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

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#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

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🎧 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

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, we sit down with Victor Jaramillo, founder of SportXplore Travel, whose journey from soccer-loving kid in Mexico City to Texas entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. After a layoff pushed him out of the corporate world, Victor turned his lifelong passion for sports and community into a mission: to simplify, humanize, and save families money on youth soccer travel. We talk pay-to-play pitfalls, hotel nightmares, and how Victor is changing the game—literally.

Key Talking Points:

Victor’s early connection to soccer through the 1986 World Cup

The realities of growing up in Mexico’s soccer system

Why being laid off pushed him toward entrepreneurship

The origins and evolution of SportXplore Travel

Disrupting the current youth sports travel model

Pay-to-play challenges from a parent’s perspective

How SportXplore Travel builds partnerships with clubs and hotels

Creating savings and scholarship opportunities for clubs

Transparency, fairness, and why it matters in youth sports travel

Victor’s mission to be more than just a travel service

Tune in to learn:

What happens behind the scenes with those expensive hotel blocks

How one man’s layoff turned into a new way to support youth soccer

The hidden cost of disorganization in team travel

Why building trust—not just bookings—is at the heart of Victor’s business

How SportXplore Travel is returning value to families and clubs

Quotes from Victor:

"Sometimes you take the leap not because you're brave—but because you have no other option."

"I was scared to be an entrepreneur. I never thought I’d actually do it."

"The hotel industry opens up when they hear one word: prepaid."

"This isn’t just about rooms—it’s about respect for parents’ time and money."

"We give money back to the clubs because youth sports should lift families up, not drain them."

"My inspiration was Tom’s Shoes. Do good, and good comes back."

"The system’s broken when parents pay more and get less."

"We’re not charging agency fees—our business is built on transparency."

"A team manager’s job is already hard enough. We're here to be their right hand, not their replacement."

"I believe youth travel should be efficient, fair, and built on trust."

📲 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 on your favorite podcast platform

#ChatByThePitch #SportXploreTravel #YouthSoccer #TeamTravel #SoccerParents #ClubSoccerLife #TravelSmartPlayHard #PayToPlayFix #SoccerBusiness #SupportTheParents