In Episode 158, we are re-casting our conversation with Don Williams, Head of Operations for the Americas for Sports Recruiting USA and former coach at all levels of soccer, who talked with Phil about the #1 tool college coaches use to find recruits, how soccer players can find the “right fit,” the recruiting implications of the small world of college and pro soccer, “punching coaches in the nose” with player emails and videos, and real-world lessons kids can learn through the recruiting process. Specifically, Don discusses: ·      His story and how he developed his passion for soccer, leadership, and his long journey to SRUSA Soccer (3:31) ·      How Don’s work with SRUSA is similar to his work as a coach of soccer teams at all levels (7:19) ·      The need for players to have both raw athleticism and passion for the sport to play at the college level and beyond (13:06) ·      The importance of soccer players finding the “right fit” and how they can do so (18:00) ·      Why creating and knowing your budget is critical in the recruiting process (25:53) ·      Selling yourself and not burying the lead in your videos, emails, and other recruiting communications with prospective colleges (and employers) (34:53) ·      The importance of “punching someone in the nose” in the recruiting process (39:17) ·      How to make videos on a tight budget (42:58) ·      Making the kids put in the work with their videos, emails, and other areas of the recruiting process (45:33) ·      The small world of college and pro soccer, and how it relates to the world outside the game (46:58) ·      The #1 tool that college coaches use to find recruits (51:46) ·      What most coaches are looking for when they recruit at tournaments and showcases (57:08) ·      Showing the colleges (or employer) that you’ve done your homework on them and that you know why you think it’s the right fit for you (1:01:44) ·      Real world lessons kids can learn during the recruiting process (1:05:50) ·      How to grab a coach’s attention in a subject line and email (1:08:56) ·      How Don is using lessons learned in soccer in his life outside the game (1:12:22) ·      Don’s book recommendations Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/howsoccerexplainsleadership ·      Don’s Twitter handle -- @Don_K_Williams ·      SRUSA Website -- https://www.sportsrecruitingusa.com ·      How Soccer Explains the World, by Franklin Foer ·      Inside Out Coaching, by Joe Ehrmann ·      10% Happier, by Dan Harris ·      Inside College Soccer Podcast -- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-college-soccer/id1480369430

In Episode 157, we are recasting our interview with Margueritte Aozasa, UCLA Women’s Soccer Head Coach, former Stanford Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach, and former Santa Clara University Defender/Midfielder, who talked with us about her incredible first season at UCLA, during which she became the first coach to win a National Championship in her first year as a head coach, what mission and personal “why” drives her to do what she does, building trust with her team, healthy conflict prevention and resolution, how her and her husband “coach” each other, what she was thinking in the final minutes of the National Championship game, whether college soccer has a place in professional and national team player development, and a whole lot of great leadership nuggets. No doubt you’ll love this fun conversation with an incredible coach! Specifically, Margueritte discusses: ·      Her personal story, including how she grew her passion for soccer, coaching, and leadership, and how she got to be where she is today (5:40) ·      Her transition from Stanford assistant coach to UCLA head coach, and the lessons we can learn from her journey (9:29) ·      The importance of head coaches mentoring their assistants to flourish in their program and beyond (13:35) ·      Her personal why/mission statement and how she is living it out (18:43) ·      How she leads herself and pours into her players’ leadership development as a head coach (20:49) ·      A couple defining moments in her life and how they impacted her development (24:00) ·      A few coaches that deeply impacted her life, what set them apart, and what life and leadership lessons we can learn from them (30:57) ·      How she keeps a team full of top players content and at their best when they aren’t playing, or even making the travel squad (38:16) ·      How she builds trust between her and her staff and players, and among the players (42:15) ·      How to deal with conflict before it gets out of hand and starts impacting the players and team (45:42) ·      The highs and lows of the current state of soccer in the US (48:35) ·      The place for the college game in the development of players at the professional and national team levels (53:00) ·      What she was actually thinking during the final minute of regulation of the National Championship game last year (it just might surprise you) (1:01:28) ·      How she has used lessons learned from sports in her marriage and other relationships (1:05:50) ·      A couple great book recommendations (1:10:01) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Margueritte on Twitter - @margaozasa ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution, by Ryan O’Hanlon ·      Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds, and Matches, by Carlo Ancelotti

In Episode 156, we are recasting our episode with David Ricca, NJ Youth Soccer Innovate to Grow Consultant, Founder/President of Just Live Soccer, 9/11 Survivor, Soccer Resilience Ambassador, Member of 2010 World Cup Media & Marketing team, former soccer player, coach, and scout, former MLS Liaison, former CBS Manager, and former Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, who talked with Phil about how he has used soccer and other tools to overcome the PTSD he has experienced following the traumatic experience he had in Tower Two of the World Trade Center on 9/11, how he is using soccer to help vulnerable children around the world, his innovation work with NJ Youth Soccer, and how we can create environments where our kids can flourish. Specifically, David discusses: ·      His story, his unique background, how he developed his passion for soccer, his work with vulnerable communities, and how he got to where he is today ·      His incredible story of survival in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center on 9/11 ·      How he has overcome trauma from his 9/11 experience using soccer and other tools ·      His personal why and how he is living it out ·      His work with NJ Youth Soccer and the Innovate to Grow grant ·      How we can create environments for our children to flourish in our youth soccer programs ·      How he uses the lessons he has learned through soccer in his marriage ·      His recommendations Resources and Links from this Episode ·      David’s website & LinkedIn profile ·      Just Live Soccer website ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Coaching the Bigger Game information ·      Warrior Way information ·      Phil Darke’s email address

In Episode 155, we are recasting one of our favorite interview of all time, going back to last year when Phil and Paul interviewed Graham Daniels, Ph.D., Director of Cambridge United, Director of Christians in Sport, and former player for Cambridge United and Cardiff City, about the “Pray, Play, Say” discipleship/leadership method, his personal why, his incredible testimony of how he came to his faith in Jesus Christ and how one pivotal moment changed the course of his life forever, the critical importance of a Christian identity in elite football, achieved vs. received identity, Service vs. Survival, humility, and a leader who he respects deeply. Specifically, Graham discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for football, coaching, ministry, and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today ·      An incredible story about how he came to his Christian faith, despite one of the “worst evangelists” of all time ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out ·      Achieved identity vs. Received identity - Identity formation and his Ph.D. thesis on the necessity of Christian identity in dealing with performance requirements of elite football ·      Three things that provide a framework for ministry in sports ·      Safe to serve, not scared and surviving ·      A defining moment in his life and how it impacted his development ·      A leader that sticks out above the rest to him (A Premier League Manager that may surprise you) ·      How he has used lessons learned from sports in his marriage and parenting ·      His recommendations Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Humility, by Andrew Murray ·      Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

In Episode 154, we are recasting our episode with Dan Abrahams, Sports Psychologist, best-selling author of four books, Founder of the Dan Abrahams Soccer Academy and The Sport Psych Show Podcast, and former pro golfer, who talks with Phil about his sports psychology work, his books, and his podcast, the concepts of “Teamship” and motivational climate, extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation, pre-failing, self-leadership, his personal why, how we can coach difficult players by asking great questions, and whether we can recreate the pressure of a penalty kick outside of a match. Specifically, Dan discusses: ·      His story, his work with Premier League and other football/soccer teams, his books, his podcast, how he developed his passion for soccer and leadership, and how he got to where he is today (3:31) ·      What excites him about the increase of awareness of the importance of mindset and sports psychology in sports over the past several years (13:53) ·      In which sport the mental game is more important: soccer or golf (20:04) ·      The concept of “Teamship” and why it is important (26:49) ·      The Motivational Climate of a Team, what it is, and what it has to do with a team’s culture and burnout (30:13) ·      Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation, get-to vs. have-to mentality, and how they are related to short- and long-term performance (43:07) ·      The concept of pre-failing (49:01) ·      Why self-leadership and a leader’s mindset are important (53:13) ·      His personal why and how it is playing out in his life (59:05) ·      “Not” coaching difficult players, but teaching them to coach themselves through questions (1:01:23) ·      How personality styles are related to the sports psychology work (1:05:45) ·      Whether it is possible to recreate the pressure of a penalty kick in a training environment (1:09:31) ·      How he uses lessons learned in soccer in his family relationships (1:14:16) ·      His recommendation, which is very personal to him (1:15:44) Resources and Links from this Episode Dan’s Website The Sport Psych Show Podcast Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coaching the Bigger Game information Warrior Way information Phil Darke’s email address Soccer Tough: Simple Football Psychology Techniques to Improve Your Game, by Dan Abrahams Soccer Tough 2: Advanced Psychology Techniques for Footballers, by Dan Abrahams Soccer Brain: The 4C Coaching Model for Developing World Class Player Mindsets and a Winning Football Team, by Dan Abrahams Golf Tough: Practice, Prepare, Perform, and Progress, by Dan Abrahams The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance, by W. Timothy Gallwey

