How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

In Episode 27, Paul and Phil continue their conversation about the leadership genius of Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, and Nate the Great, covering Episodes 3 & 4 of the show, and briefly discuss highlights from the first half of Season 3. Specifically, our hosts discuss: Highlights from the first half of Season 3 (4:38) Empowering our players and children to deal with bullies and be leaders (8:00) Recog...

In Episode 26, Max Rooke, Pepperdine University Women's Soccer Associate Head Coach, Founder of Life to the Max, and former Reading FC Youth Academy footballer, talks with Phil about working with others wired differently from us, the importance of collaboration, getting players to put their own agenda aside, servant leadership, Pepperdine's unorthodox recruiting tactics, and his leadership coachin...

In Episode 25, Del Leonard Jones, Referee/umpire in multiple sports, Author of three books, including At the Bat: The Strikeout That Shamed America and Advice from the Top , and former USA Today Business Journalist (nominated for Pulitzer Prize), talks with Phil about angle and perspective in refereeing and life, issues with VAR and instant replay, avoiding compounding mistakes, the law vs applica...

In Episode 24, Phil Brown, Experiential Education Trainer at High 5 Adventure Learning Center and Host of the Vertical Playpen Podcast, talks with Phil about the value of community, healthy and unhealthy forms of leadership, how leadership is like gardening, the concept of "Connect, Empower, Lead," the power of play, and how he has used lessons from soccer in his outdoor adventure leadership train...

In Episode 23, Glenn Crooks, New York City FC Radio Commentator, Host of The Coaching Academy on SiriusXM FC, Writer/Host of Pro Soccer USA, Host of the On Frame and Soccer in the City Podcasts, Players Development Academy Head Coach, and Former Rutgers University Women's Soccer Coach, talks with Phil about the best leader he coached, other coaches he respects, leading from the middle, empowering...

In Episode 22, Phil and Paul briefly talk about highlights from the second half of Season 2, and spend the rest of their time discussing the leadership genius of Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, and Nate the Great. Specifically, our hosts discuss: Highlights from the second half of Season 2 (0:47) Overall thoughts on the value of Ted Lasso for coaches and other leaders (2:59) The value of a 30,000 foot vie...

In Episode 21, Clyde Best, MBE, former player with West Ham United, Feyenoord, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Portland Timbers, and Toronto Blizzard, former youth coach, former Manager of the Bermuda National Team, and member of the Bermuda Hall of Fame, talks with Phil about how he, as an 18-year-old from Bermuda, overcame racism he experienced as one of the first black players in the English First Division,...

In Episode 20, Renee Lopez, former college coach (17 year veteran at all levels of college), former NCAA Compliance Director, leadership trainer, and author of Looking for a Full Ride: An Insider's Recruiting Guide , talks with Phil about synergy vs. energy vampires, her "no complaining" rule, the importance of CIA, effectively facing adversity, making the most out of brokenness, measuring success...

In Episode 19, Brad Miller, Founder of Soccer Resilience, Clinical Psychologist, and former Wake Forest soccer player, 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 de...

In Episode 18, Rob Burns, Founder/Int'l Director of Missional Links-Wales, former youth player at Wolves, and former youth coach, talks with Phil about the effect of a toxic coach on the team, his "head, heart, hands" philosophy, how he applies soccer in his marriage and parenting, the importance of supporters in your life, the importance of a learning posture, and living lives of integrity and hu...

In Episode 17, Phil and Paul talk about their favorite moments and key takeaways from the first half of Season 2, the power of mentorship, recruiting, setting clear expectations, problems with communicating via text, and living out our mission, vision, and values. More specifically, our hosts discuss: A rundown of the great interviews, themes, and key takeaways from the first half of Season 2 (2:1...

In Episode 16, Toriono Davis, Professional Scout in US and Europe, Connector, and Entrepreneur, talks with Phil about the ins and outs of the DISC Model of Human Behavior, how he uses it to connect deeply and quickly with his players and clubs, and help them reach their potential, the power and importance of mentorship, and why you might want to give your recruits a DISC assessment before signing...

