Our podcast, "The Bear & the Ball," is hitting the road this summer taking in the magic of the UEFA European Championships. Henry Winter is one of the most esteemed soccer writers in the world and his insights into the game are second-to-none. Our host Nick Webster sat down with Henry outside the media hub in Gelsenkirchen prior to England taking on Serbia ..read more

Buford Mobley is your typical soccer dad. He didn't know too much about the game but he knew his son loved soccer and so he jumped in with both feet. The journey he and his son went on was fascinating and involved many lessons, good and bad, that he now shares on his monthly magazine, "The Soccer Parent Lifestyle". On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," learn from Buford as he highlights some of the mistakes that parents often make without even realizing it ..read more

Imagine watching Ronaldinho versus Kaka and you're only a few feet away from these two legends of the game. This is the dream which is now a reality thanks to the visionary mind of Yuri Moreira. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Yuri talks to host Nick Webster about the dramatic growth of the game and how the next decade may look ..read more

Toni Owens is the CEO and founder of Evolve1 and has a passion for the mental side of sports. Elite athletes see, understand, and react to the game in a way that sets them apart. Evolve1 trains athletes to develop these "invisible skills" using an intuitive, personalized E1 mental training delivered on a daily basis. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Toni and host Nick Webster look at the science and business of mental health in the soccer environment ..read more

From the rugby fields to paving the way to college and playing the sport of your dreams, CaptainU's Danny Carlton has seen it all. A Manchester native who was part of the Manchester United Academy program while being a Liverpool supporter, Danny excels in high performance and development environments. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Danny and host Nick Webster talk about how challenging it is for parents and scholars to find the right college at the right time. About CaptainU: CaptainU is the new Official College Recruiting Software to Cal South and its youth soccer community.&nb ..read more

Michael Erush is the Men's Head Coach for the Cal State LA Golden Eagles and the Boys' Varsity Head Coach at Harvard-Westlake School. He has also played for the Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, and Miami FC, as well as stints with clubs overseas during his career. His journey to becoming a Head Coach at the collegiate level is a fascinating story and showcases the commitment and patience needed to reach the elite levels. Michael joins host Nick Webster on this episode of "The Bear & the Ball" to discuss his journey and what it takes to succeed in coaching college soccer ..read more

Dave Simeone is the Director of Education Programming for the United Soccer Coaches, the largest coaching organization in the world. Over many decades Dave has seen the game of soccer continue to grow and his insights, wisdom and knowledge are second to none. On this episode of Cal South's "The Bear & the Ball" podcast, Dave talks with host Nick Webster about game models, data, and how the game of football continues to evolve ..read more

Judged by his football peers, the local and international media, and the countless number of young Japanese over the space of 24 years, Tom Byer has forever changed the way soccer is taught and played throughout Japan. Now his name and reputation are attracting great interest from other parts of Asia. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Tom and host Nick Webster discuss the foundations of playing the sport, and... it all starts at home ..read more

As commissioner of the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), Yan Skwara has overseen a steady growth in the league as more players understand that there is a true pathway to the collegiate and professional playing levels. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Yan and host Nick Webster talk about the history of the league and how it has grown from a small Southern Californian league to become the preeminent amateur destination for adult players ..read more

Kassie Gray grew up in San Jose, CA, playing soccer from the young age of 5. She played club soccer for Los Gatos United and high school soccer at Leigh High School. She joined the Olympic Development Program at age 12 where she climbed the ladder from District Team to State Team to Regional Team, and eventually made the U18 National Team. Kassie’s passion was always the camaraderie with her teammates. Married to former MLS star, Kelly Gray, Kassie has a unique perspective on life as a soccer wife, mom, and trendsetter within the game of soccer ..read more