Noah Gins: From Chaos to Structure in American Youth Soccer

This week on Chasing the Game, we sit down with one of the most influential figures in American youth soccer: Noah Gins, Founder and CEO of Albion. We break down structure, culture, college pathways, measurable development, retention, and what true “success” really means inside a U.S. club system that too often rewards the wrong things. If you’re a parent, coach, or player trying to understand why youth soccer feels chaotic and what a functioning system could look like. This episode brings clarity. Topics We Cover • How Noah built one of the most successful youth clubs in the country • Why U.S. development suffers from fragmentation and inconsistency • The four core pillars of success at Albion • Retention, culture, and long-term development • Why “beautiful soccer” and winning often conflict • College recruitment myths and real pathways • How clubs should define success vs. how parents define success • Albion’s long-term vision for U.S. youth soccer YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@chasingthegame-podcast Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2pNWkRKtCJ9DqN6dgGcbWN Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com Website – https://chasingthegame.us Instagram – https://instagram.com/chasingthegamepod TikTok – https://tiktok.com/@chasingthegamepod Click here to view the episode transcript. (00:00) - Intro: The Machine Behind U.S. Youth Soccer (00:39) - Noah Gins Joins the Conversation (02:56) - Noah’s Youth Career and Path to Pro Soccer (04:00) - Building Albion: Six Teams to National Recognition (08:47) - Expansion, Affiliates, and the Albion Model (13:02) - What Was Missing in Youth Soccer (17:10) - How Environment Shapes Playing Style (18:58) - Structure vs Freedom in Player Development (20:31) - The League Maze: MLS NEXT, ECNL, EA (22:34) - Could the U.S. Ever Unite Its Development System? (25:45) - Why the U.S. Needs Player Compensation (29:57) - Supplementary Training and the Secondary Market (32:51) - Technical Mastery: Juggling and Measurable Skills (35:05) - Multi Sport Athletes and Specialization (37:45) - Understanding the U.S. Player Pathway (39:36) - The Problem With Using the Word “Elite” (41:11) - High School Soccer vs Academy Soccer (44:14) - Parents, Communication, and Culture (46:26) - Global Influences: Brazil, Spain, and Beyond (51:53) - Social Media, Mentality, and Today’s Players (53:50) - Seeing Albion as a System: Local to National (54:20) - Defining Success and Albion’s Four Pillars (57:54) - Cracking the College Pathway and Scholarships (01:02:22) - Albion’s Long Term Vision and Role in U.S. Soccer