1 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: We talked with our team about getting one percent better 2 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: each day, and in order to do that, you know, 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: we can't be just in the same place. We have 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: to make mistakes, we have to play a speed, we 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: have to think quicker, we have to you know, grow 6 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: and it is a process that's going to take some 7 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: time to get to where you want to get to. 8 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: This is the Reformed Sports Project, a podcast about restoring 9 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sports through 10 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: education and advocacy. This is Nick Bonacore from the Reform 11 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: Sports Project podcast. With me today is George Mason's head 12 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: women's soccer coach and Reform Sports Project advisory board member 13 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: Manya Pupione. Aside from her success as a collegiate coach, 14 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: Manya boss spectacular resume as a player. She played for 15 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: the U S national team in a variety of age 16 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: groups and several top professional teams in the US and Europe. 17 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: Manya and I touch on the differences between coaching and 18 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: recruiting at the D one, D two, and D three levels, 19 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: late bloomers, and the importance of character. Man I am 20 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: once again charged up. I have a very very awesome guys. 21 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: She's near and dear to my heart. She's near and 22 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: dear to the Reform Sports Project period. She's one of 23 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: our advisory board members. She's been, you know, really helpful 24 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: and just a voice of reason. Uh, such a helpful 25 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,839 Speaker 1: resource since the beginning. Truly humbled to have her. George 26 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: Mason University head women's soccer coach, Manya Pupione, Manya, thank you, moms, 27 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: thank you so much for hopping on. Yes, I'm so 28 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: excited you on the podcast with Unick. Well, it's always 29 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 1: a pleasure and uh, we you know, it's just it's 30 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,479 Speaker 1: always nice to connect with I know, your busiest heck, 31 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: and that's kind of where I want to start with 32 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: your minds. You know when we first, when we first 33 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: started in this thing, you had recently taken over Marymountain 34 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 1: University soccer program. If I'm not mistaken, or you were 35 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: the head coach there. You know Division three. Now you 36 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: played at a high level. Now you're at a D one. 37 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: What's the difference. Can you talk about your experience coaching 38 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: the D I know you obviously coached a Division one before, 39 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: but I don't think it was as a head coach. 40 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: One of the differences you see just from the coaching aspect, 41 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: Are there any differences from D three to D one? Um, yeah, 42 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: that's a great question. Um, I've also coached D two, 43 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: so coached the levels D, D two, D three. Um, 44 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: there's really not much difference. Um. You know, I know 45 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: the n C double A HOS some certain time restrictions 46 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: and how much time to gets done with the team, 47 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: what the seasons look like. But I mean my D two, 48 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: my D three athletes were committed, hard working, dedicated to 49 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,959 Speaker 1: their craft, dedicated to getting one percent better each day. Um, 50 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: you know, such just that there really is not much 51 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 1: of a difference. Um, you know, and as far as 52 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: like the coaching aspect, I mean I've coached against some 53 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: awesome coaches and both D two, D three, Um that 54 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: just really enjoy you know, the mentality of D two, 55 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: D three. You know, there's different mentalities. There's a little 56 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: bit more balanced in terms of academics and athletics with 57 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: D two D three, So, you know, not much difference. 58 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: Every athlete is there to compete and to get better. 59 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: I think that's a good point. I wanted to ask 60 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: is like, you know, listen, I understand not everyone can 61 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: play the D one level. There's different fits for everybody. 62 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: What would you say stands out most from a recruiting 63 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: aspect when you're recruiting at let's say D one, two 64 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 1: or D three. Can you just are there one of 65 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: the main things that you think are the differences. Yeah, 66 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: I mean obviously, um, you know a little bit of 67 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: difference in terms of the you know, maybe a style 68 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: of the player that we're looking at. But you know, 69 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,119 Speaker 1: it really depends on on the staff of what they're 70 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: looking for. You know, are they looking for, you know, 71 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: more athletic players that you know aren't a technical you know, 72 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: or vice versa or once that have a little bit 73 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: of both. So it's you know, really up to that 74 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: coaching staff what they're looking for. Recruiting wise. What you 75 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: know what that class that senior classes, you know is 76 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,839 Speaker 1: graduating out, Um, you know what they need to fill 77 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: in terms of rules and responsibilities? Um you know how 78 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: many they need in that recruiting class. Um, you know. 79 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: But as far as recruiting rules, they're very different. You 80 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: know with D three, Um, there aren't many recruiting roles 81 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: I could talk to freshman, not that I wanted to 82 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: recruit that far out, but you know, for a freshman 83 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: reached out and wanted to come visit campus or check 84 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: it out. Start your process. It's never too early and 85 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: never too late. UM. There are a lot of you know, 86 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: contact roles. In terms of D one, we have the 87 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: dead period December fifteenth to January five. You know, now 88 