How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

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 passion for soccer, leadership, and how he got to where he is today (1:36) The mission and vision of Pure Game, and how his team is working with youth in Orange County using the beautiful game (4:16) Why football (soccer) is such a powerful tool to reach kids around the world (6:01) What lessons he is teaching the children and how he uses football to do so (8:14) His life coaching program and how he is helping adult leaders to flourish (13:57) How he uses lessons learned from football in his life coaching (17:23) Leading from the middle and bottom (21:48) The Tiff and Tony show and what he hopes to teach through it (25:40) How he uses the lessons she has learned through soccer in his marriage, parenting, and other areas of his life (29:28) His recommendations (35:08) -AND- Tony flipped the script and interviewed Phil for a surprise question (27:30) Resources and Links from this Episode Pure Game website Tiff and Tony Show Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coaching the Bigger Game information Warrior Way information Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) "Business Made Simple" Podcast The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, & Change the Way You Lead Forever, by Michael Bungay Stanier

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 passion for sports, mental health, leadership, and how she worked to get where she is today (2:01) What she does as a Sports Research Scientist (5:00) Her work with Gravitational Performance and its mission and vision to help coaches reach their fullest (7:32) Nutrition, sports psychology, and rest and recovery as preventative tools (12:39) The importance of individualized coaching and continuing education (19:00) What she learned from the various sports she played that she is using in her work with Gravitational Performance (22:40) The age-old question of whether cheerleading is a sport (25:00) Her personal why and how it is playing out in her life (34:01) What she wants everyone she helps to take away from Gravitational Performance (35:08) How she uses the lessons she has learned through sports in her marriage, parenting, and other areas of her life (40:39) Her recommendations (44:40) Resources and Links from this Episode Gravitational Performance website Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coaching the Bigger Game information Warrior Way information "All-American" (Netflix) "Friday Night Lights" (Peacock) "Last Chance U" (Netflix)

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, which has limited capacity. And if you are in the Waco, TX area and want to get involved with The Warrior Way, click here for more information. What are your favorite HSEL moments from 2021? Drop an email to Phil (phil@howsoccerexplainsleadership.com) or post on the HSEL Facebook Group to let us know. Links to HSEL Episodes Mentioned Episode 28 – Leading with a Broom and a Shovel with Cori Close Episode 43 – Giving Youth Sports Back to the Kids with Diego Bocanegra Episode 23 – Leading from the Middle with Glenn Crooks Episode 53 – Identity Formation and Mindset with Jesse Bradley Episode 11 – The Bielsa Way: Leadership at Leeds United with Mark Pease Episode 30 – Self-Leadership and Choreographing the Team Dance with John Yeager Episode 51 – Overcoming Barriers and Empowering Women with Tracy Hamm Episode 16 – Understanding Personalities, Mentorship, and Maximizing Results with Toriono Davis Episode 15 – "Steal Like an Artist" with Michelle Lenard Episode 56 – Preventing Burnout with Kassie Gray Episode 19 – Resilience, Resetting, and Retraining our Brains with Brad Miller Episode 41 – Offseason Talk, Volume 9 – The Warrior Way with Marci Jobson, Part 2 Episode 21 – Interview with a Legend (Part 1) with Clyde Best, MBE Episode 14 – College Recruiting 101 with Don Williams Episode 13 – Know Your "Why" with Lee Baker Episode 26 – The Power of Collaboration with Max Rooke Episode 24 – Lead Like a Gardener with Phil Brown Episode 18 – Head, Hands, and Heart with Rob Burns Episode 20 – Kaizen and Energy Vampires with Renee Lopez Episode 29 – Leading Leaders with Greg Rubendall Episode 37 – Offseason Talks, Volume 5 – Coach Wooden's 7 Rules for Life Episode 58 – Season 4 Post-Match Show – Exclusive Post-Baylor Interview with Paul Jobson Other Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode Invest in HSEL Podcast The Coaching Zone: Next Level Leadership in Sports, by John Yeager The Acid Test: The Autobiography of Clyde Best, by Clyde Best

