What happens when you’re one cut away from the Olympics? And how do young players handle setbacks when their development doesn’t go as planned?

In Episode 39 of The Soccer Ladder, Megan Linke sits down with former USWNT player, NCAA National Champion, coach, and MLS/NWSL broadcaster Kacey White to discuss resilience, player development, and the realities of reaching the highest levels of soccer.

Kacey shares lessons from her playing and coaching career, including what coaches look for in young players, why soccer IQ and decision-making matter, and how parents can support development without adding pressure. She also answers a question from Liam about what helped separate her from other talented young players.

In this episode:

• Lessons from being cut before the Olympics
• What coaches notice in players ages 12–14
• Developing first touch, scanning, and soccer IQ
• Navigating setbacks, competition, and confidence
• What parents can do to support long-term development

Whether you’re a young player, parent, or coach, this conversation offers valuable perspective on why development isn’t always linear.

Follow:

Kacey White: @kaceydwhite
Megan Linke: @meganlinkeofficial
Liam Linke: @liamlinke18

Subscribe to The Soccer Ladder for more conversations with professional players, coaches, and leaders shaping the future of soccer.

Talent gets young players noticed, but what keeps them progressing?

In Episode 38 of The Soccer Ladder, Megan sits down with Miguel Gallardo — former professional goalkeeper, MLS analyst on Apple TV, and Executive Director of South Orlando Soccer Club — to talk about what really separates players as they move through the youth soccer pathway.

Miguel shares what he sees up close in youth development, what his own professional career taught him, and what young players need to understand about the work that happens away from the field. He also answers Liam’s question about what a 13- or 14-year-old should be doing now if the goal is to play professionally.

In this episode:
• Why mentality and discipline can matter just as much as natural talent
• What parents should look for in a club — and why coaching matters more than the label
• How Miguel turned a weakness into one of his signature skills
• The “invisible work” of sleep, hydration, recovery, and nutrition
• How a nonprofit club balances competitive development with access and scholarships
• How parents can support their player without coaching from the sidelines
• Rapid fire: the most underrated skill in a young player, the MLS player to study, and more

Whether you’re a player, parent, or coach, this conversation is about the habits, mentality, and work behind the scenes that help players keep moving forward.

Follow:

📲 Miguel Gallardo: @gallomig01
📲 South Orlando Soccer Club: @southorlandosoccer
📲 South Orlando Soccer Club: https://southorlandosoccer.com/recreational-development-program/

Follow The Soccer Ladder:
📲 Instagram: @meganlinkeofficial
📲 Instagram: @liamlinke18

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with elite players, coaches, and leaders shaping the future of the game. ⚽️🔥

Former MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Dax McCarty joins The Soccer Ladder for a special conversation filmed during MLS All-Star Week.

After nearly two decades playing at the professional level, Dax shares the lessons he believes matter most for young players trying to grow in the game.

We talk about leadership and why accountability may be one of the most important qualities a young captain can develop — including learning to look inward before pointing fingers at teammates.

Dax also breaks down how young midfielders can improve their soccer IQ and decision-making. His advice? Watch yourself back. Study your training sessions and games, identify where you can improve, and watch great players at the highest level. Dax shares how he studied Paul Scholes growing up and incorporated pieces of his game into his own development.

We also discuss what Dax wishes he had done differently as a young midfielder, why sometimes making the right decision means being a little more selfish in the right moments, and how he learned to use failures as motivation throughout his career.

A conversation packed with practical insight for young players, midfielders, captains, coaches, and soccer parents navigating the development journey.

Filmed during MLS All-Star Week.

Subscribe to The Soccer Ladder with Li & Me for more conversations with professional players, coaches, broadcasters, and experts sharing what they’ve learned with the next generation.

@MLS @AppleTV @daxmccarty

#TheSoccerLadder #DaxMcCarty #YouthSoccer #PlayerDevelopment #MLSAllStar

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