In Episode 169, Frank Kelly, CEO of Kelly Benefits, Former Cornell Lacrosse and Football player, and Author of Influence and the Creator’s Game, talks with Phil and Paul about his extensive experience in sports, business, leadership, and ministry, and how his faith journey has deeply impacted all facets of his life. Frank shares personal stories from his athletic journey, his involvement with FCA, the concept of playing sports to please the Creator, and how sports can integrate with faith to influence lives for eternity. He also discusses how the principles and lessons learned from sports are applied in his family business, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and values. Listeners will gain insights into using sports to make disciples, developing a mission-driven business, and integrating faith into various aspects of life. Specifically, Frank discusses:

·      His sports, business, and faith journey (4:00)

·      A story from his not-so-extensive soccer coaching experience (13:35)

·      His personal “why” and life purpose, and how he is living it out (17:40)

·      The story behind his book, Influence and the Creator's Game and the concept of a “Praise Performance” (22:07)

·      The only thing that matters (27:17)

·      Impacting lives through lacrosse (29:52)

·      An incredible story about God’s Providence (35:22)

·      Lessons from lacrosse and other sports that he uses in his business (40:30)

·      Impactful coaches and mentors in his life (51:35)

·      Lessons from sport that he has used in his marriage and parenting (54:22)

·      His recommended books (56:31)

Resources and Links from this Episode

·                Influence and the Creator’s Game, Frank Kelly III

·                Frank Kelly III’s website

·                Uncut Video of the Episode

·                HSEL Facebook Group

·                Warrior Way Soccer

·                Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·                Phil’s email for DISC Training

·                The Hard Hat: 21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate, Jon Gordon

·                The Secret: How to Live with Purpose and Power, Bill Bright

In Episode 168, Phil and Paul discuss their highlights from the first half of HSEL’s Season 12, as well as some personal and professional updates. They talk about their conversations with Wells Thompson, Don Williams, and Brad Kenney, as well as their “Extra Time” episode, delving into topics like vulnerability, what it takes to become a pro athlete, navigating the changing college soccer landscape, prioritizing family values and player development, and the importance of life beyond the game.

If you’re loving the show (or if you don’t love it ; )), please to subscribe, give us your feedback, rate and review the show, and, most importantly, continually learn from the show and use it to help you flourish in everything you do.

Resources and Links from this Episode

·                 Uncut Video of the Episode

·                 HSEL Facebook Group

·                 Warrior Way Soccer

·                 Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·                 Phil’s email for DISC Training

·                 The Soccer Psalms, Brad Kenney

In Episode 167, we are recasting our interview with Pete Kipley, Founder of Bolta Soccer, Music Producer and Songwriter, in which he talks with Phil about his journey from being a music producer to opening a soccer training facility in Nashville. He discusses the similarities between the music and soccer worlds, emphasizing the importance of mentality, culture, and leadership in both fields. Pete also talks about his philosophy at Bolta, focusing on curating quality trainers, creating opportunities, and connecting players with the right resources. The conversation delves into parenting, motivating young athletes, and the impact of COVID-19 on youth sports. Pete concludes with reflections on the qualities of effective coaches and the far-reaching implications of lessons from soccer on parenting and life. Specifically, he discusses:

·      His story of how soccer and leadership have influenced his life and how he ended up leaving the music industry to start an indoor facility.

·      His philosophy at Bolta Soccer and how they are curating, creating, and connecting in their development of trainers and players in their community

·      How breaking into and advancing in the music industry and the soccer world involve many of the same things

·      How the college soccer recruiting process prepares athletes for the world outside of soccer

·      What Pete has learned from the game of soccer as a man who has only recently fallen in love with the beautiful game, particularly what he has learned about the mental side of the game

·      The dangers and negative impact of parents, coaches, and other leaders micromanaging and pressuring the people they’re leading, and why it is critical to foster an environment allowing for a freedom to fail 

·      How to deal with failure and “bad balls” in soccer and life

·      The importance of teamwork and teammates covering for each other

·      The common threads that Pete has seen in the best soccer coaches he has worked with in his life

·      Principles from soccer that he applies in his marriage and parenting in his home (and Pete gets really philosophical on this one)

