What does it really take for a young player to chase a professional dream beyond their hometown club scene?

Wes sits down with Ozark United FC Academy goalkeeper Zach Taylor and his parents, Beth and Joel, to unpack the family, sacrifice, and belief behind a 14 year old’s journey from Olive Branch, Mississippi, to MLS NEXT soccer in Northwest Arkansas.

Zach shares how his life has been “soccer, soccer, soccer” for as long as he can remember, from pounding the ball off the wall in the backyard to treating the garage as his best teammate. He talks about the standard at Ozark United, what it felt like stepping into his first MLS NEXT match in Louisiana, and why the playing style, speed of play, and role of the goalkeeper made him feel like he had finally found “home” with his new teammates.

Beth and Joel pull back the curtain on the commitment behind that dream. They talk about balancing work, school, and travel, what it is like to have dad as both airline pilot and full-time “Taylor transportation coordinator,” and how owning a small plane turns a 5-hour drive into a 1-hour flight to train in Bentonville. They share honestly about finances, time, and why the level of buy-in from parents and players matters just as much as the letters on the league.

Zach then looks ahead and gets real about his goals. From earning a spot in Division 1 college soccer, to breaking into the US Youth National Team pool, to one day playing professionally in Germany for clubs like Wolfsburg or Dortmund, he shares how he pairs big dreams with daily work, no off days, and a mindset that “if your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”

If you are a parent, player, or coach trying to figure out the “right path” in youth soccer, this conversation gives you a relatable, behind-the-scenes look at one family’s route, the decisions along the way, and what they are learning about joy, pressure, and keeping the game fun.

More About this Episode

From Olive Branch To Ozark United FC, This Is What Chasing The MLS NEXT Dream Really Looks Like

When a family flies themselves to training in another state for youth soccer, it makes a very clear statement. That statement says this journey is real, and everyone is all in.

That is exactly what it looks like for Zach Taylor and his parents, who live in Olive Branch, Mississippi, just outside Memphis, and play for the Ozark United FC MLS NEXT academy in Northwest Arkansas. Their story is not a cute side note about a dedicated family. Their story is a snapshot of what the modern American pathway to professional soccer can look like when a player truly wants to play at the highest level and when a family is willing to build their life around that dream.

As a club that exists to bridge the gap from pitch to pro in Northwest Arkansas, this is exactly the kind of journey we exist to serve.

MLS NEXT Really Does Matter For Ambitious Players

Youth soccer is full of alphabet soup. ECNL, ECRL, NPL, E64 and more all offer real competition and real development. There is good soccer and good coaching in many environments and Memphis is no exception.

However, for players like Zach who have a clear desire to play Division I college soccer and eventually go professional, the MLS NEXT platform occupies a very specific lane.

College recruiters routinely build their calendars around MLS NEXT events like Fest, Cup, Flex and GA style national showcases. When those events overlap with other leagues, many Division I staffs choose to be where MLS NEXT clubs are gathered. That does not mean other leagues are not valuable. It means that if a player is single minded about reaching the very top of the American pathway, they need to seriously consider where Division I coaches already plan to be.

That is exactly what Zach and his parents did. They had already experienced ECNL, ECRL and E64. They had seen the level, the travel, the commitment and the opportunities those platforms provided. When they sat down as a family and Zach said he wanted to play Division I and eventually go pro, the logical next question was where those coaches are most consistently scouting. The answer they kept hearing was MLS NEXT.

Trust In Coaching Is The Foundation Of Every Big Decision

None of this happens if there is not a deep level of trust with a coach.

Zach met our goalkeeper director and assistant coach, Kevin Teo, years ago in Memphis through a training company. At that point they were just goalkeeper and coach, working late evenings, building technique and building belief. Kevin was a Division I assistant at Memphis and actively involved in recruiting, so the family had a rare advantage that many parents do not have. They could run every camp invite and every opportunity through the eyes of someone who actually sits in college recruiting meetings.

