In Part 2 of our two-part series with Juan Martinez — founder of JMS Soccer and president of DKSC — we move beyond the academy structure and dig into the deeper layers of development that parents rarely see. Juan opens up about the realities of North Texas soccer culture, the misconceptions around “connections,” and how he uses his network not as a selling point, but as a responsibility to serve disciplined players who put in the work.

Juan explains what it really takes for an athlete to earn his recommendation, why truth and accountability matter more than hype, and how he keeps kids grounded while helping them chase college, national team, or professional opportunities. We also explore character development, moral skills, parental influence, pathways beyond club soccer, and why the dream must belong to the player — not the parent.

If you’re a soccer parent trying to understand the real pathway from ages 12–14 to college or pro, Part 2 delivers the unfiltered truth.

📌 Key Talking Points

• The misconception around “connections” and what they actually mean

• North Texas as a cutthroat, highly competitive soccer market

• Parents fearing their child won’t be recruited if they’re not at the “right” club

• How Juan uses his network to help players — quietly, without promoting it

• Why Juan will not recommend a player who lacks work ethic or attitude

• Examples of Juan contacting major programs on players’ behalf

• “Real talk”: asking players if they want honest feedback

• Keeping kids humble — correcting body language, temper, effort

• Why character skills and moral skills matter as much as soccer skills

• Teaching athletes to write letters to themselves about who they want to be

• How attitude directly affects how teammates experience you

• The pathway funnel: dual citizenship, national teams, international scouts

• Why discipline and daily habits determine whether a pathway even exists

• Educating parents on timing, contracts, rights, and player value

• Helping players navigate college offers strategically

• Why most pathways depend on player drive, not parental desire

• Homeschool vs. private school comparison for elite training

• Why JMS Academy will not become a full school

• JMS Fit/Futuro as expansion for players not ready for full academy

• How success is defined: players going pro, earning scholarships, leadership qualities

💬 Guest Quotes

• “It’s very cutthroat. North Texas soccer is cutthroat.”

• “Most of the time people don’t even know that I’m doing that.”

• “I’m not sticking my neck out for just anybody.”

• “If you’re not technically sound… if you don’t use both feet… I can’t recommend you.”

• “I want to serve as many kids as possible, but in the right way.”

• “I don’t have a plan to grow the wrong way — I want to grow the right way with the right people.”

• “Everyone has a shelf life. Once I stop coaching, I want to use all my resources to honor God.”

• “Kids aren’t being creative anymore because we make every decision for them.”

• “Always count on change — we’re always reinventing and trying to get better.”

• “You keep everybody humble — you never let them get bigheaded.”

• “If it’s not their dream, you’re wasting your time.”

• “Know your child. If it’s their dream, it’s worth it. If it’s yours, it’s not.”

• “If your child isn’t touching a ball every day, they’re not falling in love with the sport yet.”

• “I’ve seen so many parents running the race for their kids — and it never works.”

• “Being part of a player reaching their goal… that’s the most fulfilling thing.”

• “They do all the work, all the sacrifice. I’m just part of their journey.”

Connect with JMS Soccer / JMS Academy

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In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, Juan Martinez — founder of JMS Soccer and President of DKSC — opens up about the journey behind JMS Academy, his daytime elite training environment built for disciplined, goal-driven young athletes. Juan walks through how JMS started in 2018, why it shut down during COVID, and how it returned in 2023 with a renewed mission: character, mental toughness, individualized development, and a one-stop shop of services for players chasing big goals.

Juan breaks down the full structure of the academy day: early drop-offs, morning training, strength and conditioning with Juan Robles, nutrition habits, multiple school blocks, afternoon sessions, tactical work, recovery routines, and the mental side of the game. He shares how he intentionally builds an environment focused on quality over quantity, creativity over rigid systems, and long-term growth over short-term results.

For any parent curious about homeschool-based soccer development, elite training routines, or what it really takes for a player to chase a college or professional pathway — this conversation gives a raw, detailed look inside JMS Academy’s first year.

📌 Key Talking Points

• Juan’s origins: Classic League player in the late 80s/early 90s; coaching since 2005

• Why JMS was originally created in 2018

• The impact of COVID shutting JMS down and the decision to relaunch

• “Empty the Bucket”: the philosophy behind JMS

• Why JMS is a one-stop shop for character, mental toughness, and recruiting

• How “Seleção” inspired Juan’s approach to identifying elite players

• The launch of JMS Academy in August

• JMS Academy is not a school — it is a training program with academic support

• How homeschool programs fit into the model (Texas Tech K-12, iPrep, etc.)

