This week on The Soccer Ladder, we dive into the physical, mental, and emotional performance demands of elite youth soccer with Ruben Cisneros (@rubencisneros), the U15 Academy Performance Coach for Chicago Fire FC. From boxing roots to building top-level athletes, Ruben shares his full-circle journey back to the Fire, where he now helps shape future pros from the inside out.

⚽️ What We Cover:

• Ruben’s unexpected path from competitive boxer to performance coach in MLS academies
• The real science behind training: GPS tracking, recovery, and tailoring intensity based on game-day cycles
• Why strength training won’t make you slow—and how it's misunderstood in soccer
• The truth about burnout and how to avoid it in young athletes
• Why early specialization can actually hinder growth—and what to do instead
• The one myth about weights Ruben wishes would disappear forever
• A peek into a performance coach’s daily routine, from RPE tracking to weight room support to individualized development (IDP) sessions
• The power of mental performance support and how Chicago Fire is ahead of the curve with two mental coaches on staff
• How data meets instinct when coaching decisions don’t match the numbers

🧠 Top Takeaways:

“Bring 100% intensity into every drill of every training session—that is the main meal.”“The weight room doesn’t make you bulky. The intention behind your training does.”“Don’t specialize too early. Build your movement library by playing all the sports.”

💥 Whether you're a parent navigating academy pressures, a coach seeking to better support athletes, or a player looking to level up your game—the insights in this episode are pure gold.

📲 Follow the guest:
@rubencisneros

🔥 Listen now to Episode 18 of The Soccer Ladder wherever you get your podcasts.

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