How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

In Episode 54, Zac Hoffman, Author of Finding the Good Life as a SWALeader and former professional American football player in Europe, talking with Phil about intercultural competence, leading effectively in a foreign country, humility, playing American football in Europe, mental toughness and resilience, and helping players to overcome adversity. Specifically, Zac discusses: His story, how he developed his passion for football and leadership, his new book, and how he ended up playing football in Europe (2:12) The importance of intercultural competence in our leadership (9:23) Earning respect and leading effectively in a foreign country when speaking a different language (16:29) The importance of a humble, learning posture (20:07) Playing American football in countries that love the other (real) football (23:40) Lessons he learned when he transitioned to "the real world" after he retired from his football playing career (26:50) His personal why (32:11) Mental toughness and resilience (38:21) Importance of coaches helping their players overcome adversity (43:49) What he has learned directly from the game of American football that he has used in other areas of his life (47:13) His recommendation (50:31) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke Finding the Good Life as a SWALeader: Effective Leadership in Our New World, by Zach Hoffman #Maxout Your Life: Strategies for Becoming an Elite Performer, by Ed Mylett

In Episode 53, Jesse Bradley, Pastor of Seattle Grace Community Church, Dartmouth College Men's Soccer Alum, and Former Professional in Scotland and Zimbabwe, talks with Phil about developing healthy mindset and habits, finding our purpose, developing muscle memory in our decision-making, collaboration in leadership, healthy and toxic teams, leading with confidence and clarity, identity formation, servant leadership, leaders as followers, and parenting and marriage advice. Specifically, Jesse discusses: His story, how he developed his passion for soccer, leadership, and ministry, and how a reaction to prescribed medication drastically changed his life (2:47) Mindset and how we can develop positive habits and purpose (8:21) Developing muscle memory in our decision making and living out our values, on and off the field (15:55) The importance of collaboration in leadership, and how we can do it well (18:13) Developing healthy cultures and dealing with toxic team members (25:24) Leading with confidence and faith, not in fear (35:10) Transformational Leadership and the importance of clarity in healthy organizations (39:14) Shaping identity of our ourselves and our teams, well beyond performance (44:10) Servant leadership and the concept that great leaders need to be great followers (48:52) His personal why and how he lives it out every day (55:24) His programs to help people in their parenting, marriages, and shaping identity (57:00) What he has learned from the game that he has used in his marriage and parenting (58:58) What resources he has learned from over the years (1:02:52) Resources and Links from this Episode Jesse's Website with free marriage, parenting, identity formation, and other programs Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke The Advantage, by Patrick Lencioni

In Episode 52, Paul and Phil recall some of the highlights of the first half of Season 4 and continue their conversation about the leadership genius of Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, and Nate the Great, covering Episodes 7 & 8 of the show. Specifically, they discuss: Highlights from the interviews we had with Diego Bocanegra, Lance Key, Will Russell, and Tracy Hamm in the first half of Season 4 (2:47) Making youth soccer more accessible to all kids, not just the wealthy, across the US (5:36) Specialization in youth sports (9:10) Using soccer to prepare our kids for adulthood (17:10) The power of connections between coach and player, as with Ted's connection with Jamie Tartt (23:40) Ted apologizing to Nate the Great, and the power of saying, "I'm sorry." (32:36) Lessons learned from Ted empowering Nate to give the pre-game speech at Everton (35:32) How the impact a coach can have on his or her players can last a lifetime in unexpected ways (40:20) The lessons learned from Ted's darts match with Rupert in Episode 9 (44:10) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke Email Phil – phil@howsoccerexplainsleadership.com The Warrior Way Ted Lasso (Apple TV)

