Youth Soccer Development: Winning, and the Staircase Analogy

Youth soccer focuses on development, but our systems still prioritize results. In this episode of Chasing the Game – Youth Soccer in America, we sit down with Morten Grahn, former director of the NYCFC Soccer Academy, to discuss a harsh truth in American youth soccer: elite environments are not designed to develop every player, yet early success is often mistaken for a sign of long-term potential. Morten uses a strong staircase analogy to explain why being higher in the system doesn't necessarily mean a player is better at progressing or more prepared for what’s next. We discuss how parents, coaches, and clubs often conflate rank within the system with proper development, and how that misunderstanding can influence decisions for years. We cover: • Why quietly winning can overshadow real development in youth soccer • How elite programs rely on structured plans rather than feelings • Why most players aren’t “rockets” — and why that’s normal • How challenge, struggle, and even not playing can be key to growth • What parents should really watch for in competitive environments This episode is for parents navigating academies, tryouts, and performance pressure, and for anyone questioning whether the current youth soccer model truly supports long-term growth. Chasing the Game aims to bring clarity and honesty to a system that often feels unclear. This conversation doesn’t give easy answers, but it helps families think in a better way. (00:00) - Intro – Why results still run youth soccer (02:45) - Winning vs development (06:30) - How elite systems really work (10:15) - Not everyone is built to be developed (14:40) - The staircase analogy explained (19:30) - Where players are vs how well they climb (24:10) - Why most players aren’t rockets (29:20) - Challenge struggle and not playing (34:15) - Frameworks over feelings (39:10) - Environment shapes outcomes (44:00) - What parents often misunderstand (49:20) - Rethinking opportunity and fairness (54:10) - Long term development vs short term success (58:30) - Rethinking how we evaluate players (01:02:10) - Advice for parents inside elite systems (01:05:40) - What development actually asks of families Click here to view the episode transcript.