
CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe
CoachCraft explores the art and impact of coaching youth sports through in-depth conversations with renowned coaches from grassroots to professional levels, revealing how exceptional mentors use athletics to shape character, build confidence, and positively impact young lives.
Episodes
9 episodes
Edu Rubio - Premier League and UEFA Pro Coach
In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, host Alf Gracombe speaks with Edu Rubio, a UEFA Pro coach with nearly two decades of experience in English football. They discuss Edu's journey from youth coaching to the Premier League (Wolves and Wes...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:03:58

Meotis Erikson - Creating Better Journeys for Young Female Athletes
In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, Alf Gracombe speaks with Meotis Erickson, a former elite player turned coach, about her journey in soccer. They discuss the evolution of the women's game, the importance of creating healthy environment...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:25:57

Michael Paule-Carres - Head of F7 Methodology at RCD Espanyol
In this conversation, Alf Gracombe speaks with Michael Paule-Carres, head of F7 methodology at RCD Espanyol, about his journey from the U.S. to coaching in Spain. They discuss the importance of values-based player development, the application o...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:13:09

Biso Nkosi - A Coaching Journey from South Africa to Japan
In this engaging conversation with Biso Nkosi, we explored the journey of a coach whose football education spans multiple continents. From his childhood playing on the dusty streets of South Africa to coaching youth players across various cultu...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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58:18

David Shapiro - Youth Sports, Mentorship, and Inclusive Communities
In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, host Alf Gracombe speaks with David Shapiro, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston. They discuss David's journey from youth sports to nonprofit leadership, emphasizing the importance of relat...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:16:46

Temisan Williams - Premier League Youth Academy Coach
In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, Temisan Williams shares his journey from a young football enthusiast to a dedicated coach. He discusses the importance of grassroots football, the differences between coaching at grassroots and academy...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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49:59

Rick Fenoglio - Sports Science, Neurological Development, and Youth Sports
This episode features Rick Fenoglio, an American-born sports scientist and soccer development expert with over three decades of experience working with top clubs in the UK, including Manchester United and Manchester City. The conversation explo...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:04:49

Mike Smith - Developing Young Athletes Across Different Cultures
In this conversation, Mike Smith shares his journey from a young sports enthusiast in England to a college soccer player at Harvard and later a coach in the U.S. He reflects on the emotional impact of the 1966 World Cup, his experiences in orga...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:26:07

Jon Rudzinski - A Life of Sports, Player Development in the Grassroots and High School
In this inaugural episode of CoachCraft, host Alf Gracombe interviews Jon Rudzinski, a veteran soccer coach with over two decades of experience in youth sports. Jon shares his journey from a sports-loving childhood to becoming a dedicated coach...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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54:27