In Episode 52, Paul and Phil recall some of the highlights of the first half of Season 4 and continue their conversation about the leadership genius of Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, and Nate the Great, covering Episodes 7 & 8 of the show. Specifically, they discuss: Highlights from the interviews we had with Diego Bocanegra, Lance Key, Will Russell, and Tracy Hamm in the first half of Season 4 (2:47) Making youth soccer more accessible to all kids, not just the wealthy, across the US (5:36) Specialization in youth sports (9:10) Using soccer to prepare our kids for adulthood (17:10) The power of connections between coach and player, as with Ted's connection with Jamie Tartt (23:40) Ted apologizing to Nate the Great, and the power of saying, "I'm sorry." (32:36) Lessons learned from Ted empowering Nate to give the pre-game speech at Everton (35:32) How the impact a coach can have on his or her players can last a lifetime in unexpected ways (40:20) The lessons learned from Ted's darts match with Rupert in Episode 9 (44:10) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke Email Phil – phil@howsoccerexplainsleadership.com The Warrior Way Ted Lasso (Apple TV)

In Episode 51, Tracy Hamm, Head Coach of UC Davis Women's Soccer, talks with Phil about her incredible journey to obtaining her UEFA A license and the documentary made about it ("Coach"), crashing big wheels and "pool sharking" as a kid, mentoring, creating and maintaining healthy culture, preventing toxic teams, understanding "the other" and other perspectives, integrity, and how pressure is a privilege. Specifically, Tracy discusses: Her story and how she grew her passion for soccer, coaching, and leadership (2:07) Lessons learned from her childhood crashing big wheels into walls and being a "pool shark" on the playground (7:04) Insight on an interesting recruiting story from her high school years (10:17) Her why and life purpose, and how it has played out in her playing and coaching over the years (12:11) The importance of mentors and mentoring as a coach (14:44) How she seeks to create and maintain healthy culture and encourage integrity on her teams (18:31) Toxic vs. healthy teams (22:11) "Coach," the documentary about her quest for the UEFA A Coaching License, and what it feels like to be one of the few women to earn the license, and why it is important to get more women coaches in the game (25:07) The importance of taking time to understand "the other" in our lives (27:55) The importance of having different perspectives in coaching staffs and teams (31:16) What she is most excited about and most disappointed about in US Soccer (36:51) What she hopes her players have internalized before they leave her program (39:10) What she learned from the game that she has used in her life outside the game (41:16) Her book and podcast recommendations (42:36) Resources and Links from this Episode "Coach" (Documentary) Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth "All or Nothing: Manchester City" (Amazon Prime) "Take Us Home: Leeds United" (Amazon Prime)

In Episode 50, we are continuing our Fan Favorites series by recasting our interview with Lee Baker, Owner of uScore Soccer and Director of Legacy Soccer Club, who talked with Phil about overcoming hardships, knowing and sticking to your "why," setting and pursuing goals, using soccer as a classroom for life and leadership, modeling ethics and integrity, perspective, mentoring, and sacrificial living. Specifically, Lee discusses: His story and how he developed his passion for soccer, leadership, and his journey to uScore and Legacy Soccer Club (1:48) What Lee has learned about leadership through hardships, and how he has grown through difficult experiences (5:56) The importance of mission, vision, and values to create clarity in your organization, goal setting, and really knowing your "why" (12:35) How uScore Soccer and Legacy Soccer Club are doing things differently and teaching his players life and leadership lessons through the game in their practices and "classroom" time (17:02) How we can teach and model character, ethics, and integrity, and compete at the highest level in our soccer clubs and organizations (23:22) How you can address parents and/or players who don't agree with your organization's mission, vision, and/or values (28:07) The importance of perspective and learning from the best in class, other cultures, and other disciplines (33:22) The benefits of mentoring in our organizations (38:46) How Lee uses lessons he has learned from the beautiful game in his marriage, parenting, and other areas of life (40:44) A fun conversation about a show that has impacted Lee's thinking on how soccer explains life and leadership (43:39) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode –https://youtu.be/G2hp8-vAA6A HSEL Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/howsoccerexplainsleadership uScore Soccer website -- https://www.uscore-soccer.com Legacy Soccer Club website -- https://www.legacysoccer.org Ted Lasso (Amazon Prime) -- https://apple.co/3sDe9py

