In Episode 43, Diego Bocanegra, Head Coach of University of Houston Women’s Soccer, talks with Phil about how his childhood shaped his love for soccer, specialization, how we can give youth sports back to the kids, the state of soccer in America, what elite players have in common, his personal “Why,” his new podcast, and what he has learned from the beautiful game that he uses in other areas of life. Specifically, Diego discusses:

• How he developed his passion for soccer, other sports, and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today (2:06)
• How his childhood experiences and his parents have shaped him and taught him lessons that help him in his coaching (6:09)
• His thoughts on specialization, and if and when kids should specialize in one sport (10:17)
• How he believes club and youth soccer are being taken away from the kids and what we can do about it (16:26)
• The state of soccer in America and how we need to make it more about the players’ flourishing (22:47)
• The common threads among elite athletes (34:43)
• His personal “Why” and life mission, and how it informs his leadership (42:03)
• The why and what of his new podcast, “Boca” (46:33)
• Clubhouse and how we can engage the new platform to help us and others flourish (52:35)
• How Diego used the lessons learned playing and coaching soccer in his stint in the financial planning and insurance world, and vice-versa (58:31)
• What he wants his players to know when they leave his program (1:04:19)
• What he has learned directly from soccer that he has used in his life and leadership outside the game (1:06:32)
• His book and podcast recommendations (1:09:40)

Resources and Links from this Episode

• Diego’s “Boca” Podcast
• Uncut Video of the Episode
• HSEL Facebook Group
• Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke
• Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids, by John O’Sullivan
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!, by Robert T. Kiyosaki
• The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Rich, by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D, and William D. Danko, Ph.D
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel Pink
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth
• Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court, by Jay Bilas
• Black Box Thinking: Why Most People Don’t Learn From Their Mistakes, But Some Do, by Matthew Syed
• Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell