The Starting Point When I first started coaching, I thought the biggest difference-makers were tactics, technique, and fitness. If a...

As a coach, mentor, and parent, I’ve come to realize that one of the most underrated skills in youth development—especially in soccer—isn’t a fancy move or tactical awareness. It’s discipline.

As a coach, a parent, and someone deeply invested in youth soccer, I’ve spent countless hours wondering what truly shapes a great player. Is it their technique? Their understanding of tactics? Their speed? Or their mindset? The truth is—it’s all of it.