In Episode 49, we continue our Fan Favorites Series with our interview with Amanda Cromwell, Head Coach of UCLA Women's Soccer, Former National Team member and coach, former pro footballer, and Olympic Gold Medalist, who talked with Phil about vulnerability, recruiting, pursuing justice, and infectious influence. Specifically, she discusses: Her experience in soccer and leadership from her club career, to University of VA, to some other cool stuff, to her current position at UCLA. (1:46) The most memorable leaders she has played and coached with during her illustrious career, and the qualities that set them apart from the rest (3:21) The critical importance of understanding and connecting with your teammates and players you're coaching (6:10) Life and leadership lessons she has learned from the game itself (7:25) The importance of players, and all people, to experience and overcome adversity and failure early in life (9:50) What we can learn from our losses and failings (11:27) Leadership lessons (and some insider Bruin lore) from her Final Four experience in her National Championship season at UCLA (which also happened to be her first year at the school) (13:33) How to foster a healthy culture in a team full of elite players, and the difficulties of choosing captains (22:07) The non-negotiables of a captain (24:57) What she looks for in recruits (and their parents), how she works to prevent signing problem players to her program and how she deals with viruses who slip through the cracks (26:19) How to keep players content and motivated when they're on the bench, or worse, not in the Top 18 (30:29) How she cultivates a healthy team culture with a team full of differing world views, political views, demographics, and backgrounds, even when people disagree on important things (34:18) Resources that she recommends to us (53:43) Resources and Links from this Episode Audio with subtitles available on our YouTube channel (video not available due to technical difficulties) UCLA Women's Soccer website & Social – https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soccer & @uclawsoccer Amanda on Social -- @CromwellUCLA (Twitter) & @coach_cromwell (IG) Corey Close on IG and Twitter --@coachcoriclose How Soccer Explains Leadership Facebook Group -- https://www.facebook.com/groups/howsoccerexplainsleadership "All or Nothing: Manchester City" – Amazon Prime "All or Nothing: Tottenham" – Amazon Prime "All of Notiong: All Blacks" – Amazon Prime "The Social Dilemma" – Netflix "Take the Ball, Pass the Ball" -- Netflix How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization, by Franklin Foer Failing Forward, by John Maxwell Think Orphan Podcast "Two Perspectives on Abortion" Episode -- https://thinkorphan.com/2018/08/21/episode-110/

In Episode 48, we are continuing our fan favorites mini-series with a re-cast of our interview with Cori Close, Head Coach of UCLA Women's Basketball, who talked with Phil about lessons she learned from her mentor, John Wooden, her personal "Why," what a broom and a shovel have to do with leadership, her Close Conversations, healthy conflict, gratitude, Championship Level Habits, doing the next right thing, and how work done in the dark gets revealed in the light. Specifically, Coach Close discusses: Issues with specialization in one sport too early (2:52) How she developed her passion for soccer, basketball, and leadership, and how she got to be where she is today (4:02) Some lessons she learned while being mentored by the incomparable, John Wooden (8:56) Her personal "Why" and life mission, and how it informs her leadership (12:40) What are the things from sports that will stay with us for our whole life (14:44) Why she has a broom and a shovel in her office (18:55) How we can find and what we can learn from her Close Conversations on social media (21:44) Why healthy conflict and tension is necessary for any healthy team (24:34) A "have-to" vs. "get-to" mentality and why it matters (32:54) Creating and reaching Championship Level Habits (39:16) Doing the next right thing in the midst of the wrestle and getting back to neutral (45:57) What she wants her players to know when they leave her program (53:16) What she has learned directly from basketball (and soccer) that she has used in her life and leadership outside the game(s) (54:41) How the work done in the dark gets revealed in the light (58:34) Her book and podcast recommendations (1:00:44) Resources and Links from this Episode Coach Close on IG & Twitter (@coachcoriclose), and FB (Cori Close) Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke Ted Lasso (Apple TV) Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life, by James Kerr The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, by Stephen R. Covey Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great, by Joshua Medcalf Burn Your Goals: The Counter Cultural Approach to Achieving Your Greatest Potential, by Joshua Medcalf The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else, by Patrick Lencioni Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation, by Miles McPherson "Two Perspectives on Abortion," Think Orphan Podcast, Episode 110 In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence: My Kids, Your Kids, Our Kids, by Philip Darke and Keith McFarland, et. al Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered, by Lisa Terkeurst It Takes What It Takes: How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life, by Trever Moawad Win in the Dark, by Joshua Medcalf and Lucas Jadin The Focus 3 Podcast The Relentless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World, by John Mark Comer Fight Hustle, End Hurry Podcast with John Mark Comer and Jefferson Bethke

