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

🎙️ Follow Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Subscribe & Leave a Review:

Love the episode? Make sure to subscribe to Chat By The Pitch on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review! Your support helps us grow and bring more in-depth conversations with players, coaches, and leaders shaping the future of the game.

#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

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 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

In Part 2 of our conversation with Gavin Mole and Tony Cavalle from Dallas Surf, we dig into the strategy behind their mission to build a nationally respected soccer club. From their investment in academy coaches to setting clear college pathways for players, this episode is a blueprint on how to grow a club with purpose.

Learn how Dallas Surf is using Surf Select, affordable access to training, professional-level video analysis, and structured progression to support both players and coaches in meaningful ways.

Key Talking Points:

• Why they pay academy coaches like select coaches

• The Surf Select pathway: local to international opportunities

• Building internal culture through coach development

• Free and affordable training opportunities across DFW

• Use of Huddle, Athlete One, and film to boost college recruiting

• Upcoming showcase events and recruiting strategy

• Facility improvements and equitable resource distribution

• The challenge of managing growth while staying player-focused

• Supporting coaches and players with retention in mind

• What it means to truly aim for national relevance

🎧 Tune in to learn:

• How Surf is using national structure to help kids go pro and college

• Why film, communication, and ID camps matter more than ever

• What makes their academy program different—and better

• The hard truths about player motivation and development

Quotes from Tony Cavalle:

“If we’re not trying to be the best club in the country, then it just wasn’t worth it.”

“We raised academy coach pay to match select so we could attract top coaching talent.”

“We use Athlete One, we use Huddle, we use whatever helps these kids get seen.”

“We’re taking big swings—and soon people will see Surf differently.”

“We want all facilities to be well-lit, flat, and playable—no matter what side of town.”

Quotes from Gavin Mole:

“Our academy is the most important part of the club.”

“You have to make them fall in love with the game first—and the ball second.”

“Retention here is strong because we support both coaches and players.”

“If I was a player, having this video to watch would’ve been amazing.”

“Surf Select isn’t just for kids—it's a pathway for coaches to grow, too.”

📲 Connect with Dallas Surf

🌐 Website: www.dallassurf.com

📧 Emails & phone numbers for staff available online

Follow Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Subscribe & Leave a Review: Please subscribe to Chat By The Pitch on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review! Your support helps us grow and bring more in-depth conversations with players, coaches, and leaders in youth soccer.

#DallasSurf #YouthSoccer #SoccerPathways #ChatByThePitch #CollegeSoccer #SurfSelect #SoccerPodcast #ECNL #SoccerDevelopment #DFWSoccer

🎧 Episode Description

In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, we connect with Tony Cavalle and Gavin Mole of Dallas Surf — a club that’s rapidly redefining youth soccer in DFW. Tony shares the origin story of Dallas Surf, while Gavin breaks down how the club is building its player DNA from the ground up. We talk structure, coaching education, technology, and the long-term vision that includes a unified coaching style and a full developmental pathway. Whether you're a parent, coach, or club leader — this is a blueprint worth hearing.

📌 Key Talking Points

• Why Dallas Surf invests in academy coaching like select

• How the club DNA works from U5 through U19

• Surf Select: internal national pathway for standout players

• The coaching structure, curriculum, and continuous feedback loops

• Athlete One, Huddle, ID camps — the college prep pipeline

• Tech, transparency, and tools for player & coach development

• Equal investment in East and West DFW training locations

• The Surf mindset: better people = better coaches = better players

• Internal promotion and coach retention across the club

• Big swings coming — and why they won’t stop until they’re the best

🎯 Tune In to Learn

• Why Dallas Surf pays academy coaches like select coaches

• How the Surf system helps players go from U7 to international showcases

• What parents should be asking clubs at tryouts — and what red flags to avoid

• How Dallas Surf is using tech to simplify, streamline, and scale

• What it really takes to build a sustainable, scalable soccer culture

💬 Quotes from Tony & Gavin

“The academy is the most important part of the club.” – Gavin

“You can’t have 90 teams doing 90 different things — that’s not a club.” – Tony

“A bad coach at U7 does more damage than no coach at all.” – Gavin

“We believe in Kaizen — continuous improvement — for everyone here.” – Gavin

“We don’t want parents to stay for a coach. We want them to stay for the club.” – Tony

