What Is BGM Academy? A Parent's Guide to Our Online Soccer Mentorship Programs

When Greg Garza and I created Beyond Goals Mentoring, we kept coming back to the same observation from our playing careers: the gap between good players and great players almost never comes down to fitness or technique alone. Those things matter. But what separates the players who make the jump to the next level is how they think on the field. What I mean by that is how fast they process, how well they read situations, how composed they stay when the game speeds up.

The answer? Soccer IQ. And it's the one thing traditional youth training almost never teaches.

That's exactly why we built BGM Academy and the Master the Pitch series.

What Is BGM Academy?

BGM Academy is a four-week online mentorship program, delivered in four live one-hour sessions on Zoom.

Each program will focus on a specific position like strikers, wingers, fullbacks, center backs, goalkeepers.

Here's what we do in those sessions:

•  We analyze footage from professional matches. We’re looking at real game situations, real decision-making moments

•  We walk you through what the player is seeing, thinking, and deciding. Then we discuss  why it's the right or wrong call

•  We give you the mental framework to recognize those same situations when they appear in your own game

•  We end each session with a short assignment, usually additional film to watch, sometimes some reading, to reinforce what we covered

Players who complete all four sessions receive a certificate of completion - tangible evidence for their soccer resume that also signals they've invested in their own development beyond the field.

What Is Master the Pitch?

Master the Pitch is a monthly webinar that we host here at Beyond Goals Mentoring. It’s one hour, live, position-specific and hosted by myself and Greg Garza.

Think of it as a quick, accessible version of BGM Academy. Where the Academy gives you four weeks of layered instruction, Master the Pitch zeroes in on the core responsibilities of a specific position and shows you how to own them.

For example: a Master the Pitch session for strikers might focus on disguising your runs so defenders can't anticipate you and reading exactly when to make your move into the box. A session for center backs might break down how to use your positioning and physicality to win balls before they become problems.

Every session showcases real plays from professional games because the best way to understand what elite decision-making looks like is to watch it and learn from it.

Why Soccer IQ Training Matters More Than Most Players Realize

Coaches will tell you this if you ask them directly: the players who stand out at tryouts aren't just athletic. They play fast. They see things before they happen. They make decisions before the ball arrives.

That's not talent. That's the mental training that most youth players aren't getting anywhere.

Soccer IQ Is Only Half of What We Do

Both programs will sharpen how you read and play the game. But I want to be honest about where I think our most important work happens.

It's in the one-on-one mentorship side of Beyond Goals Mentoring where we work directly with young athletes on the mental and emotional side of competitive sports. How do you perform when the momentum is against you? How do you respond to adversity that you didn't see coming? How do you stay focused on your long-term goals when a single bad game makes you want to give up?

A lot of athletes can play well when things are going their way. Far fewer can play just as well when things aren't. Coaches at higher levels know this, and they're watching for it. We help athletes develop that capacity and the resilience to stay consistent, even when it's hard.

Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond Goals Mentoring

• Who is BGM Academy designed for?

  Youth soccer players who are serious about improving their level of play. It’s recommended for players between U13 and U19 who want to develop their soccer IQ beyond what club training provides. Players at any position and skill level can benefit, as long as they're genuinely motivated to improve.

• How is BGM Academy different from regular coaching?

  BGM Academy focuses specifically on the mental and tactical side of the game (soccer IQ, decision-making, and positional understanding) through professional match analysis: It's not a replacement for on-field coaching. It's the layer most youth programs are missing.

• Do I need to have a certain skill level to join?

  No minimum skill level is required. What matters is attitude and willingness to engage. The players who get the most out of the program are the ones who bring curiosity and are ready to think about the game differently.

• What is the difference between BGM Academy and Master the Pitch?

  BGM Academy is a four-week deep dive into a specific position, with four live sessions and homework assignments. Master the Pitch is a monthly one-hour webinar that focuses on the core fundamentals of a position and is great for ongoing development and players who want regular exposure to high-level analysis without a multi-week commitment.