In Episode 85, Dion von Moltke, Founder of Blayze and former Pro Race Car Driver, and Mike Semenza, Lead Blayze Soccer Coach and former pro and college player, talk with Phil about Blayze, their online coaching platform, fostering coaching relationships online, how car racing and soccer have taught them life and leadership lessons, sacrifice, prioritization, resilience, adversity, mental performance, and more. Specifically, Dion and Mike discuss: Their stories and how they developed their passio...
Jun 09, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 6Ep. 85
In Episode 84, Shay Haddow, Confidence Coach, Author of She the Confident: The Mindset Advantage for Female Athletes , and Host of the Alpha Girl Confidence Podcast, talks with Phil about developing confidence in our female athletes, how everyone is leading someone and how personalities shape leadership, breaking up cliques in our teams, and 3 tools we can use to mitigate against mental health issues in our teams. Specifically, Shay discusses: Her story and how she developed her passion for socc...
Jun 02, 2022•51 min•Season 6Ep. 84
In Episode 83, Paul and Phil discuss highlights and lessons learned from our interviews with Dr. Daniel O’Neill, Cara Bradley, Evan Dabby, and Brad Miller during the first half of this season, a milestone reached by the podcast, and the wild finish to the English Premier League this past weekend. They also give a quick preview of what’s to come in the second half of Season 6 and reveal whether Paul will conduct any more interviews with Phil in the future. Resources and Links from this Episode Un...
May 26, 2022•41 min•Season 6Ep. 83
In Episode 82, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month, Brad Miller, Founder of Soccer Resilience, Clinical Psychologist, and former Wake Forest soccer player, talks with Phil and Paul about Soccer Resilience’s growth over the past year, preventing and caring for mental health issues, Sports Psychologists vs. Counselors, navigating the coach/sports pysch/counselor relationship, identifying and understanding mental health issues and their root causes, and navigating mental health issues coming o...
May 19, 2022•1 hr•Season 6Ep. 82
In Episode 81, Evan Dabby, Executive Director of NJ Youth Soccer and former MLS executive, talks with Phil about his innovative work with New Jersey Youth Soccer, including the Growing the Girls Game and Innovate to Grow initiatives, how we can make high-level youth sports more accessible to more under resourced kids, the importance of collaboration, what we can do about referee abuse, and a common quality shared by some of the best players in US history who hailed from NJ. Specifically, Evan di...
May 12, 2022•57 min•Season 6Ep. 81
In Episode 80, Cara Bradley, best-selling author of On the Verge , host of the On the Verge Podcast, Soccer Resilience Ambassador, Rollerblader extraordinaire, and one of the “12 Most Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement,”, talks with Phil about the gut-brain connection, mental fitness, performing in the “flow” and how we can get there, how we can reach optimal performance more often, and how she performed on Rollerblades in front of one of the world’s iconic buildings. Specifically, Cara ...
May 05, 2022•45 min•Season 6Ep. 80
In Episode 79, Dr. Daniel O’Neill, Board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with an added Certificate in Sports Medicine, and a Doctorate in Exercise and Sports Psychology, Author of Survival of the Fit: How Physical Education Ensures Academic Achievement and a Healthy Life , and master of physical identity, talks with Phil about physical identity, his books, the negative side of tech and screens, why we need a “PE Revolution” in our schools, why we need to exercise in the morning, the need for more ...
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Season 6Ep. 79
In Episode 78, our sixth off-season talk between Seasons 5 & 6, Phil and Paul talk about how we can effectively build healthy teams, and how that starts with knowing, understanding, and leading ourselves. In all we do, we at HSEL strive to be part of a movement that encourages a lifelong love for the game, leadership and character development, and human flourishing. Resources and Links from this Episode Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coaching the Bigger Game Program Warrior Way Soc...
Apr 21, 2022•20 min•Ep. 78
In Episode 77, our fifth off-season talk between Seasons 5 & 6, Phil and Paul talk about external and internal motivation, and how we can effectively motivate ourselves and our players to be their best and flourish. In all we do, we at HSEL strive to be part of a movement that encourages a lifelong love for the game, leadership and character development, and human flourishing. Resources and Links from this Episode Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coaching the Bigger Game Program Warr...