In Episode 153, we are going way back to the first half of our first season and recasting one of our most impactful and most downloaded interviews. In this conversation, Eric Pfeiffer, Founder and Senior Consultant of MPWR Coaching and Collegiate Soccer Player, talks with Phil about emotional intelligence, dealing with insecurities, self-love, permission to fail, the journey of growth, conflict resolution, and much more. Specifically, he discusses: ·      His story and how his experience playing soccer intersects with other areas of his life and leadership (3:25) ·      Emotional intelligence and why it is critical to success in soccer and leading others in any area of life (7:36) ·      How coaching sports organizations is the same as coaching any other organizations (9:47) ·      Insecurities, how they affect us in soccer and other areas of life, and how we can overcome them in sport and life (14:01) ·      How self-love is different from narcissism and why the distinction is important to understand (19:06) ·      Permission to fail and why it’s necessary to learn how to embrace failure and fail forward (22:21) ·      How insecurities and emotional unintelligence manifest themselves in our lives (and on the soccer pitch) and why overcoming them is essential to flourishing in life (25:19) ·      The journey of growth and phases of development for anything worth doing (30:18) ·      Creating a culture that celebrates healthy failure (33:27) ·      What soccer teaches us about conflict resolution and how we can work through conflict together in a healthy way (42:09) ·      How he uses the lessons he learned from soccer in his marriage and parenting (48:39) ·      His recommendation of a book that impacted his thinking of the intersection of soccer, life, and leadership (53:34) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Audio with subtitles available on our YouTube channel (video not available due to technical difficulties) ·      MPWR Coaching website ·      Eric Pfeiffer on LinkedIn ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Providence World (to financially support HSEL) ·      Das Reboot: How German Football Reinvented Itself and Conquered the World, by Raphael Honigstein

In Episode 152, we are recasting our episode with Keeley Hagen, Colorado State Head Coach, former assistant coach at University of Texas and University of Tennessee, former USWNT, Sky Blue FC, and Atlanta Beat player, 3-time All-American defender at University of Tennessee, and wife, in which she talks with Phil and Paul about what drives her to lead her players with excellence, lessons learned from her playing and coaching career, leadership lessons gleaned from her most influential coach and from her teammates, how she is using lessons from the game in her marriage, how she is using DISC in her coaching at CSU, how she overcame injuries throughout her career, and which Jobson she most fears on the field. Specifically, Keeley discusses: ·      Her personal story, how he developed her passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching and how she got to be where he is today (5:55) ·      What is was like to coach against the legend, Paul Jobson, and who is the most intimidating presence in the Jobson household (9:38) ·      Her personal why and life purpose and how she lives it out each day (12:21) ·      The DISC training Phil did with her CSU team last summer, how she is using it with her team, and why she thinks it is important for coaches to understand it and use it with their teams (14:28) ·      Some defining moments in her playing career and what she learned from them (19:54) ·      How she navigates shying away from adversity and injuries when we know how much our kids learn from overcoming adversity (23:31) ·      What her injuries taught her about life and her identity (26:45) ·      Her message to people going through injury recovery (29:03) ·      Her most influential coach and the life and leadership lessons learned from her (30:10) ·      Her advice to young assistant coaches in the college ranks (34:34) ·      Things she is using as a head coach that she only learned because she was an assistant first (38:17) ·      Players she played with that had the greatest impact on her, and what she learned from them (42:40) ·      How she has used lessons learned from the game in her marriage (45:48) ·      Her book recommendations (49:57) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great, by Joshua Medcalf ·      Win in the Dark: Some think you shine under the bright lights, the bright lights only reveal your work in the dark, by Joshua Medcalf and Lucas Jadin

In Episode 151, Phil and Paul discuss the key moments and leadership lessons from Season 11, reflecting on impactful conversations with guests like Todd Yelton, Lance VanHaitsma, Paul Gizzi, and Jessica Hain, as well as impactful topics such as overcoming personal tragedies, insights from a referee's perspective, the importance of empathy in leadership, and the implications of the recent NCAA settlement and roster size limits on college soccer. The episode also highlights personal updates from both hosts, including summer activities, family milestones, and upcoming projects. Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      “10 Things to Know About the NCAA’s House Settlement,” Kristi Dosh

In Episode 150, Jessica Hain, Founder of The Fulcrum Center and former Head Coach of Liberty University Women’s Soccer, mother, and wife, talks with Phil and Paul about insights from coaching at the collegiate level to international experiences, the significance of faith integration in coaching, and the importance of building trust and relationships within teams. She talks about personal stories of impactful moments and practical advice for coaches looking to make disciples through their coaching. Additionally, Jessica discusses her research, experiences, and how soccer can serve as a tool for personal and spiritual development. Specifically, Jessica discusses: ·      Her story and athletic journey, including how she developed her faith and her passion for soccer, leadership, coaching (3:48) ·      Her personal why/life purpose and how she is living it out (11:50) ·      The importance of women coaching women (12:55) ·      Her work with the Fulcrum Center and North American Sport Movement, her Ph.D., and how they all work together (18:58) ·      The integration of faith and coaching (23:43) ·      The need for the “coffee shop” and the “library” in our coaching (28:08) ·      The relationship between empathy and Soccer IQ (32:38) ·      The importance of a training environment that reinforces the lessons you want your players to learn and live out (37:44) ·      Defining Moments in her soccer career and the life lessons she learned from them (41:29) ·      Her most impactful coach and what set him apart from the rest (44:15) ·      A life and leadership lesson she learned directly from playing the beautiful game (49:48) ·      Things she has read that impacted her thinking on how soccer explains life and leadership (50:53) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How, Daniel Coyle ·      The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups, Daniel Coyle

In Episode 149, Phil and Paul change it up a bit and dive into the recent NCAA settlement related to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and its far-reaching implications for college sports. They discuss how the $2.7 billion settlement will impact various stakeholders, including current and future student-athletes, coaches, and universities. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including potential cuts to non-revenue men's sports, Title IX implications, the involvement of private equity firms, and the broader effects on lower divisions and high school sports. They stress the importance of understanding these changes and preparing for the evolving landscape of college athletics. Specifically, Phil and Paul discuss: ·      An overview of the game-changing NCAA Settlement (4:22) ·      Implications of the settlement on College Sports in general (7:12) ·      Impact of the settlement on Men's Non-Revenue Sports (15:49) ·      How, if at all, Title IX is implicated, whether the settlement’s payouts are covered by the statute, and why Paul and Phil believe the execution of the settlement will involve much more litigation (21:31) ·      Other positions that likely will be required at universities, such as financial advisors, to help the student-athletes navigate these issues (35:55) ·      How the settlement and NIL will impact the Olympics and the athletes’ amateur status  (37:09) ·      How will this settlement and NIL impact High School Athletes (40:17) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      “10 Things to Know About the NCAA’s House Settlement,” Kristi Dosh

In Episode 148, Paul Gizzi, So Cal Eagles’ Director of Advancement and Japan Ministries, talks with Phil and Paul about his decades-long leadership and ministry journey involving the beautiful game and lessons learned along the way, the importance of playing multiple sports in childhood, cross-cultural lessons learned growing up in Japan, what drives him to do what he does, a defining moment that taught him a very important lesson, important advice to coaches at all levels, and deep, funny, and important stories from his book, God’s Fingerprints in Coincidence, and much more. Specifically, Paul discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, ministry, and coaching (3:48) ·      The importance of playing multiple sports during childhood (11:01) ·      Things he learned growing up in Japan that he might not have learned growing up in the US (14:00) ·      How he ended up with the Orange County Seahorses (now So Cal Eagles) (15:58) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out (21:18) ·      His work with the Seahorses and a book that changed his life (25:56) ·      Advice to coaches about how they can incorporate their faith into their coaching (31:32) ·      Some stories from his book, God’s Fingerprints in Coincidence, the stories behind the stories, and why he wrote it (40:29) ·      A defining moment in his playing career and the life lessons he learned from it (57:10) ·      How he has used lessons learned from the beautiful game in his marriage and parenting (1:00:19) ·      His recommendations (1:02:43) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Seasons of Life: A Football Star, A Boy, A Journey to Manhood, Jeffrey Marx ·      Ordering Your Private World, Gordon MacDonald ·      HSEL Eric Pfeiffer Episode

In Episode 147, Lance VanHaitsma, CONCACAF’s Refereeing Technical and Development Manager, former Int’l Futsal Referee, and former Big 12 Referee, talks with Phil and Paul about his story and how he worked up the ranks of refereeing, life and leadership lessons learned from refereeing, the importance of resetting after mistakes and how Lance did it, the law vs. spirit of the law, his thoughts on VAR and its impact on the game, referee abuse and why it is critical that we figure out how to stop it, the importance of players learning the laws of the game (and refereeing), and much more. Specifically, Lance discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and refereeing, and how he ended up in leadership of CONCACAF (4:58) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out (16:33) ·      The life and leadership lessons he has learned as a soccer and futsal referee, including perspective and enjoying the journey (22:44) ·      The difference between the law and spirit of the law, and what separates good referees from great referees (31:56) ·      How we can work to ensure referees don’t compound mistakes with make-up calls (36:27) ·      Some of Lance’s tricks he used when he was a referee and some great leadership advice (42:37) ·      His thoughts on VAR, its impact on the game and refereeing, and its impact on life outside the game (46:55) ·      Referee abuse, why he believes abuse has increased over the past few years around the world, and an analogy that will definitely make you think (54:52) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his marriage (1:06:56) ·      His recommendations (1:10:58) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      “The Dynasty: New England Patriots” (Apple TV+) ·      “Tom Brady, Leadership Lessons” (The Consello Group) ·      HSEL Brad Miller Episode

