxplore_travel

📧 Email: v.jaramillo@sportsxtravel.com

🌐 Website: sportsxtravel.com

🎧 Follow Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Subscribe & Leave a Review: Support the show by subscribing on your favorite podcast platform and leaving a review—it helps us bring more voices like Victor’s to light.#YouthSoccer #PayToPlay #StayToPlay #TournamentTravel #SoccerParents #ClubCulture #TeamLogistics #YouthSportsReform #TravelSoccerTruth #ChatByThePitch