Apr 14, 2022•19 min•Ep. 77
In Episode 76, our fourth off-season talk between Seasons 5 & 6, Phil talks with Paul about the long-awaited Coaching the Bigger Game program, which helps coaches elevate significance in sports by elevating self-leadership, leadership of their individual players, and leadership of their teams. As Coaching the Bigger Game strives to help coaches help themselves, their players, and teams flourish, we at HSEL strive to be part of a movement that encourages a lifelong love for the game, leadersh...
Apr 07, 2022•17 min•Ep. 76
In Episode 75, our third off-season talk between Seasons 5 & 6, Paul talks with Phil about all things Warrior Way, from camps to consulting to helping vulnerable populations around the world. As Warrior Way encourages others to incorporate their faith into their play, we strive to be part of a movement that encourages a lifelong love for the game, leadership and character development, and human flourishing. Resources and Links from this Episode Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coachi...
Mar 31, 2022•17 min•Ep. 75
In Episode 74, our second off-season talk between Seasons 5 & 6, Paul talks about the developments in technology surrounding the game of soccer, how we can protect against its downside, and harness it for good and our development. Paul also reminds us about the time-tested, best-practice way to develop our personal skills. As we work to understand and harness technology for good, we strive to be part of a movement that encourages a lifelong love for the game, leadership and character develop...
Mar 24, 2022•15 min•Ep. 74
In Episode 73, our first off-season talk between Seasons 5 & 6, Phil talks about recent racial abuse and parent misconduct, how we can fight against it, and how parents and coaches can use the game to teach our kids how to rise above the fray and do the next right thing. We are hoping to be part of a movement that encourages a lifelong love for the game, leadership and character development, and human flourishing, rather than teaching our kids to win at all costs and sacrifice character. Res...
Mar 17, 2022•13 min•Ep. 73
In Episode 72, Phil and Paul discuss the highlights and lessons gleaned from the conversations we were able to have with David Ricca , Jay Demerit , Phil Smith , and Dan Abrahams during the second half of Season 5. Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coaching the Bigger Game information Warrior Way information Phil Darke’s email address The Challenge Culture: Why the Most Successful Organizations Run on Pushback , by Nigel Travis...
Mar 10, 2022•40 min•Season 5Ep. 72
In Episode 71, 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, 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 pressu...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 5Ep. 71
In Episode 70, Phil Smith, Vice-Chairman and Owner of Sixth-Division Ossett United FC, former NY Yankees and Manchester United Executive, Owner of NERF rights in UK, Europe, and Middle East, and much more, talks with Phil about lessons learned during his playing days and his experience as an executive for a couple of the biggest teams in the world, his personal why, and the importance of leaders taking the meeting, getting scars, and giving their people freedom to fail. Specifically, Phil discus...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 70
In Episode 69, Jay Demerit, Chief Energy Officer of Rise and Shine and former USMNT player, and former Captain of Watford FC and Whitecaps FC, talks with Phil about the pros and cons of specialization, self-leadership, self-belief, his personal why, the “inside” and “outside” game, what we can learn about leadership from the bench, and the work he is doing with Rise and Shine. Specifically, Jay discusses: His story, his incredible journey to the Premier League and USMNT, how he developed his pas...
Feb 17, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 69
In Episode 68, 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, discusses 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 Ce...
Feb 10, 2022•55 min•Season 5Ep. 68
In Episode 67, Paul and Phil discuss the recent USC Convention, a preview of the second half of Season 5, a recap of the first half of the season, and the leadership lesson we can learn from Episodes 9 & 10 of Ted Lasso. Specifically, we discuss: What Paul and Phil took away from the recently-held United Soccer Coaches Convention in KC, and some new things Paul is working on (1:56) What’s to come in the second half of Season 5 (11:04) Lessons Paul and Phil gleaned from our conversations with...
Feb 03, 2022•55 min•Season 5Ep. 67
In Episode 66, Aaron Locks, CEO and Founder of the National Academy of Athletics, talks with Phil about the importance of failure in success, three important questions he asks himself every day, the Pyramid of Success and what he learned from working with John Wooden, his definition of leadership and success, secrets of successful youth coaches, synergistic collaboration, and how leadership is like jazz music. Specifically, Aaron discusses: His story, how he developed his passion for sports and ...
Jan 27, 2022•57 min•Season 5Ep. 66
In Episode 65, Robbie Handy, Health and Wellness Coach and Former Head Coach of William Jessup University and Yuba College, talks with Phil about the differences between a head and assistant coach role, his coaching philosophy, how he measures success, why he left soccer coaching and started a different type of coaching, humility and learning, controlling the controllables, and the central role of communication in all we do. Specifically, Robbie discusses: His story, how he developed his passion...
