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)