In Episode 47, we are re-casting our episode with Brad Miller, Founder of Soccer Resilience, Clinical Psychologist, and former Wake Forest soccer player, who talks with Phil about the four pillars of soccer resilience, how we can address anxiety and depression in sports, resetting and retraining our brains, fixed vs. growth mindsets, and whether we actually do play like we practice. Specifically, Brad discusses: His story and how he developed his passion for soccer, sports psychology, and leadership (2:11) The four pillars of soccer resilience (8:59) Anxiety and depression in sports and beyond (17:08) Why it's important to know that "it's not a you issue, it's a brain issue," and what that means (22:14) Resetting and retraining our brain, and what that looks like in practice (26:13) The concept of "what you celebrate, you practice," and how it relates to the mindfulness conversation (38:03) Fixed vs. Growth mindset and what it has to do with soccer (46:02) Is it really true that you play like you practice? (58:01) Can we recreate the stress and pressure of a penalty kick in training? (1:01:26) How Brad has used the principles from soccer in his marriage, parenting, and other areas of life (1:05:03) Brad's book recommendations (1:09:11) Resources and Links from this Episode Soccer Resilience website – soccerresilience.com Soccer Resilience YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUQEXctanLbfHYfTNfSOUig Uncut Video of the Episode – https://youtu.be/KYVQLmQCah4 HSEL Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/howsoccerexplainsleadership Phil on Clubhouse -- @phildarke Mindset, by Carol Dweck Switch on Your Brain, by Caroline Leaf Start With Why, by Simon Sinek "Start with Why" TED Talk -- https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en Think Orphan Podcast episode with Caroline Leaf -- https://thinkorphan.com/2020/10/27/episode-156-recast-caroline-leaf-switch-on-your-brain/ The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg Atomic Habits, by James Clear Grit, by Angela Duckworth David and Goliath, by Malcolm Gladwell

In Episode 46, 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 (1:31) How Don's work with SRUSA is similar to his work as a coach of soccer teams at all levels (5:19) The need for players to have both raw athleticism and passion for the sport to play at the college level and beyond (11:06) The importance of soccer players finding the "right fit" and how they can do so (16:00) Why creating and knowing your budget is critical in the recruiting process (23:53) Selling yourself and not burying the lead in your videos, emails, and other recruiting communications with prospective colleges (and employers) (32:53) The importance of "punching someone in the nose" in the recruiting process (37:17) How to make videos on a tight budget (40:58) Making the kids put in the work with their videos, emails, and other areas of the recruiting process (43:33) The small world of college and pro soccer, and how it relates to the world outside the game (44:58) The #1 tool that college coaches use to find recruits (49:46) What most coaches are looking for when they recruit at tournaments and showcases (55:08) 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 (59:44) Real world lessons kids can learn during the recruiting process (1:03:50) How to grab a coach's attention in a subject line and email (1:06:56) How Don is using lessons learned in soccer in his life outside the game (1:10:22) 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