In Episode 15, Michelle Lenard, Head Coach of Dallas Baptist University Women's Soccer, talks with Phil about how to "steal like an artist," DBU's Leadership Council, 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. Specifica...

In Episode 14, Don Williams, Head of Operations for the Americas for Sports Recruiting USA and former coach at all levels of soccer, talks 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...

In Episode 13, Lee Baker, Owner of uScore Soccer and Director of Legacy Soccer Club, talks 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...

In Episode 12, Phil and our new co-host, Paul Jobson, Head Coach of Baylor Soccer, husband, and father when he's not co-hosting this show, talk about the highlights in the second half of Season 1, DISC, Enneagram, and other personality tools, self-awareness, playing out of position, servant leadership and the importance of a humble, learning posture. Specifically, our hosts discuss: Paul's excitem...

In Episode 11, Mark Pease, Pastor of Hope Church in Bradford, England, and lifelong supporter of Leeds United, talks with Phil about the leadership lessons that we can all learn from Marco Bielsa, Leeds United's Manager, as he leads a team, shapes the culture of a club, and impacts an entire city. Specifically, Mark discusses: His story and how football, Leeds United, and leadership have always be...

This week we are bringing part two of our exclusive sneak preview of our sister podcast, Coaching Character, launching January 5, which "coaches coaches to coach character." This episode features an interview with Harrison Phillips, Buffalo Bills Defensive Lineman. For more information about Coaching Character, visit the Coaching Character Apple Podcasts page .  New HSEL episodes will return next...

Over the next two weeks surrounding Christmas, we are introducing to you our sister podcast, Coaching Character, which is officially launching on January 5. We expect that fans of HSEL will love Coaching Character because it helps coaches of youth sports (and all other levels) to incorporate leadership and character development principles into their practices and other areas of their coaching. As...

In Episode 10, Matt Parker, CEO of Teamwork City of Hope, talks with Phil about getting your team on the same page and maximizing performance through clarity, communication, culture, minimizing "noise," developing leadership from within, and covering for your teammates when they're "out of position." Specifically, he discusses: His story and how his soccer and leadership have always been a big par...

In Episode 9, Graham Roxburgh, Head Coach of Trinity Western University and Executive Director/Founder of TeamUp, talks with Phil about the importance of a humble and learning posture, servant leadership, how he studies himself and his players, dealing with viruses on your team, key cultural and leadership principles from the book, Legacy , and how he uses the lessons he has learned in soccer in h...

Touching the Line with Rick Clark of Georgia Tech   In Episode 8, Rick Clark, Director of Admissions at Georgia Institute of Technology, youth soccer coach, and former collegiate soccer player, talks with Phil about how lessons he has learned playing and coaching soccer for the past few decades have helped him in his marriage, his parenting, and his work at Georgia Tech. Specifically, he discusses...

In Episode 7, Jordan Gardner, Chairman of the Board and Co-Owner of FC Helsingor and finalist for the Best Executive at the World Football Summit Industry Awards, talks with Phil about cross-cultural leadership, a posture of learning, recruiting and player development, what makes a great manager, and other aspects of successfully owning and running a football club in Europe. Specifically, he discu...

In our Season 1 Halftime Show (a/k/a Episode 6), Phil and Ryan (yes, Ryan is finally back in the studio) expand on some of the topics covered by our guests, Paul Jobson, Pete Kipley, Amanda Cromwell, and Eric Pfeiffer, in the first four interviews of the podcast, including:   Overcoming adversity and permission to fail (2:40) Coaching against the negative vs. coaching towards a positive (8:35) The...

In Episode 5, 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, and conflict resolution. Specifically, he discusses: His story and how his experience playing soccer intersects with other areas of his life and leadership (2:05) Emot...