·      Resources that Pete recommends to us

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode

Video of this episode

Bolta Soccer website

Warrior Way Soccer

Phil’s email for DISC training

“All or Nothing: Manchester City” – Amazon Prime

“All or Nothing: Tottenham” – Amazon Prime

“Ted Lasso” – Apple TV

“Take Us Home: Leeds United” – Amazon Prime

In Episode 166 of How Soccer Explains Leadership, hosts Phil Darke and Paul Jobson discuss the intersection of youth soccer, leadership, priorities, and family values. Through personal and professional experience, they address the importance of aligning family priorities with athletic commitments. They emphasize the benefits of learning from losses, balancing sports and family life, and enabling kids to navigate conversations with coaches. The episode also explores the use of video cameras at young ages, impact of extensive travel for youth tournaments, and the pressures on young athletes. Specifically, they discuss:

03:40 Priorities in Youth Sports

07:03 Core family values and their role in commitment decisions

10:11 The role of sports in personal development

14:24 Balancing family and sports commitments

28:02 The importance of losing and learning

29:55 Facing adversity in sports and life

31:01 The importance of team camaraderie

32:42 Is extensive travel in youth sport necessary and advisable?

33:48 Balancing individual and team goals

34:57 Parental involvement and athlete development

39:10 The impact of over-scheduling on youth athletes

49:29 Encouraging self-advocacy in young athletes and relationship nurturing with your young athletes

Resources and Links from this Episode

·                 Uncut Video of the Episode

·                 HSEL Facebook Group

·                 Warrior Way Soccer

·                 Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·                 Phil’s email for DISC Training

In Episode 165, Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Colorado Rapids Chaplain, talks with Phil about he has blended his passion for soccer, ministry, and leadership. Brad shares his personal story of his transition from high school soccer player to college videographer to Chaplain for the Colorado Rapids over two decades ago. They dive into Brad's experience in founding Soccer Chaplains United, how he navigates his role as a chaplain with players from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, and the leadership lessons he has learned along the way. They also discuss Brad’s book, 'The Soccer Psalms,' his personal purpose, and his experiences using life lessons from soccer in his marriage and parenting. Additionally, Brad shares insights relating to identity, performance, purpose, and calling from his interactions with players and coaches, emphasizing the importance of holistic care and leadership both on and off the field. Specifically, Brad covers:

·      2:20 How he developed his passion for soccer, leadership, and ministry, and how he ended up as a Chaplain for the Colorado Rapids

·      12:41 His personal why and how he is living it out

·      19:25 Navigating Different Faiths, Cultures, and Backgrounds as a MLS Chaplain

·      23:51 Performance vs. Purpose vs. Calling Identity

·      32:15 Succession in Leadership

·      36:42 His defining moment in his soccer career and what leadership lessons he has learned from them

·      43:27 Why he wrote The Soccer Psalms and what he hopes people will take from it

·      49:12 Soccer Psalm 133 and a cool story about the night before the Rapids’ 2010 MLS Cup Victory

·      59:28 Great lessons he has learned from his soccer career that he has used in his marriage, parenting, and other relationships, including a “Stretcher Crew,” the “Crow’s Nest,” and your “Starting 11”

·      01:05:00 His recommendations

Resources and Links from this Episode

·                 The Soccer Psalms, Brad Kenney

·                 Soccer Chaplains United Website

·                 Uncut Video of the Episode

·                 HSEL Facebook Group

·                 Warrior Way Soccer

·                 Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·                 Phil’s email for DISC Training

·                 Cloud and Townsend website

·                 Patrick Lencioni (The Table Group) website

In Episode 164, we have another great interview with Don Williams, SRUSA Head of Operations for the Americas and former college coach at every level. He talks with Paul and Phil about modern trends impacting youth soccer and college recruitment. They explore the implications of the transfer portal, the challenges and opportunities related to international player recruitment, and how these transformations affect high school and club soccer. Williams shares his experiences with helping players navigate the complexities of college soccer aspirations and emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation and appropriate fit over superficial labels. Issues such as NIL (name, image, likeness) and the potential changes in college sports dynamics are also addressed. Specifically, they cover:

·      05:38 What Don’s been up to since the last time we had him on HSEL

·      06:51 Transfer Portal and College Soccer Landscape

·      21:44 Intrinsic Motivation in Soccer

·      27:35 Changes in Youth and College Soccer

·      38:35 The Impact of Adult Expectations on Youth Sports

·      39:46 The Pursuit of Status and Its Emotional Toll

·      41:18 Finding the Right Fit

·      42:39 Balancing Competition and Enjoyment

·      46:21 The College Soccer Dilemma

·      54:55 The Role of International Players in College Soccer

·      01:08:13 Future Trends and Challenges in College Sports

Resources and Links from this Episode      

·                 SRUSA Website

·                 Uncut Video of the Episode

·                 HSEL Facebook Group

·                 Warrior Way Soccer

·                 Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·                 Phil’s email for DISC Training