In Episode 146, Todd Yelton, Samford University Women’s Soccer Head Coach, husband, and father, talks with Phil and Paul about his ministry and coaching journey and lessons he has learned along the way, how his wife’s death transformed him and his coaching, lessons learned on his team’s mission trip to Costa Rica, the integration of faith and coaching, how he uses lessons learned from the game in his life outside the game, and much more. Specifically, Todd discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and how he ended up coaching at Samford University over the past couple decades (5:41) ·      How the death of his first wife changed his perspective on life and transformed his coaching (13:24) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out today (23:10) ·      His trip to Costa Rica with his team, Paul, and Warrior Way, and the lessons he and his team learned from the trip (33:35) ·      How he incorporates his faith into his coaching and how it impacts his teams’ culture (46:54) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his marriage and parenting (59:22) ·      His recommendations (1:05:43) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life, Tony Dungy ·      Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand ·      Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together, Ron Hall & Denver Moore

In Episode 145, Paul and Phil cover their favorite moments from the first half of Season 11, which included some great nuggets of wisdom from incredible coaches and leaders and unforgettable stories that you do not want to miss. Paul talks about his recent trip to Costa Rica with Warrior Way, Samford Women’s Soccer Team, and its coach who happens to be our next guest kicking off Season 11’s second half, Phil shares about some great upcoming opportunities, and Phil recommends a great new soccer movie that you’ll want to check out. Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World website ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      “The Beautiful Game” (Netflix)

In Episode 144, Lang Wedemeyer, Head Coach of Liberty University Women’s Soccer, husband, and father, talks with Phil and Paul about his ministry and coaching journey and lessons he has learned along the way, the challenges of transitioning a program from D-1 to D-2, how he is a better coach because of an ill-timed injury, the transfer portal, the importance of mentorship and how Iron Chats are helping coaches, how his faith impacts his coaching, culture building, great lessons from great coaches, a bunch of great book recommendations, and much more. Specifically, Lang discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and how he ended up coaching at Liberty University (1:46) ·      Lessons learned from his transition from Division 2 to Division 1 while coaching at South Dakota State (5:23) ·      How the transfer portal is changing the game (9:38) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out today (11:41) ·      The importance of mentorship and how Iron Chats are helping coaches lead better and connect with mentors/mentees (14:25) ·      A couple things he wishes he knew when he started coaching a couple decades ago (20:54) ·      How his faith has impacted his coaching and how he has incorporated his faith into his coaching at both a secular and Christian school (24:39) ·      Establishing and maintaining healthy cultures in your teams (29:46) ·      Coaching the different generations over the years (34:35) ·      His defining moment as a player and life lessons he learned from it (39:25) ·      His most influential coaches and how he is using the lessons learned from them in his life today (45:52) ·      His thoughts on the good and bad of US soccer, and how lessons learned in Liberia can help soccer in the US (53:23) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his relationships outside the game (1:05:22) ·      His recommendations (1:10:40) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Iron Chats ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast ·      Positive University Podcast ·      The Ed Mylett Podcast ·      Win the Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More, Mark Batterson ·      The Christian Athlete: Glorifying God in Sports, Brian Smith ·      Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth ·      Inside Out Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives, Joe Ehrmann ·      Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex, John Gray ·      High Altitude Leadership: What the World’s Most Forbidding Peaks Teach Us About Success, Chris Warner ·      The Vision of a Champion: Advice and Inspiration from the World’s Most Successful Women’s Soccer Coach, Anson Dorrance & Gloria Averbuch

In Episode 143, David Irby, CEO of Surge Int’l, Former Azusa Pacific University Head Coach, Author of Undefeated: We are More Than Conquerors Through Him Who Loved Us, Sammy Surge, and Sports Ministry, husband, and father, talks with Phil and Paul about his ministry and coaching journey and lessons he has learned along the way, how soccer connects the world, the importance of baby steps and doing hard things in hard places, some insane stories from his adventures, the power of Christ, his books, winning and fair play, the power of moments, great lessons from great coaches, what he learned in Liberia that can help US Soccer, and much more. Specifically, David discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, ministry, and coaching, and how he ended up being one of the pioneers of soccer ministry and visiting much of the world over the past few decades (4:10) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out today (12:07) ·      His ministry journey and the different ministries he has worked with and is working with around the world, including some crazy experiences that no doubt will teach you some important lessons (15:54) ·      The importance of doing things without worrying about the impact that we actually see (24:30) ·      Why he wrote his books and how he hopes they will affect his readers’ lives (29:35) ·      How he incorporates his faith into his coaching and how it impacts his teams’ culture (38:40) ·      His defining moment as a player and life lessons he learned from it (46:08) ·      His most influential coaches and how he is using the lessons learned from them in his life today (49:42) ·      His thoughts on the good and bad of US soccer, and how lessons learned in Liberia can help soccer in the US (55:41) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his relationships outside the game (1:00:33) ·      His recommendations, including a one close to home (1:05:21) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Undefeated: We are More Than Conquerors Through Him Who Loved Us, David Irby ·      Sammy Surge: Study Hard, Play Fair, Help Others, David Irby ·      Sports Ministry, David Irby ·      The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham, Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley

In Episode 142, Brock Thompson, South Dakota State Head Coach and 2024 FCA Layton Shoemaker Award winner, talks with Phil and Paul about his coaching journey and lessons he has learned along the way, how he incorporates his faith into his coaching and how he does it in a secular school, the origin of the word, “Coach,” aligning priorities with faith, our need for accountability, the importance of belief, authenticity and vulnerability, how what makes America a great country negatively affects youth soccer, the power of “I don’t know,” and much more. Specifically, Brock discusses:  ·      His personal story and coaching journey, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and what he is doing in retirement how he ended up at South Dakota State (5:41) ·      How his coaching stint at North Dakota is a big part of his faith journey (8:47) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out today (14:37) ·      How he incorporates his faith into his coaching (18:53) ·      Living out faith as a coach in a secular school (23:10) ·      What his faith has to do with his team’s success at SD State (25:58) ·      The need for accountability and where he finds it (29:17) ·      His defining moment as a player and life lessons he learned from it (33:38) ·      His most influential coach and how he is using the lessons learned from that coach in his life today (37:43) ·      His thoughts on the good and bad of US soccer, and how a great quality of America negatively affects youth sports in our country (43:41) ·      What we are missing in the training of our youth players (50:04) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his relationships outside the game (57:36) ·      His book recommendations (59:13) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life, Tony Dungy ·      The Traveler’s Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success, Andy Andrews ·      3D Coach: Capturing the Heart Behind the Jersey, Jeff Duke ·      9 Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and Life: A Psychologist Learns from His Patients What Really Works and What Doesn’t, Henry Cloud

In Episode 141, Schellas Hyndman, United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame Member, former Head Coach of FC Dallas, SMU Men’s Soccer (where he coached for 24 years), GCU Men’s Soccer, Eastern Illinois Men’s Soccer, and Murray State Men’s Soccer, husband, and father, talks with Phil and Paul about lessons learned during his incredible childhood, playing, and coaching journey, how his martial arts background translates to the soccer pitch, building trust and accountability in our teams, some stories about how he built trust with players and kept them accountable to the team standards, why coaching in the MLS was one of the best things he has ever done AND one of the worst things he has ever done, the most influential coaches in his life, changing your story, and much more. Specifically, Coach Hyndman discusses:  ·      His personal story and coaching journey, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and what he is doing in retirement (4:36) ·      How his family fled Macau and made their way to the US during his childhood (23:41) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out today (30:31) ·      Lessons he learned from martial arts that he has used on the soccer pitch and the importance of cross-discipline learning (35:22) ·      How his experiences in his “estagio” (i.e., apprentice coaching) in Brazil shaped his coaching in the college game in the US (44:03) ·      The importance of building trust and creating an accountability system in our teams (50:52) ·      His experience coaching in the MLS professional game and how it was similar and different from the college game. Why coaching in the pro ranks was the best and worst thing he has ever done (54:10) ·      Why we need to pour into our young talent, particularly the underprivileged young players, and keep them accountable to values and morals, and how we can do it – and a story about a great player from South America that will definitely make you think (1:01:00) ·      His most influential coaches and how he is using the lessons learned from them in his life today (1:06:32) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his marriage and parenting (1:12:04) ·      His book and other recommendations (1:16:40) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Changing Your Story: How to Take Control of Your Life, Create Change, and Achieve Your Goals, Bill Beswick ·      Living on the Volcano: The Secrets of Surviving as a Football Manager, Michael Calvin

In Episode 140, Paul and Phil cover their favorite moments from the second half of Season 10, which included some great nuggets of wisdom from ultra-marathoners, coaching legends, and authors, as well as unforgettable stories that you definitely don’t want to miss. Phil and Paul also give some recommendations that you’ll want to check out. Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World website ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      The Christian Athlete: Glorifying God in Sports, Brian Smith ·      Think Global, Do Justice Podcast ·      Big Sam: My Autobiography, Sam Allardyce ·      Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow ·      “John Adams” Biopic ·      Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else, Jon Gordon ·      Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy, Jon Gordon

