I Hate Soccer
An ironically-titled podcast using long-form interviews to dissect the machinery of American youth and professional soccer development.
Despite its name, this is a serious, insider-focused show for people deeply involved in American soccer. Host Jason Collinsworth interviews coaches, referees, and club directors to reveal the mechanics of career progression, club management, and player development. It alternates between these long-form interviews and solo commentary episodes where Collinsworth critiques media narratives or trends in the sport.
“The show's provocative title is a hook for its actual mission: a granular, critical examination of the US soccer structure, from youth clubs to the pros. It stands apart from fan-centric commentary by focusing on the 'how' and 'why' of the sport's professional and developmental sides.”
Who hosts this show
Jason Collinsworth is a soccer coach and trainer who hosts the 'I Hate Soccer' podcast. He has over a decade of experience, including coaching at the NCAA D1 level, in the NWSL with the Western New York Flash in 2015, and running his own individual training company, PlayMaker Training. The podcast's name stems from the frustration he and players' families felt with the youth soccer system, which often prioritizes politics and winning over individual player development.
Credentials & credits
- Second Assistant Coach, Western New York Flash (NWSL)
- Founder, PlayMaker Training
- Goalkeeper Coach, University of Detroit Mercy Athletics
- USSF “C” license
- NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
- NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma
Other ventures
- PlayMaker Training (supplemental soccer training company)
- I Hate Soccer Parents (private community)
- The PlayMaker Training Podcast
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01I Hate Soccer #105 - Allen Chapman, PRO referee from Major League SoccerJun 25, 2026 · 47 min
- 02Ronaldo scores 2 goals against Uzbekistan!Jun 23, 2026 · 3 min
- 03Does your soccer club take international trips?Jun 23, 2026 · 8 min
- 04I Hate Soccer #104 - Laura Hamway, Detroit Country Day's Womens Head Soccer CoachJun 22, 2026 · 2h 46m
- 05
- 06How do MLS Academies and Non MLS Academies get along?Jun 16, 2026 · 11 min
- 07I Hate Soccer #103 - Larry Sunderland, has helped build several MLS AcademiesJun 15, 2026 · 1h 29m
- 08I Hate Soccer #102 - Rudy Cleveland, Girls Academy Director at Midwest UnitedJun 11, 2026 · 1h 15m
Notable episodes
- 01I Hate Soccer #105 - Allen Chapman, PRO referee from Major League Soccer
A deep dive into the often-misunderstood world of professional refereeing, covering fitness, career paths, and on-field psychology.
- 02Ronaldo scores 2 goals against Uzbekistan!
Shows the host's solo commentary style, where he critiques media narratives and offers his unvarnished opinions on current events in soccer.
- 03Does your soccer club take international trips?
Highlights the show's focus on the operational and developmental side of youth soccer clubs, a core topic for its parent and coach audience.
What you'll be asked on this show
Collinsworth typically opens by establishing a guest's origin story, asking how they got their start and their initial career trajectory. He then drills down into the specifics of their craft, using short, direct questions ('Who organizes this?', 'What age groups?') to clarify processes for the listener. He often relates to guests by mentioning shared contacts or experiences, creating a peer-to-peer feel. He frequently probes the 'why' behind a program or rule, seeking to understand the underlying philosophy. The interviews are not confrontational; he guides the conversation and lets the expert explain their world in detail.
The format alternates between long-form interviews and solo commentary rants. In interviews, Collinsworth is a conversational host who uses his own coaching background to ask informed, specific questions. He allows guests ample time to explain complex topics, acting as a proxy for a curious parent or coach.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
10 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“What's your background and how did you get started in this role?”
This is a standard opening question to establish the guest's origin story and credibility.
- Q.02
“When and why did you start [a specific program]? What was the thought process?”
He asks this to uncover the foundational philosophy behind a club's major initiatives.
process
4- Q.01
“How did you climb the ranks so quickly in your field?”
Used to explore the specific steps and milestones in a guest's career progression.
- Q.02
“Who is responsible for organizing these programs or trips?”
A logistical question to understand the operational structure of a club or organization.
- Q.03
“What age groups are typically involved in this program?”
Used to clarify the target demographic for a specific club offering or pathway.
- Q.04
“Is participation in this program completely optional?”
This question addresses the level of commitment required from players and families.
craft
3- Q.01
“What are the specific fitness tests or technical requirements for your job?”
This question seeks to uncover the concrete, often unseen, demands of a professional role in soccer.
- Q.02
“Is regaining control of a match best done with cards?”
A specific, craft-based question to understand a referee's tools and decision-making.
- Q.03
“Do you stop your watch to track stoppage time?”
This type of granular question clarifies the practical, day-to-day mechanics of a job.
advice
1- Q.01
“How do you teach a specific skill, like 'presence' in a referee?”
He asks this to get practical, actionable advice from experts on developing soft skills.
Signature segments
- · Ironic 'I Hate Soccer' title
- · Long-form interviews with soccer professionals
- · Solo commentary episodes
- · Focus on US youth soccer infrastructure (ECNL, GA, etc.)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are practitioners and builders within the American soccer world, not media pundits. The show books professional referees, youth academy directors, club coaches, and other figures who can speak from direct, hands-on experience.
- Allen Chapmanon I Hate Soccer #105
- Laura Hamwayon I Hate Soccer #104
- Larry Sunderlandon I Hate Soccer #103
- Rudy Clevelandon I Hate Soccer #102
- James Rentonon I Hate Soccer | Jags Show #4
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Sponsorship appears geared towards soccer-specific businesses, events like 'The North American Soccer Expo', and direct listener support via Patreon and PayPal. The audience consists of highly-engaged coaches and parents, making it a fit for training tools, gear, and development programs.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Does the host actually hate soccer?
- No. The host, Jason Collinsworth, is a long-time soccer coach. The title is ironic, reflecting the frustrations many parents and players feel with the politics and structure of the youth soccer system.
- Who is the host of 'I Hate Soccer'?
- The host is Jason Collinsworth, a soccer coach with experience at youth, NCAA D1, and professional NWSL levels.
- What is the podcast's format?
- The show primarily features long-form interviews with professionals in the soccer industry (coaches, referees, directors), but also includes shorter, solo commentary episodes from the host.
- Is this podcast still active?
- Yes, as of mid-2026, the podcast releases episodes multiple times per week.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The primary platform is YouTube, but it is also available on audio platforms like Apple Podcasts.
- How can I pitch a guest for the show?
- The channel's public description provides an email for sponsorship opportunities, which may also be used for guest pitches, though this is not explicitly stated.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Jason Collinsworth - Women's Soccer Coach - University of Detroit Mercy Athleticsdetroittitans.com
- [02]Parents Are Spending $100K on Youth Soccer… And It's Breaking Kidsyoutube.com
- [03]Do You Really Hate Soccer? - YouTubeyoutube.com
- [04]'You have to try to coach every player' - Soccer Coach Weeklysoccercoachweekly.net
- [05]2015 Western New York Flash Media Guidefunwhileitlasted.net
- [06]I Hate Soccer Parents - Skool Communityskool.com
- [07]Hometown FC Podcast Ep #25- Jason Collinsworth - Buzzsproutbuzzsprout.com
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