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 servant leadership. Specifically, Michelle discusses: Her story, how she developed his passion for soccer, leadership, how she ended up at DBU (1:52) How we can "steal like an artist" – that is, some ideas that she has learned from others about coaching, life, and leadership, and how she has modified them for her program (4:35) The best leaders she has coached or played with, and what qualities set them apart from the rest (9:43) How the Leadership Council on her team develops, empowers, and delegates leadership to captains and other leaders in her program, and how it helps her coaching staff and has taken her program to another level (11:11) How she has used personality assessments to help her and her teams understand and work with each other better (16:19) The game, "Cutthroat," how it has helped her develop leadership in her team, and how it translates to other areas of life and leadership (19:55) The importance of setting and communicating clear expectations (e.g., job descriptions) in your team members (e.g., coaches, players, employees), and how the 4 H's have helped her team (24:53) How coaching and leadership are all about relationships, and that we simultaneously need to implement appropriate boundaries in those relationships (28:06) What she feels is critical for her players to internalize and "become" before they graduate from her program at DBU (30:53) How she uses the lessons she has learned through the beautiful game in her marriage, parenting, and other areas of her life, and vice-versa (33:42) Michelle's book recommendations (39:45) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode – https://youtu.be/2A5a3pHG7Ts Invest in HSEL Podcast – providenceworld.com HSEL Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/howsoccerexplainsleadership DBU Women's Soccer website: https://dbupatriots.com/sports/womens-soccer Michelle's Twitter handle: @MichelleLenard1 Acton School of Business website: https://www.actonnga.org Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, by Austin Kleon Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, by Cal Newport Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best: Motivational Interviewing in Sports, by Stephen Rollnick, Jonathan Fader, Jeff Breckon, and Theresa B. Moyers God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs, by Tim Keller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth

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 Faith Back from the American Dream, by David Platt At the Bat: The Strikeout that Shamed America, by Del Leonard Jones Strange But True Sports Stories, by Howard Liss More Strange But True Sports Stories, by Howard Liss Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, by Jon Krakauer Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster, by Jon Krakauer The Auschwitz Escape, by Joel C. Rosenberg The Club: How the English Premier League Became the Wildest, Richest, Most Disruptive Force in Sports, by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg The Away Game: The Epic Search for Soccer's Next Superstars, by Sebastian Abbot New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional, by Paul David Tripp Think Orphan Podcast Episode with Paul David Tripp More Than That, by Mike Buchanan Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones, by James Clear Intentional Family Podcast (Jefferson Bethke & Jon Tyson) Fight Hustle, End Hurry Podcast (Jefferson Bethke & John Mark Comer) Chasing What Matters Podcast (Glenn & Jacob Robinson) John Maxwell Leadership Podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast Searching for Bobby Fischer (film) Safety (film) Cool Runnings (film) Mysterious Benedict Society (show) Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Netflix)

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 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

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 his former players and others who have been a part of the Baylor Soccer program during his tenure (25:21) Highlights from the second half of Season 4 (31:37), including: How Jesse Bradley and Kassie Gray talked about identity formation and how we have to be more than what we do. (34:00) Why Aaron Blue's youth coach not "wrecking" him is so powerful and a great lesson for all coaches everywhere (41:39) The Coaching the Bigger Game Program Phil is launching soon, and the importance of self-care and self-leadership (45:30) Paul's sharing his gratitude for people supporting him over the years and since he has made his decision (49:53) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Coaching the Bigger Game Program Warrior Way Program Choosing to Cheat: Who Wins When Family and Work Collide?, by Andy Stanley Visioneering: Your Guide to Discovering and Maintaining Personal Vision, by Andy Stanley Think Orphan Podcast episode with Peter Greer 40/40 Vision: Clarifying Your Mission in Midlife, by Peter Greer and Greg Lafferty Mission Drift: The Unspoken Crisis Facing Leaders, Charities, and Churches, by Peter Greer and Chris Horst