• The structure of the daily schedule (7 AM–5 PM, Monday–Friday)

• Morning technical sessions and strength/conditioning with Juan Robles

• Nutrition routines inspired by Brazil: daily fruit/snack breaks

• Classroom blocks, supervision, and the expectation of discipline

• Why school comes first and how academic accountability works

• Weekly training themes: Mental Monday, tactical Wednesdays, competitive Fridays

• How JMS avoids overtraining and emphasizes recovery

• The five facets of development: mental, technical, tactical, physical, social

• The role creativity and pickup play in player growth

• Why Juan keeps the program focused on individual development over team structure

• Current group size (12 players) and commitment to quality

• The goal of eventually growing to ~20 athletes

• Balancing self-motivation, discipline, and personal goals

• How Juan’s network (college, Mexico youth national team, agents, international scouts) supports players

• How JMS educates families on sacrifice, commitment, and realistic pathways

• Why Juan intentionally avoids selling himself as a “gatekeeper”

💬 Guest Quotes

• “J-M-S stands for Juan Martinez Soccer, but it's more than just soccer.”

• “I realized I had built a good network of college recruiting and international scouts and didn’t want that to go in vain.”

• “One of the sayings for JMS that I use is ‘empty the bucket.’”

• “Every program we have started from a simple idea.”

• “We are not a school — we’re more of a training program trying to create a professional environment.”

• “School is very, very important… if you don’t take care of your school, you’re not going to be able to come and do academy training.”

• “We check continuously on their work. We’re not a school, but we provide the environment.”

• “We didn’t want to put a standard GPA… players learn differently.”

• “It’s not that everybody’s going to be a professional, but if you chase that dream and get college paid for, that’s a good investment.”

•...

In Part 2 of The Return on Investment Myth — Rethinking Youth Sports, Dr. Travis Dorsch returns to Chat By The Pitch to go even deeper into the real work of parenting athletes. From accountability and culture to failure and social media, Dr. Dorsch shares how parents can reflect, recalibrate, and reconnect with the reason they signed their kids up in the first place.

We talk about how good intentions can cross the line, why “culture is king,” and what clubs can do to build a healthier ecosystem for players and families alike. From letting kids fail to redefining success after COVID, this conversation is a master class in perspective, patience, and purpose for every parent, coach, and club leader.

💬 Key Talking Points

• Treating kids as kids — not miniature adults

• Setting boundaries between good intentions and over-involvement

• The power of an accountability partner for parents

• How culture outweighs budget in building winning teams

• Reflection as a missing habit for most sports parents

• Why parents must allow failure to build resilience

• Social media and the “Gucci parent” era

• Bringing back discipline and the value of the name on the back of the jersey

• Inclusion, respect, and cheering for the competition

• Helping parents feel unstuck and regain balance

• Volunteering and being a helper in club culture

• Three keys to supporting your athlete: show up, be present, celebrate both wins and losses

• Parent education that works vs. programs that don’t

• Defining success for communities and clubs

• How COVID reshaped youth sports and perspective

• Coaches as the “missing piece” for family balance

• The importance of humility and apology as a parent

• What today’s generation of athletes is teaching us about resilience

Quotes from Dr. Travis Dorsch

• “Our kids aren’t miniature adults — we have to stop treating them that way.”

• “Accountability partners on the sideline can save you and your kid a lot of pain.”

• “Culture is king — and it’s free if you do it right.”

• “Parents have the potential to be incredibly reflective, but most of us choose not to be.”

• “Failure is a safe space for learning if we let it be.”

• “Social media shows the best five percent of every season and hides the 95 percent of growth.”

• “Let’s cheer for our kid’s competitors the same way we cheer for our own.”

• “Show up. Be present. Celebrate success and failure alike.”

• “Competitive outcomes and character development aren’t mutually exclusive — you can have both.”

• “Be humble enough to apologize when things go sideways. We only get one shot at this as parents.”

Connect with Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Listen: Chat By The Pitch on Apple Podcasts

Connect with Dr. Travis Dorsch

🌐 Families in Sport Lab — Utah State University

▶️ TEDx Talk: “Should Parents Expect a Return on Investment?”

#YouthSports #ParentingInSports #SportsCulture #SportsParenting #DrTravisDorsch #ChatByThePitch #CultureIsKing #PlayerDevelopment #FamilyInSport #ResilientAthletes #ParentEducation #YouthAthletes #SportsEcosystem #FailureIsLearning #ParentCoachPlayer #SportsPsychology #CommunityCulture #AthleteMindset #PodcastDFW #YouthDevelopment

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