In Episode 138, Lincoln Phillips, Trinidad & Tobago Goalkeeper of the Century, USC Hall of Famer, Former Head Coach of Howard University, Author of Goalkeeping:The Last Line of Defense, The First Line of Attack, husband, father, and grandfather, talks with Phil and Paul about lessons learned during his journey from Trinidad & Tobago Goalkeeper to professional soccer in the US to Howard University Head Coach and beyond, a movie being made about his incredible life, the importance of hard work, adaptability, and empowering players to lead, how captains need to be on-field coaches, his views on controversial goalkeeper topics, great stories and defining moments in his life, an incredible story of friendship that transcended the game and society during a difficult time in the US, the need for more creativity in American soccer, and much more. Specifically, Coach Phillips discusses:

·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and how a kid from Trinidad & Tobago who was “terrible at everything” ended up being a player-coach in early years of the NASL and a legendary coach at Howard University (4:40)

·      His personal why and life purpose and how he is living it out today (13:33)

·      His coaching background (16:39)

·      The story behind his book, Goalkeeping:The Last Line of Defense, The First Line of Attack, and some invaluable goalkeeping tips from a legend (22:33)

·      How we can teach keepers to be better at 1 v 1’s (28:11)

·      The importance of keepers being coached with the team, not off to the side (30:49)

·      Corner kicks – defenders on posts or no defenders on posts? (31:57)

·      Why American soccer coaches need to start questioning things and thinking for themselves (37:06)

·      Life and leadership lessons he learned playing the great position of goalkeeper (42:24)

·      His defining moment in his soccer career and what he learned from it (47:39)

·      His most influential coaches and how he is using the lessons learned from them in his life today (53:36)

·      His thoughts, good and bad, about the current state of US Soccer (1:00:12)

·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his marriage and parenting (1:06:08)

·      His recommendations (1:09:26)

·      A sneak peek into the movie being made about Coach Phillips (definitely will want to listen to the end) (1:13:48)

Resources and Links from this Episode

·      Soccer Goalkeeping:The Last Line of Defense, The First Line of Attack, Lincoln Phillips

·      Video of the Episode

·      HSEL Facebook Group

 

·      Warrior Way Soccer

·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast)

·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·      Phil’s email for DISC Training

·      Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution, Ryan O’Hanlon

Article about the upcoming movie about Coach Phillips and the 1971 Howard University team, “Rising Above”