Tales From the Trail by MatchPlay

Mindset coach, Eric Manuel, discusses achieving flow state through your mindfulness practice. Visit expertmindsetcoaching.com to learn more about Eric and his mindset coaching practice.

In this episode, I welcome Kelly Conheeney assistant coach of the Manhattan College Jaspers women’s soccer team. Prior to starting her coaching career, Kelly played at Virginia Tech, the NWSL for Sky Blue FC, the Houston Dash, and Hammarby in Sweden. She also trained with the U20 and U23 USWNT programs. Additionally, she worked with Coaches Across Continents to coach and mentor young athletes in S...

In this episode, Justin Chezem, head coach of men’s soccer at Christopher Newport University and I welcome Kevin Wardlaw of MidAmerica Nazarene University men’s soccer. Last fall, Coach Wardlaw’s side won the NAIA national championship. This is an important discussion to hear in order to understand what the NAIA is and how recruiting and competing works in that association. Coach Wardlaw does a gr...

Eric Manuel of expertmindsetcoaching.com discusses Flow State

In this episode Justin Chezem, the Christopher Newport University head men’s soccer coach, and I welcome his former coach and boss, Steve Shaw. Coach Shaw brought the CNU men’s soccer program to the national scene when he took over in 1996. His team was the first in school history to reach a number one national ranking; he continued winning until he retired in 2018. More importantly, Coach Shaw ha...

In this episode I welcome a living legend, Al Albert. Al’s accomplishments in soccer over a 33 year career at the College of William and Mary are too numerous to list. To provide a glimpse into his success as a head men’s soccer coach, he had 29 consecutive winning seasons, 5 CAA tournament championships, 5 regular season CAA titles and several great runs in the NCAA tournament. The 4-time CAA coa...

Mindset Coach Eric Manuel discusses how to start a mindfulness practice.

In this episode I welcome human nutrition professor, Amy Rains. In addition to teaching several courses at the College of William and Mary, Amy is a published cookbook author and healthy recipe guru. We delve into the damage sugar does in our diet, the importance of protein and nutrition as it relates to sports performance. Amy also discusses timing of nutrition and supplementation. This is a grea...

Mindset Monday #20 - Mindset Coach discusses the benefits of a mindfulness practice when facing exhaustion. expertmindsetcoaching.com

In this episode, Justin Chezem of Christopher Newport University Men’s Soccer and I welcome Mark Plotkin. Mark is the head coach of DePaul University men’s soccer in Chicago. Mark does a great job of describing his recruiting process, what it’s like to be a student athlete at DePaul and be a member of the men’s soccer team. He also reflects on growing up in Chicago with a group of kids who loved t...

In this episode I welcome back UFC athlete Carlos Vera and his mindset coach and co-host of our Mindset Mondays, Eric Manuel of Expert Mindset Coaching. In his UFC debut in February, Carlos sustained a shoulder dislocation, torn labrum and grade 5 separation with a broken collarbone in the first minute of the bout. Despite the injury, Carlos persevered and continued to fight until the end. He desc...

Eric Manuel discusses the benefits of growing your mindfulness practice

Hi I’m Scot Cooper and this is the Tales From the Trail Podcast by MatchPlay. In this episode I welcome Asia Mape the founder of I Love to Watch You Play. She discusses her experiences as a parent of athletes and the lessons she’s learned from along the way. I Love to Watch You Play has the motto helping sports parents raise healthy, happy athletes- the name says it all, young athletes repeatedly...

Eric Manuel of Expert Mindset Coaching discusses practicing mindfulness and the benefits it provides in competitive athletics and life.

In this episode, Justin Chezem, head coach of Christopher Newport University men’s soccer and I welcome LEAD Monrovia Football Academy products Blessing Kieh and Abraham Monsee who left Liberia to become students and soccer players at Westminster School in Connecticut. They describe their experiences as students, soccer players, moving halfway across the world and the journey to continue their pla...

In this episode, I welcome back Jimmy Conrad and Jay DeMerit.  The two former US Men’s National teammates enjoyed catching up and reminiscing about playing with each other, playing in the TST Tournament, their thoughts on development, and much more.  There are some great stories they share and fantastic insights as well. We discuss the experience participating in the TST tournament, incl...

Hi I’m Scot Cooper and this is the Tales From the Trail Podcast by MatchPlay.  In this episode I welcome Gabriel Bayona Sapag and Roshan Patel of ClubEleven, a digital media publication connecting soccer audiences across North America.  They have the mission to highlight unique, personal stories in soccer in an effort to grow the game and through storytelling and a feeling of connection...

Eric Manuel of expertmindsetcoaching.com discusses strategies for coping with defeat.

In this episode, Justin Chezem, head coach of Christopher Newport University men’s soccer and I welcome 2 women’s soccer student-athletes.  Delaney Brown just completed her career at the University of Miami and Berkley Mape is in her first year at the Ohio State University.  Thank you to Asia Mape of I Love to Watch You Play and Chris Brown of Student Athlete NIL for helping to make this...

Eric Manuel of expertmindsetcoaching.com continues the discussion about coping with defeat.

 In this episode I had the opportunity to visit the headquarters of soccer.com in North Carolina. I also had the privilege to meet Mike and Brendan Moylan who generously agreed to sit down and chat about the origins of soccer.com in 1984 and the journey they’ve been on for 40 years while building a hugely successful business.  Beyond selling soccer gear, they’ve been a big player in grow...

In this episode, Justin Chezem, head coach of Christopher Newport University men’s soccer, and I are privileged to welcome Jackson Meyer and Jubril Bamgbala, Cadet Student-Athletes from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Summary In this conversation, two West Point soccer players, Jubril Bamgbala and Jackson Meyer, discuss their experiences at West Point and the transition from high...

Eric continues the discussion about coping with defeat and being cautious not to attach your identity to your sport.

Hi I’m Scot Cooper and this is the 100th episode of the Tales From the Trail podcast by MatchPlay.  In this episode, Justin Chezem of Christopher Newport University Men’s Soccer and I welcome Craig Appleby.  Craig is the head coach of men’s soccer at Johns Hopkins University. Coach Appleby has been highly successful at a prestigious university and recruiting the right type of student-ath...

Summary In this conversation, Scot Cooper and Eric Manuel discuss coping with defeat in sports and life. They explore the importance of the groundwork that can be done before encountering defeat, such as accepting the inevitability of failure and adopting a growth mindset. They also discuss coping skills for dealing with setbacks, including seeking social support, practicing positive self-talk, an...