Jan 20, 2022•40 min•Season 5Ep. 65
In Episode 64, Tony Everett, Founder and Chief Play Maker of Pure Game, Founder of Personal Best Coaching, coach, and footballer, talks with Phil about Pure Game’s work with vulnerable children in Southern California, learning self-control through walking soccer, goal setting, his life coaching program, surrounding yourself with people smarter and better than you, the importance of writing your own eulogy, and leading from the middle. Specifically, Tony discusses: His story, how he developed his...
Jan 13, 2022•38 min•Season 5Ep. 64
In Episode 63, Cheryl McCormick, Founder of Gravitational Performance, Sports Research Scientist, and multi-sport athlete, kicks off Season 5 and talks with Phil about her work as a Sports Research Scientist, nutrition, sports psychology, and rest & recovery as prevention, individualized coaching and coursework, her personal why, what she learned from playing multiple sports, and, of course, whether cheerleading is a sport. Specifically, Cheryl discusses: Her story, how she developed his pas...
Jan 06, 2022•49 min•Season 5Ep. 63
In Episode 62, we are capping off 2021 and ringing in 2022 with 20 great leadership lessons (plus a couple bonus nuggets) from our interviews over the past year. There is so much more wisdom in the full interviews, which you can listen to at the links below or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, if you want to go deeper in 2022 as a leader and coach, we are launching Coaching the Bigger Game course and mastermind in early February. You can click here to learn more about the program, whic...
Dec 30, 2021•57 min•Season 4Ep. 62
In Episode 61, in honor of her recent move to Baylor Women’s Soccer, we are recasting our interview with Michelle Lenard, new Head Coach of Baylor University Women’s Soccer and former DBU Head Coach, in which she talks with Phil about how to “steal like an artist,” her Leadership Council at DBU, how her team has used the Enneagram, what the game “Cutthroat” can teach us about leadership, setting and communicating clear expectations, the four H’s, implementing boundaries in our relationships, and...
Dec 23, 2021•44 min•Ep. 61
In Episode 60, Phil and Paul share their “Best of 2021” lists and what they have learned about life and leadership from the ups and downs that 2021 has brought them and their families. Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coaching the Bigger Game Program Warrior Way Program Info on DISC Training Phil’s email address – phil@howsoccerexplainsleadership.com The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace , by Erwin McManus Radical: Taking Your ...
Dec 16, 2021•32 min•Ep. 60
In Episode 59, our first off-season talk between Seasons 4 & 5, Phil and Paul talk about how we as coaches (and parents) can cultivate environments where our players can flourish, in an effort to counter the toxic cultures in youth soccer that wreck our children. We are hoping to be part of a movement that encourages a lifelong love for the game, leadership development, and human flourishing, rather than stress, burnout, and mental unhealth. Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video ...
Dec 09, 2021•21 min•Ep. 59
In Episode 58, Phil sat down with Paul Jobson for an exclusive interview about his recent decision to step down from his Head Coach position at Baylor University Women’s Soccer after 14 years at the helm. Paul and Phil also discuss some highlights and takeaways from the incredible interviews we have had during the second half of Season 4. Specifically, Paul and Phil discuss: The “why” behind Paul’s decision to step down from his position at Baylor after 14 successful years (4:04) His message to ...
Dec 02, 2021•53 min•Season 4Ep. 58
In Episode 57 of How Soccer Explains Leadership, in honor of our co-host's recent announcement that he is stepping down from his head coaching role at Baylor and just because I (Phil) am so grateful for him, we are re-casting the first-ever HSEL interview with Paul, (now) Former Head Coach of Baylor Women’s Soccer and current co-host of HSEL, who talked with Phil about his coaching philosophy, identity formation, prioritization, team culture, dealing with viruses, recruiting and onboarding new p...
Nov 25, 2021•46 min•Season 4Ep. 57
In Episode 56, Kassie Gray, Founder/Director of Female Footballers and former Cal soccer player, talks with Phil about her mission and vision to help young girls focus on the mental aspects of sports, the value of playing multiple sports, the importance of mentors, preventing burnout, and what excites and disappoints her about soccer in America. Specifically, Kassie discusses: Her story, how she developed her passion for soccer and leadership, and how she got to be where she is today (2:44) The ...
Nov 18, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 56