In Episode 163, we are kicking off Season 12 with a conversation with Wells Thompson, Former MLS midfielder and 1st Round Draft Pick, Co-Founder of Soccer Resilience, husband, and father. He talked with Paul and Phil about his journey from childhood adversity to the MLS, his struggles with identity and mental health, his faith journey and his personal why relating to that journey, his difficulties transitioning to life after soccer, why left Soccer Resilience after founding and leading it for a few years, and a lot of wisdom regarding true leadership. They also discuss how soccer and other sports are incredible classrooms, and how he is learning deep life lessons every single day as a stay-at-home dad, husband, and father of athletes. The interview is full of vulnerable moments, personal stories, and practical advice. Specifically, they discuss:

·      How Wells developed his passion for soccer, leadership, faith in God, and how he went from rolling with the wrong crowd, getting into drugs, and not being recruited to college to playing for Wake Forest and getting drafted 5th in the MLS Draft (7:30)

·      Lessons he learned in his pro career (16:10)

·      His transition to life after soccer (19:51)

·      His personal why, vulnerability as a superpower, and how he is living out his life purpose (26:58)

·      The revelation that caused him to leave Soccer Resilience (31:44)

·      How Soccer Resilience got started, some of the great things coming out of it, and how starting/running a business is like working to be a pro soccer player (and a couple great quotes from Nelson Mandela and Billy Graham) (35:39)

·      How he went from not making ODP to playing professional soccer, how that is relevant to the parenting of his kids while they are playing sports, and what we can learn from his journey (42:39)

·      Balancing pushing our kids to be the best they can be and learning life lessons from sports without getting too involved (especially at the wrong time or place) and/or forcing them to play sports they don’t want to play (51:11)

·      What actually goes into being a pro athlete (54:30)

·      What he didn’t learn as a pro athlete (hint: it is very relevant to this podcast) (56:25)

·      Leadership from the bench (1:00:26)

·      Lessons that he has learned from the game that he uses in his marriage and parenting (1:03:31)

·      What he has watched, read, or listened to that has impacted his thinking on how soccer explains life and leadership (1:06:58)

Resources and Links from this Episode    

·                 Uncut Video of the Episode

·                 HSEL Facebook Group

·                 Warrior Way Soccer

·                 Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·                 Phil’s email for DISC Training

·                 Wrestling with Angels: A True Story of Addiction, Resurrection, Hope, Fashion, Training Celebrities, and Man’s Oldest Sport, John Hanrahan

·                 Main Street Millionaire: How to Make Extraordinary Wealth Buying Ordinary Businesses, Codie Sanchez

In Episode 162, Paul and Phil have a great conversation about their 2024 highlights, including their favorite ministry and family moments, as well as the most impactful books, movies, podcasts, and HSEL episodes they have enjoyed this year. They also discuss the current youth and college soccer landscape, particularly how we can make it more about the kids and young adults playing the game. No doubt you will learn a lot from this conversation and have fun in the process.

Resources and Links from this Episode

Video of the Episode

HSEL Facebook Group

Warrior Way Soccer

Coaching the Bigger Game Program

Phil’s email for DISC Training

Veritas: 7 Truths that Lead to a Purposeful Life, Ali Malaekeh

Help to Keep HSEL Going!

If this podcast is helping you and others in your life, you can help us continue producing great content by donating to HSEL with a one-time or monthly gift at providenceworld.com.

Want to Grow as a Leader in 2025?

If you’re looking to deepen your leadership and coaching skills beyond the Xs and Os, join our next cohort of Coaching the Bigger Game. Spots are limited, so click here to learn more and sign up.

Get Involved with the Warrior Way!

Check out The Warrior Way and discover how you can get involved in this incredible ministry Paul and Marci Jobson started in Waco, TX. Click here for more information.

We Want to Hear From You!

What are your favorite How Soccer Explains Leadership moments from 2024, which guests would you like to see on the show, and what would you like Paul and Phil to discuss on the show? Email Phil at [email protected] or share in the HSEL Facebook Group.

We’d also appreciate it if you’d rate and review the show, subscribe to the show, and share it with others who you think would benefit from the incredible guests we have on HSEL.

In Episode 161, we are wrapping up 2024 with our top 13 highlights (plus a bonus clip as our gift to you) from each of our interviews this year. As we step into 2025, we’re showcasing powerful takeaways from our guests, which highlight key principles of leadership that transcend soccer and apply to every area of our lives.