In Episode 139, Randy Waldrum, Head Coach of the Nigeria Super Falcons (WNT) and Pitt Women’s Soccer, former Head Coach of the Houston Dash, Baylor Soccer, Notre Dame, University of Tulsa, and the Trinidad & Tobago WNT, husband, and father, talks with Phil and Paul about lessons learned during his incredible coaching journey, including founding the Baylor Soccer program, getting the Nigeria WNT job without even applying, and winning National Championships at Notre Dame, his passion for helping young coaches and how he is doing it, learning from difficult times, what he would ask Sir Alex Ferguson at a dinner party, the importance of learning from people outside your discipline, why we need to evolve our coaching and leadership, his thoughts on the highs and lows of US Soccer right now, his defining moment, and much more. Specifically, Coach Waldrum discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, coaching, and how he developed his love for coaching the women’s side of the beautiful game (4:15) ·      How he landed the coaching gig with the Nigerian Women’s National Team without even applying for it (11:20) ·      His new Telegram group and how he wants to use it to help young coaches develop their coaching (14:27) ·      His personal why and life purpose and how he is living it out today (19:41) ·      Some of the highlights and difficult times from his incredible year with the Pitt Panthers and Nigerian Women’s National Team (23:24) ·      What he learned from losing 9 games in a row (37:59) ·      Lessons he learned from starting a new program, taking over a national powerhouse as a young coach, and working to revive a struggling program at different points of his career (40:06) ·      Lessons he has learned from his incredible coaching career that he wants to share with younger coaches (46:16) ·      What he would ask Sir Alex Ferguson at a dinner gathering and why those questions (52:37) ·      The importance of learning from people outside of our own discipline and evolving our coaching styles with the culture and the game (55:54) ·      His defining moment in his soccer career and what he learned from it (47:39) ·      His most influential coaches and how he is using the lessons learned from them in his life today (53:36) ·      His thoughts, good and bad, about the current state of US Soccer (1:05:30) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his marriage and parenting (1:15:00) ·      His recommendations (1:17:51) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team, Mike Krzyzewski ·      Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . and Others Don’t, Jim Collins  

In Episode 138, Lincoln Phillips, Trinidad & Tobago Goalkeeper of the Century, USC Hall of Famer, Former Head Coach of Howard University, Author of Goalkeeping:The Last Line of Defense, The First Line of Attack, husband, father, and grandfather, talks with Phil and Paul about lessons learned during his journey from Trinidad & Tobago Goalkeeper to professional soccer in the US to Howard University Head Coach and beyond, a movie being made about his incredible life, the importance of hard work, adaptability, and empowering players to lead, how captains need to be on-field coaches, his views on controversial goalkeeper topics, great stories and defining moments in his life, an incredible story of friendship that transcended the game and society during a difficult time in the US, the need for more creativity in American soccer, and much more. Specifically, Coach Phillips discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and how a kid from Trinidad & Tobago who was “terrible at everything” ended up being a player-coach in early years of the NASL and a legendary coach at Howard University (4:40) ·      His personal why and life purpose and how he is living it out today (13:33) ·      His coaching background (16:39) ·      The story behind his book, Goalkeeping:The Last Line of Defense, The First Line of Attack, and some invaluable goalkeeping tips from a legend (22:33) ·      How we can teach keepers to be better at 1 v 1’s (28:11) ·      The importance of keepers being coached with the team, not off to the side (30:49) ·      Corner kicks – defenders on posts or no defenders on posts? (31:57) ·      Why American soccer coaches need to start questioning things and thinking for themselves (37:06) ·      Life and leadership lessons he learned playing the great position of goalkeeper (42:24) ·      His defining moment in his soccer career and what he learned from it (47:39) ·      His most influential coaches and how he is using the lessons learned from them in his life today (53:36) ·      His thoughts, good and bad, about the current state of US Soccer (1:00:12) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his marriage and parenting (1:06:08) ·      His recommendations (1:09:26) ·      A sneak peek into the movie being made about Coach Phillips (definitely will want to listen to the end) (1:13:48) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Soccer Goalkeeping:The Last Line of Defense, The First Line of Attack, Lincoln Phillips ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group   ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution, Ryan O’Hanlon Article about the upcoming movie about Coach Phillips and the 1971 Howard University team, “Rising Above”

In Episode 137, Ali Malaekeh, Head Coach of the OC Seahorses, FCA College Representative, former college footballer, and Author of Veritas: 7 Truths that Lead to a Purposeful Life, talks with Phil and Paul about his unlikely journey from Iran to working with Fellowship of Christican Athletes and coaching a Christian WPSL soccer team, how his personal “why” led to his book Veritas: 7 Truths That Lead To A Purposeful Life, important life and leadership lessons from his book, his work with FCA and the Seahorses, his defining moment in soccer and how one coach deeply impacted his life, his thoughts on the current state of US Soccer, how he uses an important lesson from soccer in his marriage, and some books (in addition to his great book) that you’re definitely going to want to read. Specifically, Ali discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, ministry, and coaching, and how an Iranian Muslim ended up on staff with FCA and coaching a Christian soccer team (3:57) ·      His life purpose and how it led him to write Veritas (15:30) ·      How his book is helping people find their purpose and live a purposeful life (18:36) ·      The concept of open-handedness as we pursue our goals (26:36) ·      The Japanese concept of Kintsugi and how it relates to integrity and our relationships (32:29) ·      How we can avoid external landmines in our lives (38:07) ·      His ministry with the OC Seahorses (42:40) ·      His defining moment in his soccer career and what he learned from it (48:25) ·      His most influential coach and how he is using the lessons learned from his coach in his life today (50:55) ·      His thoughts, good and bad, about the current state of US Soccer (53:50) ·      How he is using an important lesson learned from playing soccer in his marriage (59:15) ·      His book recommendations (1:01:14) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Ali’s Website (where you can get a copy of Veritas: 7 Truths that Lead to a Purposeful Life) ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else, Jon Gordon ·      The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team With Positive Energy, Jon Gordon

In Episode 136, Ruth Brennan Morrey, Mental Performance Coach with RBM Performance Coaching, Ironman and amateur World Champion Triathlete, former University of Wisconsin-Madison and semi-pro footballer, talks with Phil and Paul about her journey from college and semi-pro soccer to the Olympics to Ironman Triathlons, and what she has learned about life and leadership on her journey, the importance of unstructured free play, building confidence through “ESPs,” reaching our “true potential,” her work with RBM Performance Coaching, building an “Ideal Team Family,” and much more. Specifically, Ruth discusses: ·      Her personal story, including how she grew his passion for soccer, leadership, triathlons, and mental performance coaching (3:50) ·      The impact John Wooden has had on her life and work, and why it is important to apply some of the “Wooden Principles” in our coaching today (12:24) ·      Her trip to Guatemala with Warrior Way and how it impacted her life (15:25) ·      Her personal why/life purpose and how she is living it out (18:05) ·      The benefits of unstructured free play and all that our kids miss when they don’t have it in their lives on a regular basis (22:15) ·      RBM Performance Coaching, how it came to be, and what she is doing with it (32:08) ·      How we can coach our players to be more confident (34:26) ·      How she defines “True Potential” (40:15) ·      The concept of “Ideal Team Family” and why it is so important (47:39) ·      Life and leadership lessons she has learned during her time as a triathlete (58:52) ·      How she has used lessons learned from soccer in her marriage and parenting (1:02:10) ·      Her recommendations (1:04:27) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      RBM Performance Coaching website ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other Bribes, Alfie Kohn ·      The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance, Dr. Nate Zinsser ·      Clear Coaching: Harness Clarity to Drive Development, Todd Beane ·      Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, James Clear The Coach’s Guide to Teaching, Doug Lemov

In Episode 135, Paul and Phil cover their favorite moments from the second half of Season 10, including Paul’s favorite episode of all-time, their top 3 episodes from the incredible guests we’ve had on HSEL throughout 2023, their Top 3 books of the year (Phil had a few more), and Phil’s top 5 sports/leadership documentaries of 2023. It’s a great way to top off an incredible year of Soccer, Life, and Leadership! Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World website ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      United Soccer Coaches Convention Registration Page – Promo Code: LEADERSHIP24 ·      Phil’s Top Sports/Leadership Documentaries of 2023 o   “In Search of Greatness” o   “Break Point” o   “Full Swing” o   “Beckham” o   “That Peter Crouch Film” ·      Paul’s Top 3 Books Read in 2023 o   Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Mind, Craig Groeschel o   God Has A Name, John Mark Comer o   Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein ·      Phil’s Top 10 Books Read in 2023 o   Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein o   Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love With the Process of Becoming Great, Joshua Medcalf o   Win in the Dark: Some Think You Shine Under the Bright Lights, the Bright Lights Only Reveal Your Work in the Dark, Joshua Medcalf & Lucas Jadin o   Pound the Stone:7 Lessons to Develop Grit on the Path to Mastery, Joshua Medcalf o   Open: An Autobiography, Andre Agassi o   Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds and Matches, Carlo Ancelotti o   Leadership as an Identity: The Four Traits of Those Who Wield Lasting Influence, Crawford Loritts o   The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World’s Greatest Teams, Sam Walker o   Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Daniel James Brown o   The Life We’re Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World, Andy Crouch