“We’ve got kids traveling internationally with Surf Select. That’s not a dream anymore.” – Tony

“You should be able to watch a team and say, ‘That’s a Dallas Surf team.’” – Tony

“The structure is simple on purpose — it creates freedom through consistency.” – Gavin

“Better coaches equal better players. That’s the investment.” – Gavin

“We’re not building to be local. We’re building to be national — and beyond.” – Tony

📲 Connect with Dallas Surf

📷 Instagram: @dallassurfsoccer

📘 Facebook: Facebook.com/dallassurf

📧 Email: tcavalle@dallassurf.com / gmole@dallassurf.com

🌐 Website: dallassurf.com

Follow Chat By The Pitch:

🐦 X: @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Subscribe & Review on your favorite podcast app!

#DallasSurf #YouthSoccer #SoccerDevelopment #PlayerPathway #TexasSoccer #SurfNation #CoachingCulture #SoccerParenting #PlayerFirst #ChatByThePitch

In Part 2 of our deep-dive with CJ Sutherland, founder of DFW United SC, we unpack the tough decisions facing independent clubs, including his partnership to bring ECNL-RL NTX to his players. CJ shares candid insights about the pressures of youth soccer today—from managing parent expectations to building a positive team culture while navigating an increasingly status-driven system.

We explore why connection with players matters, how coaches influence kids beyond the field, and what it really takes to survive and thrive in the youth soccer world.

Key Talking Points:

The decision to join ECNL-RL NTX—and why it was necessary

How parent pressure influences club decisions

The double-edged sword of paying for soccer

Building player confidence and mental toughness

Why coaches must educate parents along the journey

Balancing growth and staying authentic as a small club

How recognition works inside the club vs. on social media

The importance of knowing every player’s name

Why coaching is about more than just the game

The mental side of development in a competitive system

🎧 Tune in to learn:

Why CJ believes parents are chasing letters over learning

What ECNL-RL NTX really means for players

The quiet ways coaches support kids off the field

Why “every kid just wants to make their parents proud”

Quotes from CJ:

“At the end of the day, every kid just wants to make their parents proud.”

“I try my best to give every kid a fist bump or high five when I see them.”

“I know every kid’s name in my club.”

“If I didn’t make the move to ECNL-RL, I was going to lose my club.”

“Parents nowadays want this status.”

“I’ve coached some of these kids since they were in diapers.”

“The showcases are great, but no coach is picking your kid just from four games.”

“Coaches are recruiting the parents, too—whether they know it or not.”

“I want to build a culture where kids earn it, not just get handed status.”

“It’s 90% mental, 10% talent.”

📲 Connect with CJ Sutherland

📷 Instagram: @dfwunitedsc

📘 Facebook: DFW United SC

📧 Email: DFWUnitedsoccer@gmail.com

Follow Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Subscribe & Leave a Review: Please subscribe to Chat By The Pitch on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review! Your support helps us grow and bring more in-depth conversations with players, coaches, and industry leaders.

🎧 Episode Description:

What happens when a club decides to stop accepting mediocrity? CJ Sutherland, Director of Coaching at DFW United, joins us for a powerful, no-filter conversation about resetting standards, rebuilding culture, and facing the uncomfortable truths about youth soccer leadership. From confronting coach behavior to setting non-negotiables with parents, CJ breaks down what it takes to lead with purpose—and why anything less is unacceptable.