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 players, understanding self and others, and what Sir Alex Ferguson taught Paul about leadership. Specifically, Paul discusses: His story of how soccer and leadership have influenced his life, how he ended up coaching at Baylor, and he's the second best player in his marriage. (1:26) Paul's coaching philosophy that has led Baylor to be one of the premier soccer programs in the US (8:28) The importance of identity formation, and what it has to do with leadership in soccer and life (9:59) One of Paul's favorite things about being a college coach (12:58) The importance of prioritization (14:41) The concept of "leading from the middle" and how Paul incorporates it into his team (16:25) How to reduce the risk of negativity impacting your team, whether on soccer pitches or workplaces (17:26) Paul's view on the best way to describe leadership (19:59) The impact culture has on teams, why it is so critical to have a healthy culture, what Paul has learned from his wife, Marci, about leading culture, and what all of it has to do with Baylor's recent Big 12 Championship (21:07) The difficulty of recruiting and onboarding players in college soccer, and how Paul views his players as both customers and employees (25:26) How Paul handles viruses on his team (30:14) The importance of knowing and understanding the personalities of your players and coaching staff in the context of leadership (34:59) The important leadership lesson Sir Alex Ferguson taught Paul (37:09) What Paul has learned through playing and coaching soccer that he uses in his marriage and parenting (39:41) Resources that Paul recommends for leadership and life (42:22) Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode Video (uncut) of this episode Baylor Women's Soccer website & social – https://baylorbears.com/sports/womens-soccer; @baylorfutbol Jobson Soccer website & Social: www.jobsonsoccer.com; @jobsonsoccer on Twitter, IG, and FB Paul Jobson Social: @coachjobson on Twitter and IG Tim Elmore "Habitudes" Program -- https://growingleaders.com/habitudes/ "Chasing What Matters" Podcast -- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chasing-what-matters/id1527359046 Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United, by Alex Ferguson Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in Leadership, by John Maxwell

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 new club her husband started and how it is seeking to be different from the rest (6:37) The mission and vision of Female Footballers, and how Kassie is working to empower females in the world of soccer (9:40) The importance and value of playing multiple sports (16:14) The power of soccer as a tool to teach life lessons to our kids, and how we are getting it right and wrong in youth sports (21:10) Her personal why and how she is living it out in her life (24:23) Why everyone should have a mentor and why they are so important (28:25) What's causing our young players to burn out and what we can do to avoid it (33:22) Why we need to be proactive and not reactive (36:38) What excites Kassie about soccer in America (42:10) What she hopes young women going through Female Footballers will learn and internalize, and live out through the program (49:46) How she is using what she learned through soccer in her marriage and parenting (55:20) Her recommendations (1:00:45) Resources and Links from this Episode Female Footballers website Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know, by Adam Grant The Sports Psych Show, by Dan Abrahams Laughter Permitted, by Julie Foudy Just Women's Sports Podcast "A League of Their Own" (film) "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)

In Episode 55, Aaron Blue, CEO of The Charis Project in Thailand, talks with Phil about how he ended up working with people on the Thailand/Burma border, how soccer is an integral part of his ministry, why soccer is such a powerful cross-cultural tool, and how his soccer coaches in his early years impacted him for reasons you wouldn't expect. Specifically, Aaron discusses: His story, how he developed his passion for leadership and ministry (1:53) How The Charis Project is using soccer to transform lives of the youth and others on the Thailand/Burma border (9:42) Why soccer is such a powerful tool for cross-cultural leadership development and ministry (27:06) The raw and vulnerable lesson he learned from his coaches in his early playing days, which have inspired him four decades later (32:45) His #1 Leadership book recommendation of all time (46:41) Resources and Links from this Episode The Charis Project website Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin Friedman