In this episode of Offside in the Bay: To the Pitch and Beyond, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Ben Maxwell, owner and coaching director at Player One Performance. From his beginnings in Scotland to leading supplemental training in Northern California, Ben shares insights on youth development, the U.S. soccer landscape, and what separates good players, coaches, and programs from great ones. His story is a journey of passion, mentorship, and building environments where kids can fall in love with the game. 


What You’ll Hear[00:01] Growing up in Scotland and discovering a lifelong love of soccer[00:03] Realizing he was an “average” player and turning early to coaching[00:04] A PE teacher’s surprising influence and first coaching experience — in rugby[00:06] The leap to the U.S. through sports camps in Texas[00:07] First impressions of American youth soccer in 2004[00:09] Changing perceptions of U.S. soccer internationally[00:12] How supplemental training supports (not replaces) club and school soccer[00:14] Why technical development is critical — and the “golden age” for building it[00:18] Parents’ dilemmas: timelines, competitiveness, and when to push or hold back[00:21] Passion vs. burnout: why kids don’t “burn out” if they love the game[00:23] Traits of the top 1% of players he’s trained — from relentless work ethic to perfectionism[00:25] What makes a great coach (hint: connection > credentials)[00:27] The Bay Area’s role in U.S. soccer growth and upcoming big events[00:29] One change he’d make to U.S. youth soccer: smaller-sided games[00:31] The power of futsal in player development[00:32] Advice for parents: “It’s their journey, not yours”[00:33] Advice for players: enjoyment leads to improvement

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