In Episode 134, Marci Jobson, Co-Founder of Warrior Way and Warrior Way Gives, Former Baylor coach, former USWNT and professional footballer, wife of our very own, Paul Jobson, and mother of 4 boys, talks with Phil and Paul about how her passion and purpose are driving her in her ministry using soccer, growing up with 7 siblings, her path through club, HS, and college soccer to the USWNT and pro ranks to college coaching to parenting and ministry, partnering together with Paul on and off the field in different roles,  uncommon bucket list item, which included a desert in the Middle East, that she was able to check off recently, keys to cross-cultural relationships, incorporating faith into playing and coaching, transactional vs. transformational coaching, how she coached both young girls and a pro men’s team in Guatemala, and much more. Specifically, Marci discusses: ·      Her personal story, including how she grew his passion for soccer, leadership, ministry, and coaching, and her windy road to ministry with Warrior Way and Warrior Way Gives (5:29) ·      What she learned about herself and leadership working as a head coach, assistant coach, and unofficial consultant with Paul at Baylor (10:01) ·      What Paul is really like behind the scenes (19:15) ·      Her personal why/life purpose and how she is living it out in her life (21:54) ·      The work Warrior Way and Warrior Way Gives are doing in Waco and other parts of the world, including a few really cool stories about empowering girls and Marci coaching a men’s team in Guatemala (25:01) ·      How to navigate cross-cultural relationships and partner together to help everyone flourish (36:12) ·      Her outreach with the US military in the Middle East and how she crossed off one of her bucket list items (43:43) ·      A defining moment in her soccer career and how it impacted her life and leadership (52:28) ·      Why the relational piece of coaching is so critical (57:33) ·      The best leader she played with and what set her apart from the rest (1:02:02) ·      The best coach she “played for” and what she learned from him (1:05:56) ·      How she has used lessons learned from soccer in her marriage and parenting (1:09:20) ·      Her recommendations (1:11:12) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training

In Episode 133, Kevin O’Brien, Head Coach of Lipscomb University and former College of Charleston and professional footballer, talks with Phil and Paul about what he learned from playing in college/professionally and coaching at multiple universities as assistant and head coach, how he is living out his personal mission, what it was like to coach the legend, Paul Jobson, why an appetite for learning and note taking are critical for a young coach, why the human element is just as important as licenses, strategy, recruiting, and tactics, a huge mistake he made and how it taught him the importance of authenticity, reverse mentorship, playing in freedom, the importance of being mom or dad (not coach) at home, why all great leaders have an big appetite to learn and develop, and much more. Specifically, Kevin discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and how he ended up coaching at Lipscomb University (3:23) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out in his coaching and ministry (6:36) ·      The ultimate goal guiding him in his coaching (8:47) ·      What is was like to coach the legend, Paul Jobson, as a young assistant coach at Presbyterian College (11:55) ·      Advice for younger coaches from lessons he learned as a young coach working up the ranks (13:27) ·      How his time playing professionally with the Charlotte Eagles impacted him and taught him lessons about life and leadership (20:11) ·      How he partners with his wife in ministry and coaching, and why she has a unique vantage point that helps him in his coaching of women’s soccer (23:39) ·      A defining moment in his soccer career and how it impacted his life and leadership (28:54) ·      How he uses the lessons learned in his defining moment to shape his coaching philosophy (34:31) ·      The best coaches he “played for” and what he learned from them (38:08) ·      His thoughts on the current state of youth soccer in the US (49:05) ·      How he has used lessons learned from soccer in his marriage and parenting (55:17) ·      His recommendations (1:03:26) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      Lipscomb University Women’s Soccer ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      All or Nothing: Arsenal ·      All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur ·      All or Nothing: Manchester City ·      Welcome to Wrexham ·      What Drives Winning ·      High Performance Podcast

In Episode 132, Shaun Smithson, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Executive VP of Club Sports, talks with Phil and Paul about how you can make disciples in different areas of your life, what he learned about life after calling for a time out in soccer, something you should never say to a referee, how he got into soccer ministry despite not playing the sport until the age of 21, what you can learn from his definition of “coach,” why you might not want yourself or your children to have all of the desires of your hearts, why failure is a critical component of success, a life lesson Shaun learned through Jell-O Night, why you need to speak hard truths to your players, the emptiness of championships and titles, the importance of being where your boots are, and much more. Specifically, Shaun discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, coaching, and ministry, and how he ended up in his current position with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (5:56) ·      How he learned there are no time outs in soccer and what he gleaned from that experience (9:10) ·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out in his coaching and ministry (14:38) ·      How he defines a “coach,” and what we can learn from it (18:28) ·      His experience and growth in Bible studies (20:09) ·      How he is making disciples through his different areas of ministry with United Soccer Coaches, DC United, coaching, and other FCA opportunities (22:38) ·      A rabbit trail story about an important lesson Shaun learned while reading Psalm 20 to his wife in the hospital (26:24) ·      Why we have to be OK with failure (28:15) ·      A cool story about a lesson he learned from Bernhard Langer and shared with a team at the USYS Nationals about eternal perspective (31:33) ·      Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his life and leadership (37:56) ·      The importance of speaking truth to our players about their blind spots and things they need to work on to get better (42:53) ·      The best coach he “played for” and what he learned from him – includes a conversation about “Jell-O Night” (likely not what you’re thinking) (46:01) ·      How he has used lessons learned from soccer in his marriage and parenting (51:22) ·      How he prioritizes his family in the midst of his ministry opportunities (54:55) ·      His recommendations (59:03) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      FCA Website ·      United Soccer Coaches Convention Registration ·      Shaun Smithson Email (for USC Faith-Based Committee information) ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Open: An Autobiography, Andre Agassi ·      The Coaching Zone: Next Level Leadership in Sports, John Yeager ·      Influence and the Creator’s Game: My Story and Stories of Family, Faith, and Lacrosse, Frank Kelly III

In Episode 131, Daniel Russell, UA92 Apprenticeships & Bootcamps Engagement Manager, UK Director and Lead Scout for Daryse, Talent Scout for Liverpool FC, and former Professional Footballer, talks with Phil and Paul about how breaking both of his legs taught his tremendous life lessons and spurred him on to greater things in life,  the incredible power of networking and just being polite, as it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, some inside information about what scouts are actually looking for in players, his defining moment in football and what it taught him, why it’s critical to be selfish at times, how we ought not overpromise and underdeliver, and much more. Specifically, Daniel discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and scouting, and how he got to be working with the Class of ’92 and a Liverpool FC Scout (not a likely scenario) (5:47) ·      A funny story about how one of our previous guests tried to get Dan to play for his club (17:30) ·      The power of networking (20:27) ·      What scouts are actually looking for (26:08) ·      The Daryse scouting app and why parents, coaches, and players ought take a look at it (37:39) ·      Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his life and leadership (44:03) ·      His work with UA92 (52:21) ·      How he has used lessons learned from soccer in his parenting and other relationships (58:57) ·      His recommendations (1:05:25) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Daryse App ·      UA92 Website ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      “When Eagles Dare: Crystal Palace F.C.” (Amazon Prime) ·      “All or Nothing: Arsenal” (Amazon Prime) ·      “All or Nothing: Tottenham” (Amazon Prime)

In Episode 130, our very own Paul Jobson, who now with Sports Recruiting USA after his retirement from coaching at Baylor Futbol, talks with Phil about how players, parents, and coaches can navigate the recruiting process with more excellence. Specifically, he covers: ·      How the recruiting process should be a fun “get-to” (2:00) ·      The parallels of the college recruiting process and job searches (4:25) ·      The coach’s and assistant coach’s perspective of the recruiting process 5:00) ·      How coaches filter through the thousands of emails they get throughout the year, and how to separate yourself from the multitudes (8:00) ·      Confirmation bias in coaches, how it affects the recruiting process, and what you can do to ensure you’re on the right side of the bias (19:37) ·      The importance of treating every coach with respect and never burning any bridges during the recruiting process (25:20) ·      What should you do if a school you’re not interested in is recruiting you? (29:07) ·      How can you know if a coach is actually interested vs. just trying to get you to go to a camp? (32:08) ·      Are camps worth the time and expense? (35:50) ·      A reminder that the recruiting process should be a highlight of your life (40:51) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      SRUSA Website ·      Don Williams HSEL Episode ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL YouTube Channel ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World website ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Open: An Autobiography, by Andre Agassi

In Episode 129, Paul and Phil discuss their favorite moments and leadership nuggets from our incredible guests in the second half of Season 9 (Jonathan Van Horn, Peter Greer, Jeff Spencer, and Patrick Gilliam), Paul’s new gig with SRUSA, the North American Sport Movement and Cup of Nations gatherings that Phil attended over the past couple months, some great books that Paul and Phil have read recently, and other topics that hopefully will help you be better in every area of your life. We are certain you will learn something and be challenged by this conversation. What were your favorite moments from Season 9? We’d love for you to share them in the comments! Resources and Links from this Episode ·      HSEL YouTube Channel ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World website ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, by Austin Kleon ·      The Messiah Method: The Seven Disciplines of the Winningest College Soccer Program in America, Michael Zigarelli ·      Shift: The Athlete’s Playbook – 5 Proven Steps to Life After Sport, Jonathan Van Horn ·      Pound the Stone: 7 Lessons to Develop Grit on the Way to Mastery, Joshua Medcalf

In Episode 128, Patrick Gilliam, Wheaton College Women’s Soccer Head Coach, former college footballer, husband, and father, talks with Phil and Paul about his “love, discipleship, multiplication” philosophy, why he loves coaching at the D-III level, why self-leadership is critical and what that looks like in his coaching, how he and his team engage conflict in a life-giving way that helps his team flourish, the importance of having a both/and program, how an injury changes his life, a great book that will help you and your teams flourish, how he incorporates his faith into his coaching, and much more. Specifically, Patrick discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and how he got to be where he is today (7:04) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (15:48) ·      The pros and cons, benefits and challenges of coaching at the Division III level (20:30) ·      What sets Wheaton apart from other soccer programs and educational institutions (26:36) ·      How he incorporates his faith into his coaching (30:57) ·      How he engages conflict in a healthy way with his team and why healthy conflict is critical to a team’s success (39:34) ·      The coach who had he most impact on him and what we can learn from that great coach (48:34) ·      Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his life and leadership (53:11) ·      How he has used lessons learned from cycling and sports in his marriage and parenting (1:00:24) ·      His recommendation (1:04:20) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Wheaton College Women’s Soccer Website ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      High Impact Teams: Where Healthy Meets High Performance, by Lance Witt ·      The Christian Athlete: Glorifying God in Sports, by Brian Smith ·      Leadership as an Identity: The Four Traits of Those Who Wield Lasting Influence, by Crawford Loritts

In Episode 127, Dr. Jeff Spencer, Olympic and Tour de France Cyclist, glassblower, chiropractor, Elite Performance Cornerman Coach who has helped athletes win over 40 gold medals and 8 Tour de France victories and, most importantly, a husband and father, talks with Paul and Phil about what he has learned from some incredible stories from his cycling career and other areas of his life, how cycling “chose him,” how he is “calibrated to gold medals,” how we can live a life well-lived, life lessons learned from the challenges experienced in connection with the adoption and parenting of his daughter, trusting the process, the concept of “receivership,” the Champion’s Blueprint, the “3 angels” who have deeply impacted his life, the differences in the mental game in individual vs. team sports, what he has learned about attributes of the greats from coaching Tiger Woods, Sir Richard Branson, U2 and Bono, Lance Armstrong, Maria Sharapova, Nike and Alberto Contador, and much more. Specifically, Jeff discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for cycling, leadership, and elite performance coaching, and how he got to be where he is today (2:44) ·      His path from a kid who liked riding a bike to being an Olympic Cyclist (6:12) ·      What was/is more difficult: a) the road to Olympic Cycling or b) adopting and raising his daughter? (8:03) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (11:21) ·      His thoughts on what it means to live a life well-lived (13:00) ·      What is a “calling” and how do you know what your calling is? (14:48) ·      Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his life and leadership (24:44) ·      Some of the great coaches he has worked with and what we can learn from those great coaches (33:52) ·      The differences in the mental game in team sports vs. individual sports (37:29) ·      The Anatomy of a Champion and what it looks like in the real world (41:46) ·      Some of the champions he has worked with and what separates the good from the great (51:13) ·      How he has used lessons learned from cycling and sports in his marriage and parenting (1:01:16) ·      What he learned from an act of humanity at the Tour de France (1:06:46) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Jeff’s Website ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training

In Episode 126, Peter Greer, President/CEO of HOPE International and former Messiah College footballer, talks with Paul and Phil about his path from Messiah College to alleviating poverty with Hope International, how he built in accountability to ensure that he puts his family first, why it is so important to be grateful for everything and entitled to nothing, some of the great lessons he learned from his coaches and teammates at Messiah, how he is using those lessons in his collaborative work with Hope, the need for us to be kind to referees (and why it matters), why we need more grace and less judgment in our sports and the rest of the world, team vs. individual, rooting for our rivals, not settling for mediocrity, and much more. Specifically, Peter discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today (4:13) ·      His work with HOPE Int’l and how HOPE is working to alleviate poverty around the world (7:14) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (11:13) ·      Why his wife has Peter’s resignation letter from Hope Int’l and what he is doing to ensure she doesn’t send it (13:45) ·      The Messiah Method and how Peter’s experienced it and lived it out during his college years and beyond (17:47) ·      How he saw the Messiah program building toward the run of National Championships while he was playing there (22:38) ·      How he is using the lessons he learned at Messiah in his work with HOPE Int’l (26:13) ·      How he uses lessons learned from soccer in his collaborative projects around the world (33:01) ·      A couple soccer analogies that Peter uses in his life regularly (37:12) ·      Why we need more grace than judgment in our world – and yes, that includes with referees ; ) (40:37) ·      Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his life and leadership (44:55) ·      Some of the great coaches he has played for and a couple whose leadership stick out above the rest, and what he learned from those great coaches (50:17) ·      His thoughts on the current state of US Soccer, and what we can do about it (55:26) ·      How he has used lessons learned from sports in his marriage and parenting (1:01:31) ·      His podcast recommendation (1:03:30) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      HOPE International Website ·      Rooting for Rivals: How Collaboration and Generosity Increase the Impact of Leaders, Charities, and Churches, by Peter Greer ·      The Messiah Method: The Seven Disciplines of the Winningest College Soccer Program in America, by Michael Zigarelli ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training

In Episode 125, Jonathan Van Horn, Executive Director of Pro Soccer for Athletes in Action and former Ohio Wesleyan University footballer, talks with Paul and Phil about his multi-sport playing career and how it affected his thoughts on early specialization, what drives him, his book, Shift, and how he is using it to help athletes in their lives after sport, how he is using soccer in his ministry with AIA, how his defining moments and impactful coaches have shaped him, the importance of presence and consistency, and why it is important to fail early and fail often. Specifically, Jonathan discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today (3:37) ·      How he was a multiple-sport athlete and how he believes that impacted him in positive ways (9:20) ·      What he believes we are missing by focusing on early specialization (10:47) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (12:44) ·      Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his life and leadership (14:42) ·      How he is using soccer to share the Gospel and make disciples (23:10) ·      The power of a chaplain (31:12) ·      His book, Shift, why he wrote it, and how he hopes it will help people flourish in their lives after sport (33:20) ·      A couple of the steps for athletes to thrive in life after sport (39:09) ·      How we can train our kids and young athletes in these principles of life after sport before they are out of the sport (44:45) ·      The power of coaches to create safe environments where failure is encouraged for development (50:30) ·      Some of the great coaches he has played for and a couple whose leadership stick out above the rest, and what he learned from those great coaches (53:00) ·      His thoughts on the current state of US Soccer, and what we can do about it (56:49) ·      How he has used lessons learned from sports in his marriage and parenting (1:05:07) ·      His recommendations (1:06:43) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Athletes in Action Website ·      Shift: The Athlete’s Playbook: 5 Proven Steps to Life after Sport, by Jonathan Van Horn ·      The Shift Podcast ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      The Holy Bible ·      Mind Shift: It Doesn’t Take a Genius to Think Like One, by Erwin McManus ·      Mind Shift with Erwin and Aaron McManus ·      The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace, by Erwin McManus

In Episode 124, Paul and Phil discuss their favorite moments and leadership nuggets from our incredible guests in the first half of Season 9 (Graham Daniels, Margueritte Aozasa, Josh Glover, and Skip Gilbert), a glimpse into the great work that Paul and Warrior Way did with different communities in Guatemala earlier this month, some great books that Paul and Phil have read recently, and other topics that hopefully will help you be better in every area of your life. We are certain you will learn something and be challenged by this conversation. What were your favorite moments from the first half of Season 9? We’d love for you to share them in the comments! Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World website ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great, by Joshua Medcalf ·      Win in the Dark: Some People Think You Shine Under the Bright Lights, the Bright Lights Only Reveal Your Work in the Dark, by Joshua Medcalf and Lucas Jadin

In Episode 123, Skip Gilbert, CEO of US Youth Soccer, former goalkeeper with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and two-time NCAA Division 1 All-American, talks with Paul and Phil about his windy road to leading US Youth Soccer, his thoughts on the highs and lows of the current state of soccer in the US, what he learned from his leadership positions in USA Swimming, USA Triathlon and USA Tennis, and how they helped him navigate the trials of leading USYS during COVID, his thoughts on early specialization in one sport, what drives him, how being a goalkeeper taught him about life and prepared him for his various leadership positions, encouraging goalkeepers to keep playing the position, his most influential coaches, and why it is so important to remember the KISS principle. Specifically, Skip discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today – CEO of USYS (3:41) ·      How he navigated starting his leadership position in January 2020 and how his experience in other disciplines and leadership positions with other sports helped him through the difficulties of COVID (7:24) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (12:01) ·      His thoughts on early specialization, and a lesson from the world of tennis and Andy Roddick (13:43) ·      Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his development (20:39) ·      Business and life lessons we can learn from goalkeepers (24:38) ·      Why it is important for parents and coaches to not to discourage kids from playing keeper when they enjoy the position (28:46) ·      Why goalkeepers need to have a little bit of crazy in them (33:34) ·      Some of the great coaches he has played for and a couple whose leadership stick out above the rest, and what he learned from those great coaches (36:36) ·      His thoughts on the current state of US Soccer, and what we can do about it (40:36) ·      How he has used lessons learned from sports in his marriage and parenting (1:02:22) ·      His recommendations (1:07:19) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      USYS Website ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Clyde Best HSEL Episode ·      90 Minutes With The King, Tom Mulroy (releasing later this year) ·      Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein

In Episode 122, Josh Glover, Cal Baptist University Assistant Coach, former player with Chicago Eagles and OC Seahorses, and former coach at Biola University and Westcliff University, talks with Paul and Phil about what he learned from his professional footballing father about life and leadership, how he used football to build relationships in China and other cross-cultural situations, how he has used poignant defining moments to grow his character, some of his great coaches, the importance of self-discovery, ministry in sport, and how he is using lessons from the game in his relationship with his girlfriend. Specifically, Josh discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for football, coaching, and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today (2:50) ·      Football analogies his father (former professional) used in his home growing up in China and the UK, and what he learned from them (9:11) ·      How he used football to build trust and relationships when he was growing up in China (14:48) ·      How he is using his cross-cultural upbringing in his coaching and recruiting (19:53) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (23:17) ·      Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his development (26:56) ·      Some of the great coaches he has played for and a couple whose leadership stick out above the rest, and what he learned from those great coaches (34:58) ·      The critical importance of self-discovery (44:28) ·      His philosophy on ministry in sport (48:08) ·      His thoughts on the current state of US Soccer, from the perspective of man who has played on three different continents (1:00:40) ·      How he has used lessons learned from sports in his relationships outside the game (1:03:19) ·      His recommendations (1:06:10) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Care for Children website ·      “Children of Shanghai” Documentary ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Clyde Best HSEL Episode ·      Graham Daniels HSEL Episode ·      The Holy Bible ·      The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World, by Brett McCracken ·      Make Us Dream (Amazon Prime Video) Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

In Episode 121, Margueritte Aozasa, UCLA Women’s Soccer Head Coach, former Stanford Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach, and former Santa Clara University Defender/Midfielder, talks with Paul and Phil about her incredible first season at UCLA, during which she became the first coach to win a National Championship in her first year as a head coach, what mission and personal “why” drives her to do what she does, building trust with her team, healthy conflict prevention and resolution, how her and her husband “coach” each other, what she was thinking in the final minutes of the National Championship game, whether college soccer has a place in professional and national team player development, and a whole lot of great leadership nuggets. No doubt you’ll love this fun conversation with an incredible coach! Specifically, Margueritte discusses: ·      Her personal story, including how she grew her passion for soccer, coaching, and leadership, and how she got to be where she is today (3:40) ·      Her transition from Stanford assistant coach to UCLA head coach, and the lessons we can learn from her journey (7:29) ·      The importance of head coaches mentoring their assistants to flourish in their program and beyond (11:35) ·      Her personal why/mission statement and how she is living it out (16:43) ·      How she leads herself and pours into her players’ leadership development as a head coach (18:49) ·      A couple defining moments in her life and how they impacted her development (22:00) ·      A few coaches that deeply impacted her life, what set them apart, and what life and leadership lessons we can learn from them (28:57) ·      How she keeps a team full of top players content and at their best when they aren’t playing, or even making the travel squad (36:16) ·      How she builds trust between her and her staff and players, and among the players (40:15) ·      How to deal with conflict before it gets out of hand and starts impacting the players and team (43:42) ·      The highs and lows of the current state of soccer in the US (46:35) ·      The place for the college game in the development of players at the professional and national team levels (51:00) ·      What she was actually thinking during the final minute of regulation of the National Championship game last year (it just might surprise you) (59:28) ·      How she has used lessons learned from sports in her marriage and other relationships (1:03:50) ·      A couple great book recommendations (1:06:01) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Margueritte on Twitter - @margaozasa ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Net Gain: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution, by Ryan O’Hanlon ·      Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds, and Matches, by Carlo Ancelotti

In Episode 120, Graham Daniels, Ph.D., Director of Cambridge United, Director of Christians in Sport, and former player for Cambridge United and Cardiff City, talks with Paul and Phil about the “Pray, Play, Say” discipleship/leadership method, his personal why, his incredible testimony of how he came to his faith in Jesus Christ and how one pivotal moment changed the course of his life forever, the critical importance of a Christian identity in elite football, achieved vs. received identity, Service vs. Survival, humility, and a leader who he respects deeply. Specifically, Graham discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for football, coaching, ministry, and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today (5:07) ·      An incredible story about how he came to his Christian faith, despite one of the “worst evangelists” of all time. (7:59) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (17:38) ·      Achieved identity vs. Received identity - Identity formation and his Ph.D. thesis on the necessity of Christian identity in dealing with performance requirements of elite football (22:10) ·      Three things that provide a framework for ministry in sports (39:13) ·      Safe to serve, not scared and surviving (44:55) ·      A defining moment in his life and how it impacted his development (47:21) ·      A leader that sticks out above the rest to him (A Premier League Manager that may surprise you) (58:29) ·      How he has used lessons learned from sports in his marriage and parenting (1:05:09) ·      His recommendations (1:05:55) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Humility, by Andrew Murray ·      Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

In Episode 119, Paul and Phil discuss their favorite moments and leadership nuggets from our great guests in the second half of Season 8, a sneak preview into Season 9, a glimpse into what the summer is bringing to the Darke and Jobson households, and other topics that hopefully will help you be better in every area of your life. We are certain you will learn something and be challenged by this conversation. What were your favorite moments from Season 8? We’d love for you to share them in the comments! Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World website ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      What Drives Winning

In Episode 118, Andrew Simpson, Mindset Coach, Author of Athlete! I’m Talking to You: 7 Mindset Hacks to Dominate in Sports and Life and The Youth Truth: Coaching & Parenting in Today’s Crazy Youth Sports World, and Founder of Player’s Fitness & Performance (“PFP”), talks with Paul and Phil about some mindset hacks that can help us develop and rebuild, if necessary, a healthy mindset in ourselves and our athletes, some mistakes that 98% of parents of athletes make, his two books, his personal mission, lessons learned from his athletic career that he is using in his business, a couple mentors who have influenced his journey, and how we can overcome some of the most common mental obstacles athletes face. Specifically, Andrew discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for sports, fitness, and mindset and performance coaching, and how he got to be where he is today (4:15) ·      A common misconception about mental health and how we can overcome it (8:51) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (10:39) ·      The mentors who most influenced him and how they impacted him (14:23) ·      A defining moment in his life and how it impacted his development (18:48) ·      Lessons he has learned from sports that he uses in his business and coaching (21:35) ·      Some of the most common mental obstacles athletes face and how they can overcome them and fulfill their potential (23:34) ·      Social media and the comparison trap (28:48) ·      How you can rebuild a healthy mindset in a young athlete (31:18) ·      His two books, why he wrote them, and what he hopes his readers will get out of them (39:29) ·      Why parents and coaches also need to be focusing on their mental health as it relates to their children/players’ flourishing (47:01) ·      A couple common mistakes that 98% of parents make during their athletes’ journeys (49:12) ·      A couple mindset hacks that can help you and your athletes dominate in sports and life (55:01) ·      How he has used lessons learned from sports in his marriage and parenting (1:00:47) ·      His recommendations (1:03:38) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Andrew’s Website (can order his books and get the hundreds of dollars of bonus offers here) ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature, by Peter Scazzero ·      You Win in the Locker Room First: The 7 C’s to Build a Winning Team in Business, Sports, and Life, by Jon Gordon and Mike Smith

In Episode 117, Keith Tozer, Commissioner of the Major Arena Soccer League, Coach of the US Futsal National Team, MISL coach and player in five decades, the first-ever pick in the MISL Draft, and a Hall of Famer in multiple hall of fames, talks with Paul and Phil about what he has learned over the course of his five-decade long career playing and coaching indoor and outdoor soccer and futsal, why all teams should use futsal/indoor soccer as part of their player development, the power of the Geese “V” formation, leading up, his personal why, mentorship, how he has used lessons from soccer in his role as MASL Commissioner. Specifically, Keith discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, particularly indoor and futsal, coaching, and leadership, and how he got to be Commissioner of the MASL – and we inadvertently talked about answers to some possible trivia questions as well (2:13) ·      Why he believes that futsal and indoor are critical to training and should be an integral part of development at all levels (7:01) ·      His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (14:21) ·      The power of the Geese “V” formation and what leadership lessons we can learn from it (16:32) ·      His defining moment and how it impacted his development (21:01) ·      How he navigated the transition to coaching from playing, and his stint as a player/manager, and the leadership lessons he learned on his journey (24:00) ·      How he intentionally sought out mentors as a young leader and what he learned from his mentors (30:15) ·      The power of leading up (33:46) ·      A couple of the best leaders he played or coached with, and what set them apart from the rest (33:25) ·      What he would tell the 27-year-old Keith Tozer if he could go back in time (39:40) ·      A great story about empowering, servant leadership (41:41) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the game of soccer in his role as Commissioner of the MASL (46:22) ·      The good, bad, and ugly of US Soccer, how the MASL is helping to move the game forward in the US (46:26) ·      How he has used lessons learned from the game in his marriage and parenting (58:12) ·      His recommendations (59:21) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      MASL Website ·      US Youth Futsal Website ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players, by Pat Riley