🧠 Key Talking Points:

• How CJ is transforming DFW United from the inside out

• Rebuilding trust and accountability between coaches, players, and parents

• The role adult behavior plays in club culture and player outcomes

• Non-negotiables: what they are and why every club needs them

• Why complacency spreads when leadership is inconsistent

• The difference between coaching effort and coaching results

• Redefining success in youth development

• Addressing fear, blame, and silence in team environments

• The impact of ego—on the sidelines, in the office, and in the stands

• How to protect players while still pushing them

🎯 Tune in to learn:

• Why CJ believes culture is built—or broken—at the top

• What real accountability looks like on and off the field

• How DFW United is working to create a sustainable, competitive identity

• The honest truths clubs must face if they want long-term success

• CJ’s advice for any leader trying to shift a broken system

💬 Quotes – CJ Sutherland:

You can’t build a culture on silence.

Every player wants to be pushed—they just don’t know it yet.

We don’t have to scream. But we do have to demand.

Complacency is the biggest opponent in youth soccer.

Parents can’t be your ally if they don’t know the plan.

If the coaches don’t believe in the standard, the players never will.

You either coach it, or you allow it. There’s no in-between.

The game doesn't care about your feelings—neither should training.

We’re not chasing wins. We’re chasing habits.

If your identity’s tied to a result, you’ll always be chasing confidence.

🔖 Hashtags:

#ChatByThePitch #DFWUnited #YouthSoccerCulture #CoachCJ #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerLeadership #HoldTheStandard #SoccerParents #AccountabilityMatters #CultureOverComfort

📲 Connect with CJ Sutherland

📷 Instagram: @dfwunitedsc

📘 Facebook: DFW United SC

✉️ Email: DFWUnitedsoccer@gmail.com

📲 Follow Chat By The Pitch

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

📘 Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Subscribe & Leave a Review: Please subscribe to Chat By The Pitch on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review! Your support helps us grow and bring more in-depth conversations with players, coaches, and industry leaders.

In Part 2 of our brutally honest series, Jason Carney returns to tackle what youth soccer should be built on: culture, character, and purpose. We dive deep into the concept of servant leadership, the myth of league labels, and how most clubs miss the mark on development by faking culture instead of building it.

Jason shares how he’s implemented real accountability and authenticity at FC Portland—and how it's resonating with players, parents, and coaches. If you’ve ever asked “What’s the point of all this?”—this episode is your answer.

🔑 Key Talking Points:

• Servant leadership in youth soccer: What it really means

• Creating a club culture beyond the scoreboard

• Why “pre-ECNL” and league labels are marketing gimmicks

• How to identify authentic clubs (and spot the fakes)

• The importance of failure in shaping player character

• Jason’s 3-question test for every athlete—and his own kids

• The difference between dreams and your “why”

• Why U.S. Soccer’s top-down system is failing the grassroots

• Coaching the third and fourth teams—on purpose

• The link between culture and long-term happiness in sport

🎧 Tune In to Learn:

• How to spot a club that's doing more than taking your money

• What real player development accountability looks like

• Why leadership should always start with “What can I do for you?”

• The key difference between being a servant leader and just “nice”

• How failure builds resilience—and reveals true character

🔥 Quotes from Jason Carney:

"Effort and character still matter. We just don’t talk about them enough in youth sports."

"You can play terribly and still win. That’s not development."

"Do the right thing—it’s written on our high school practice jerseys."

"You can't fake culture. People will see through it."

"Most kids don’t love the game—they love the idea of what it might get them."

"We’ve got clubs putting ‘pre-ECNL’ on 10-year-olds who’ll never even sniff ECNL."

"I’d rather coach the third and fourth team than have people think we’re just taking money."

"Parents chase leagues like status symbols, not player development."

"Authenticity disappears when your why is just ‘win or go pro.’"

"My job would be easier if US Soccer took a servant leadership approach."

🤝 Connect with Jason Carney:

• Website: www.FCPortland.org

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-carney-56876636

• Book: US Grassroots Soccer: Great on Paper S**t on Grass → Amazon

📲 Follow Chat By The Pitch:

• X: @ChatByThePitch

• Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

• Facebook: Chat By The Pitch

🎧 Subscribe & Leave a Review: It helps other parents find the show—and grow the soccer culture we all want to see.