There is even more wisdom packed into the full interviews, so be sure to check them out at howsoccerexplainsleadership.com or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Clips Featured in This Episode:

1. David Irby – “Bringing Hope”
2. Todd Yelton – “Closer to God”
3. Jessica Hain – “Empathy and Soccer IQ”
4. Brock Thompson – “Specificity in Praise”
5. Randy Waldrum – “Get the Buy-In”
6. Lang Wedemeyer – “Some Things Never Change”
7. The NCAA Settlement Show – “Professional Collegiate Athletes”
8. Ali Malaekeh – “Integrity and Kintsugi”
9. Schellas Hyndman – “Lead Without Starting”
10. Ruth Brennan Morrey – “Unstructured Free Play”
11. Lance VanHaitsma – “Reset Button”
12. Lincoln Phillips – “Mirror of Life”
13. Paul Gizzi – “Becoming Lesser”
14. BONUS – David Irby – “Soccer is Life”

Help to Keep HSEL Going!

If this podcast is helping you and others in your life, you can help us continue producing great content by donating to HSEL with a year-end or monthly gift at providenceworld.com.

Want to Grow as a Leader in 2025?

If you’re looking to deepen your leadership and coaching skills beyond the Xs and Os, join our next cohort of Coaching the Bigger Game. Spots are limited, so click here to learn more and sign up.

Get Involved with the Warrior Way!

Check out The Warrior Way and discover how you can get involved in this incredible ministry Paul and Marci Jobson started in Waco, TX. Click here for more information.

We Want to Hear From You!

What are your favorite How Soccer Explains Leadership moments from 2024? Email Phil at [email protected] or share in the HSEL Facebook Group.

We’d also appreciate it if you’d rate and review the show, subscribe to the show, and share it with others who you think would benefit from the incredible guests we have on HSEL.

Thank you for being a part of the HSEL community – here’s to another year of learning, leading, and growing through the beautiful game!     

Resources and Links from this Episode

·                 HSEL Facebook Group

·                 Make a Donation to Keep HSEL Going (Providence World)

·                 Warrior Way Soccer

·                 Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·                 Phil’s email for DISC Training

·                 Veritas: 7 Truths that Lead to a Purposeful Life, Ali Malaekeh

·                 “Redemption Song” (YouTube)

In Episode 160, we are recasting our interview with Peter Greer, President/CEO of HOPE International and former Messiah College footballer, who talked with Paul and Phil about his path from Messiah College to alleviating poverty with Hope International, how he built in accountability to ensure that he puts his family first, why it is so important to be grateful for everything and entitled to nothing, some of the great lessons he learned from his coaches and teammates at Messiah, how he is using those lessons in his collaborative work with Hope, the need for us to be kind to referees (and why it matters), why we need more grace and less judgment in our sports and the rest of the world, team vs. individual, rooting for our rivals, not settling for mediocrity, and much more. Specifically, Peter discusses:

·       His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today (4:13)

·       His work with HOPE Int’l and how HOPE is working to alleviate poverty around the world (7:14)

·       His personal why/mission statement and how he is living it out (11:13)

·       Why his wife has Peter’s resignation letter from Hope Int’l and what he is doing to ensure she doesn’t send it (13:45)

·       The Messiah Method and how Peter’s experienced it and lived it out during his college years and beyond (17:47)

·       How he saw the Messiah program building toward the run of National Championships while he was playing there (22:38)

·       How he is using the lessons he learned at Messiah in his work with HOPE Int’l (26:13)

·       How he uses lessons learned from soccer in his collaborative projects around the world (33:01)

·       A couple soccer analogies that Peter uses in his life regularly (37:12)

·       Why we need more grace than judgment in our world – and yes, that includes with referees (40:37)

·       Defining moments in his life and how they impacted his life and leadership (44:55)

·       Some of the great coaches he has played for and a couple whose leadership stick out above the rest, and what he learned from those great coaches (50:17)

·       His thoughts on the current state of US Soccer, and what we can do about it (55:26)

·       How he has used lessons learned from sports in his marriage and parenting (1:01:31)

·       His podcast recommendation (1:03:30)

Resources and Links from this Episode

·       HOPE International Website

·       Rooting for Rivals: How Collaboration and Generosity Increase the Impact of Leaders, Charities, and Churches, by Peter Greer

·       The Messiah Method: The Seven Disciplines of the Winningest College Soccer Program in America, by Michael Zigarelli

·       Uncut Video of the Episode

·       HSEL Facebook Group

·       Warrior Way Soccer

·       Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·       Phil’s email for DISC Training