In Episode 116, Amanda Vandervoort, President of the USL Super League, former Chief Women’s Football Officer at FIFPRO, MLS executive, USC President, FIFA Consultant, NYU Women’s Soccer Head Coach, and goalkeeper and captain for University of Wyoming, talks with Phil and Paul about the life and leadership lessons she learned over the course of her playing and coaching career, and executive roles in major football/soccer leagues and organizations, the importance of active listening, how an injury taught her an important life lesson, an incredible story of initiative and entrepreneurship from her childhood that every parent and coach will love, her personal why, her love for baking, why it is important for us to understand and talk about our players’ personal health issues, including menstrual cycles, and how we can work together to make soccer more accessible to everyone. Specifically, Amanda discusses: ·      Her personal story, including how she grew her passion for soccer, coaching, and leadership, and how she got to where she is today with the USL Super League (4:10) ·      Her love for baking and her dream for championship celebrations (6:50) ·      The importance of leading by listening and watching (8:33) ·      Working with people in different countries and cultures (10:45) ·      Her personal why/mission statement and how she is living it out (14:31) ·      Her defining moment and how it impacted her development (18:03) ·      An incredible story from her childhood about initiative and entrepreneurial spirit to help her play the beautiful game (22:51) ·      One of her favorite coaches and how Tai Chi helped win a State Championship (29:12) ·      Learning different things from different coaches over the course of her career (32:44) ·      The science of soccer and why we need to talk about, study, and better understand the effects of menstruation, mental health, and other issues unique to girls and women, such as the higher frequency of ACL injuries in women (36:52) ·      The good, bad, and ugly of US Soccer, how she is incorporating lessons learned from the past decades into her leadership at USL, and how we together can make the game more accessible to everyone (46:26) ·      How she has used lessons learned from the game in her relationships outside the game (58:12) ·      Her recommendations (59:04) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Amanda’s Website ·      USL Step Up Program ·      Amanda’s Twitter Handle - @vandey01 ·      USL Super League on Twitter – @uslsuperleague ·      W League on Twitter - @uslwleague ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      FIFA Website

In Episode 115, Becky Burleigh, Co-Founder of What Drives Winning, former University of Florida Women’s Soccer Coach (for 27 years), and Methodist College Hall of Famer, talks with Phil and Paul about the life and leadership lessons she learned over the course of her playing career and her extensive coaching career at University of Florida and Berry College, the story behind What Drives Winning, some great WDW principles, her personal why, a defining moment in her career, and making the most of every opportunity. Specifically, Becky discusses: ·      Her personal story, including how she grew her passion for soccer, coaching, and leadership, and how she got to where she is today with What Drives Winning (3:03) ·      Her personal why/mission statement and how she is living it out (9:07) ·      What Drives Winning’s mission and what she hopes people will get out of the great materials WDW produces (10:43) ·      Two key questions that she asks herself every year and why we should do the same (12:55) ·      Why she uses DISC model of human behavior in her work and why she believes all coaches should use it with their teams (18:50) ·      The concept of weak voice vs. strong voice and what we can do about it (26:10) ·      “Struggle really a biological requirement for greatness” – Really? (28:10) ·      Her defining moment and how it impacted her development (32:44) ·      What advice she would like to give her 25-year-old self (38:16) ·      The importance of finding a “thinking partner” (41:34) ·      The good, bad, and ugly of US Soccer (46:55) ·      How she has used lessons learned from the game in her relationships outside the game (53:48) ·      Her recommendations (48:05) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      What Drives Winning Website ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      The Talent Code: Greatness isn’t born. It’s Grown. Here’s How, by Daniel Coyle ·      The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Teams, by Daniel Coyle ·      What Drives Winning: Teams, by Becky Burleigh and Brett Ledbetter ·      “Welcome to Wrexham” (Hulu) ·      “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV+} ·      “38 in the Garden” (HBO Max)

In Episode 114, Paul and Phil discuss their favorite moments and nuggets of wisdom from our great guests in the first half of Season 8, the beautiful side of international mission trips, how you can get involved with them, and how soccer often is the best interpreter around the world, and other fun things that you’ll hear when you listen. We are certain you will learn something and be challenged by this conversation. What were your favorite moments from the first half of Season 8? We’d love for you to share them in the comments! Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World website ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training

In Episode 113, JP Dellacamera, Broadcaster of 16 World Cups and 3 Olympics, and so many other incredible games, husband, and father, talks with Phil and Paul about the life and leadership lessons he has learned over the course of his soccer broadcasting career, which has spanned six decades, his keys to a great broadcast, how his best call ever was only one word, how he learned about teamwork in a broadcasting booth, what he has learned from referees, dealing with controversy during broadcasts, recommendations on a special kind of sandwich, and how he is using lessons learned from the game in his MASL leadership position, his marriage, and his parenting. Specifically, JP discusses: ·      His personal story, including how a guy whose first love is hockey ended up being one of the most-known voices in US Soccer, and his journey to his current role as Director of Communications/Media for the Major Arena Soccer League (3:30) ·      Knowing how to handle both disappointment and success (7:16) ·      Why he doesn’t have a personal why/mission statement (9:49) ·      Who he is “working for” when broadcasting a game (11:43) ·      Three keys to a great broadcast (14:09) ·      The importance of not assuming that someone you want to meet and learn from is not accessible (16:13) ·      The defining moment in illustrious career and a lesson he learned from it that you don’t want to miss (17:47) ·      How to properly deal with controversial issues during broadcasts (24:16) ·      What he has learned from broadcasting soccer and talking with thousands of players, coaches, and referees over the course of multiple decades that he likely wouldn’t have learned playing and/or coaching the game (27:21) ·      How he is using lessons learned from the game of soccer is his leadership position with the MASL (30:24) ·      The power of saying “I don’t know” (33:34) ·      His thoughts on the good, bad, and ugly of the state of soccer in the US (35:51) ·      How we can attract better coaches to the younger levels (40:26) ·      How he has used lessons learned from the game in his parenting and marriage, including a different kind of sandwich that he highly recommends (43:17) ·      His recommendations (48:05) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Uncut Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil’s email for DISC Training ·      1999 World Cup Final (JP’s goal call at ~2:15:00) ·      Miracle on Ice (Al Michaels call)

In Episode 112, Keeley Hagen, Colorado State Head Coach, former assistant coach at University of Texas and University of Tennessee, former USWNT, Sky Blue FC, and Atlanta Beat player, 3-time All-American defender at University of Tennessee, and wife, talks with Phil and Paul about what drives her to lead her players with excellence, lessons learned from her playing and coaching career, leadership lessons gleaned from her most influential coach and from her teammates, how she is using lessons from the game in her marriage, how she is using DISC in her coaching at CSU, how she overcame injuries throughout her career, and which Jobson she most fears on the field. Specifically, Keeley discusses: Her personal story, how he developed her passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching and how she got to be where he is today (4:38) What is was like to coach against the legend, Paul Jobson, and who is the most intimidating presence in the Jobson household (8:08) Her personal why and life purpose and how she lives it out each day (10:51) The DISC training Phil did with her CSU team last summer, how she is using it with her team, and why she thinks it is important for coaches to understand it and use it with their teams (12:58) Some defining moments in her playing career and what she learned from them (18:24) How she navigates shying away from adversity and injuries when we know how much our kids learn from overcoming adversity (22:01) What her injuries taught her about life and her identity (25:15) Her message to people going through injury recovery (27:33) Her most influential coach and the life and leadership lessons learned from her (28:40) Her advice to young assistant coaches in the college ranks (33:04) Things she is using as a head coach that she only learned because she was an assistant first (36:47) Players she played with that had the greatest impact on her, and what she learned from them (41:10) How she has used lessons learned from the game in her marriage (44:18) Her book recommendations (48:27) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Warrior Way Soccer Coaching the Bigger Game Program Phil’s email for DISC Training Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great, by Joshua Medcalf Win in the Dark: Some think you shine under the bright lights, the bright lights only reveal your work in the dark, by Joshua Medcalf and Lucas Jadin

In Episode 111, Steven Axtell, Head Coach of Cortland University Men’s Soccer, former Cortland goalkeeper, husband, and father, talks with Phil and Paul about lessons learned from his playing and coaching career, leadership lessons gleaned from his coaches, his thoughts on playing multiple sports, how he is using lessons from the game in his family, why he doesn’t think superior tactics and strategy are a critical part of a successful program, and how his leadership and culture development at Cortland has helped his players and program to flourish. Specifically, Steve discusses: His personal story, how he developed his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching and how he got to be where he is today (3:00) His thoughts on the benefits and downside of specialization in one sport (7:20) His personal why and life purpose and how he lives it out each day (13:07) Some defining moments in his playing career and what he learned from them (17:31) Key life and leadership lessons he learned from his soccer coaches over the course of his playing career (21:40) His philosophy on leadership and culture, what he taught about it in his presentation at the USC Convention, and why it is important to us (28:00) The importance of self-leadership, and how he is teaching it to his staff and players (34:21) How to successfully nurture healthy culture over time (39:33) How and why he has his players evaluate each other on character qualities (42:19) How he has used lessons learned from the game in his parenting and marriage (45:55) His book and podcast recommendations (54:31) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Warrior Way Soccer Coaching the Bigger Game Program Phil’s email for DISC Training Anti-Fragile: Things that Gain from Disorder, by Nassim Nicholas Taleh Jocko Podcast