Over time, that built a level of trust that went way beyond a typical coach player relationship. When Kevin moved on from that training company and then again when he left Memphis to join Ozark United FC in Northwest Arkansas, Zach was devastated, because he knew exactly how much of his development had been shaped by that coaching relationship.

That is why Kevin’s phone call a couple of months ago hit so differently. He did not call with hype or vague promises. He called with a simple message. He told Zach and his parents that he believed Zach was ready for this level, that Ozark United FC would be a good fit and that there was a real opportunity in our MLS NEXT environment.

The family had already been mapping out every MLS NEXT tryout within driving distance. They were looking at Huntsville, other regional options and trying to figure out logistics. In the middle of that process, Kevin’s text came through asking Zach’s age group. Moments like that feel like confirmation. When a pathway you already wanted suddenly opens through someone you trust, you pay attention.

Commitment At This Level Has A Real Price Tag

From Olive Branch to Bentonville is roughly a five hour drive. That alone would be a serious ask for week in week out training. In many cases that distance would simply make the opportunity impossible.

In this case, Zach’s dad is an airline pilot and the family has a partnership in a Bonanza airplane. That changes the equation, but it does not eliminate the sacrifice. It compresses a five hour drive into a little over an hour of flight time into Bentonville. It still means meticulous planning, fuel costs, landing fees, rental or courtesy cars at the airport and evenings that are anything but relaxed.

There are midweek days where Zach gets pulled from his last school period during study hall, hops straight to the plane, flies to Northwest Arkansas, trains at a high tempo session for ninety minutes or more, climbs back into the plane and is home by around ten that night. It is a grind that would break a player who was not driven from the inside out.

The commute also creates an interesting dynamic. There is not much cell service at altitude, so film study and online homework are limited. Instead, that time becomes a place for rest, power naps and mental preparation. When Zach sits in the back of the plane, closing his eyes and clearing his mind, he is doing the quiet part of elite preparation, which is learning how to show up ready when the whistle blows.

That kind of family logistics is not glamorous. It is intentional, repetitive and often tiring. It is also exactly what commitment looks like when a player says out loud that he wants to play Division I soccer, represent the United States at youth national team level and one day play in top European leagues like the Bundesliga.

Culture And Structure Separate Serious Clubs From The Rest

One theme that stood out immediately to Zach’s parents was structure.

They have been around plenty of teams where training is fun but not serious. They have been around environments where kids are not held to a standard, parents are not fully bought in and the whole thing feels casual even though families are still paying significant fees.

What they experienced at Ozark United FC felt very different from day one. Training sessions were intense but still enjoyable. Players worked hard and held each other accountable while clearly still loving the game. Coaches were demanding without being demeaning. There was a clear plan and a clear set of expectations.

On game weekends, that structure becomes even more obvious. When the team travels, every player receives a detailed itinerary, not just loose times. Warm up is not listed as a single block. It is broken into specific components with clear timing and clear responsibilities. From wake up times to meals to pre match meetings to recovery windows, everything is accounted for. That feels very familiar to anyone who has spent time around Division I or professional environments.

The level of organization extends beyond the pitch. When severe weather forced a Saturday game cancellation on a Houston weekend, some parents expected a free day and loose plans. Instead, a revised schedule appeared and players remained fully accounted for. Coaching staff filled the gaps with film, meetings and team building.

That level of intentionality sends a message. It says this club takes itself seriously. It says the staff respects the investment of time and money that families are making. It says if you are going to step into this environment, you will be supported, challenged and prepared for what comes next.

Team Chemistry Is Built On Purpose, Not By Accident

Soccer culture is not just tactics and training loads. It is the locker room, the hotel lobby, the bus rides and the late night laughter with teammates who become extended family.

Zach described walking onto the field in his first MLS NEXT match against Louisiana Elite and being in shock. The speed of play was higher. The passing and movement were sharper. The involvement of the goalkeeper in buildout was exactly the style he had always wanted. When he closed out that game, he felt like he had finally stepped into the game he had been training for.

