In Episode 56, Kassie Gray, Founder/Director of Female Footballers and former Cal soccer player, talks with Phil about her mission and vision to help young girls focus on the mental aspects of sports, the value of playing multiple sports, the importance of mentors, preventing burnout, and what excites and disappoints her about soccer in America. Specifically, Kassie discusses:

• Her story, how she developed her passion for soccer and leadership, and how she got to be where she is today (2:44)
• The new club her husband started and how it is seeking to be different from the rest (6:37)
• The mission and vision of Female Footballers, and how Kassie is working to empower females in the world of soccer (9:40)
• The importance and value of playing multiple sports (16:14)
• The power of soccer as a tool to teach life lessons to our kids, and how we are getting it right and wrong in youth sports (21:10)
• Her personal why and how she is living it out in her life (24:23)
• Why everyone should have a mentor and why they are so important (28:25)
• What’s causing our young players to burn out and what we can do to avoid it (33:22)
• Why we need to be proactive and not reactive (36:38)
• What excites Kassie about soccer in America (42:10)
• What she hopes young women going through Female Footballers will learn and internalize, and live out through the program (49:46)
• How she is using what she learned through soccer in her marriage and parenting (55:20)
• Her recommendations (1:00:45)

Resources and Links from this Episode

• Female Footballers website
• Uncut Video of the Episode
• HSEL Facebook Group
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth
• Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, by Adam Grant
• The Sports Psych Show, by Dan Abrahams
• Laughter Permitted, by Julie Foudy
• Just Women’s Sports Podcast
• “A League of Their Own” (film)
• “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV+)