That game did not exist in a vacuum. It came on the back of a group of boys who had already built relationships through small details like team game nights in hotel conference rooms and dodgeball outings at trampoline parks. That may sound simple, but those moments change how players cover ground for each other when they are tired. When a defender knows his goalkeeper, knows his story and knows that he flew himself in that day just to be there, that defender will dig deeper in the 89th minute.

Our staff leans into this reality. Coaches like Thomas use themes and language that give the boys shared identity. Phrases like KOBK, which stands for killer be killed, and messages like defend like Vikings and burn the boats become rallying cries that players repeat to each other in training and on match day. After goals, calls like Fortress remind the group that the most dangerous minutes in a game are often the ones right after a restart or a score.

When Zach talks about stepping onto the field and feeling like he has found his soccer family, that is what he is describing. He is talking about an environment where work rate and joy live side by side and where every kid understands that he is part of something bigger than himself.

Ambition And Childhood Need To Coexist, Not Compete

It is easy to forget that we are talking about teenagers.

At fourteen and fifteen years old, players are dealing with growth spurts, hormones, new social dynamics, school pressures and identities that are still forming. Some kids choose to be multi sport athletes. Some lean into school sports and life in their own community. Some choose social lives, part time jobs or other interests outside of soccer.

There is nothing wrong with any of those choices. Every journey is different and there are countless healthy pathways for a kid to grow into a thriving adult.

What matters most is alignment. Zach wants the grind. He wants MLS NEXT. He wants college coaches watching. He wants a shot at Division I, at the US youth national teams and eventually at Germany and the Bundesliga. He is willing to sacrifice weekends, free time and comfort to chase that vision.

His parents understand that. They are not forcing the dream on him. They are responding to it, supporting it and challenging him to pair his dreaming with real work. They are also very clear about one non negotiable truth. When it stops being fun, it is time to step back.

Ambition does not have to cancel childhood. The best environments find ways to honor both. They create high standards without stripping away joy. They demand effort while remembering that these are still kids who want to laugh in hotel hallways and wear their school letter jackets with pride.

Northwest Arkansas Is Becoming A Real Soccer Destination

For families in places like Olive Branch, Memphis and across the region, the idea that Bentonville, Arkansas, is a serious soccer destination would have sounded far fetched a few years ago. Today that picture is changing.

Ozark United FC sits in a community that offers far more than just quality pitches. Northwest Arkansas is growing quickly. It has outdoor spaces, a strong economy, a vibrant culture and a supportive local sports ecosystem. When you overlay USL ambitions, professional infrastructure and an MLS NEXT academy on top of that, you get something powerful.

For players like Zach, that means there is a route that can start at youth level and potentially extend into USL play, professional contracts and bigger platforms. For families, it means there is a place within driving or flying distance where the standards match their kids’ dreams.

What Families Should Take From Zach’s Story

Not every player will fly across state lines for training. Not every parent will be a pilot. Not every kid will dream of Dortmund or Wolfsburg. That is not the point.

The point is that a clear dream requires a clear plan. If your child truly wants to play at the highest level, then your family will eventually face decisions about platform, coaching, travel, money and time. You will need to decide which alphabet combination is right for your situation. You will need to decide how much sacrifice you are willing and able to make. You will need to decide which adults you trust to guide your child.

Zach’s family chose Ozark United FC and MLS NEXT in Northwest Arkansas because it aligned with their son’s ambition, because they trusted the coaches and because they saw a culture that looked and felt like Division I and professional soccer. That decision came with cost, but it also came with joy, belonging and growth.

If you find yourself in a similar position, start with honest conversations. Listen closely to what your child actually wants. Seek out coaches you can trust. Look for clubs where structure, standards and care for the kids are all present. Once you find the right fit, lean in fully and enjoy the ride.

From Olive Branch to Bentonville, from backyard wall sessions to MLS NEXT match days, this journey is never easy. It is rarely convenient. It is absolutely worth it for the players and families who are ready to chase it with everything they have.