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: we cannot talk to players younger than their junior year. UM. 89 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: So that's and purposely put in too slow down the 90 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: recruiting process because yeah, yeah, Division one, UM. That was 91 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: to slow down the process because there were schools out 92 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: there committing eighth graders seventh graders, UM, which is kind 93 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 1: of ridiculous to me. You know, like there's so much 94 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: that can change within those three or four or five 95 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: six years on both ends, you know, the player and 96 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: the coaching staff ends. UM. You know. So I like 97 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: the recruiting rules that we have. It's definitely helped us 98 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: slow down and really you know, get a feel we 99 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: can still watch freshman sophomores play just to start that 100 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: process of us evaluating, but you know, not being able 101 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 1: to contact them until the summer before their junior I 102 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: think that's a great thing. You and I I think 103 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 1: share a passion for for late bloomers and how this 104 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: kind of ties in is. You know, kids develop a 105 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: different ages, right, and you kind of just mentioned a 106 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: lot of things can happen in those four or five 107 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: six years, you know. I see it in college baseball now. 108 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: I mean power fives are committing um eighth graders and 109 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: out and freshman high school. I mean it's kind of 110 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: the way it is the way it is. I mean, 111 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: it's the way it is getting earlier and earlier, added pressure. 112 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: But a lot of kids, man, they developed later. And 113 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: I remember you, and I love bringing this up. And 114 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: you know, you show me that photo way back of 115 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: you playing pro soccer and the picture is um, you know, 116 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: you and Abby Wombach and she was so much bigger. 117 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: You know, it's like she's so much bigger, but you 118 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: were on the same field with they're competing as a professional, 119 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: but here you were. You know, it was really pretty crazy. 120 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: But it was also like, there's no such thing as 121 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: too bigger, too little, right if you got hardy, if 122 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: you have this. But kids hear that, and they see 123 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 1: kids committing in eighth grade. They see kids committing as 124 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: freshman high school. And a lot of times kids don't go. 125 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: I didn't go. I don't even think I started puberty tall, 126 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 1: was daying in eighth ninth grade, you know, I mean 127 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: I had a huge growth spur junior senior year high school. Um, 128 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: and kids still developed in college and get bigger and stronger. 129 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: So what can be said about the late bloomers, those 130 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 1: kids that are late developers, how do they kind of 131 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: stay and not fall into that comparison trap? Yeah? Absolutely, Nick, 132 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: I'm I'm still waiting for my growth spurt that happens, 133 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: So I'll let you know that. No. I mean yeah, 134 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: like all high school, I was literally like five foot nothing, 135 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 1: like not even hundred pounds, and um, you know, I 136 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: still got recruited to a D one. I still played 137 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: with the youth national team in the World Cup, you know, 138 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: being the smallest player on the field, and even at 139 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: the professional level, um, you know, competing like players like 140 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: we want back was you know twice the size of me. Um. 141 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 1: You know, like I I always played like I was 142 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: the biggest player out there. That was my mentality. I 143 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: even had coaches when I was when I was younger, Um, 144 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: you know, at the lead level telling me that I 145 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not going to make it in the 146 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: game at a very high level because I was too small, 147 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: so you know, I used that to fuel the fire 148 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: inside me, Like there was so much fire outside of 149 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: me telling me how I can't do this, You can't 150 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: do that because you're too small. You know. I became 151 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: very self motivated, very you know, focus on my craft, okay, 152 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: like how can I make it at this level? And 153 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: I you know, worked my butt off. I did extra 154 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: stuff outside of team stuff. Um. You know, I just 155 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: worked hard, and you know I had to chip on 156 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: my shoulder. I had something to prove. So those are 157 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: the players that I look for. I look for players 158 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: that look like me. You know, you're not the d 159 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 1: one level, um, trying to do what I'm doing with 160 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: this program. So you know, there isn't such thing as 161 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: too big or too little. Um. You know, coaches look 162 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: for different aspects of players. If you're a little fuzzer 163 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: on the field like me, and you can you know, 164 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: be quick and athletic and agile and you know, singing 165 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: quickly as well. Like I look for those players for sure. 166 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: I want them on my teeth. The chip on the shoulder, 167 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: I mean I think about that. I think about that 168 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: in life, like I look for opportunities to get me 169 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: out of bed, like for that extra umph, that extra drive. 170 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: You know, I would love for you to dig into that, 171 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: Like what does it mean for you? Because I know 172 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: for me, like quite frankly, it's kind of when I 173 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: get piste off, Like I love when people tell me 174 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: I can't do something, but it has to be something 175 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: I'm really passionate about. Like, you know, I don't see 176 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: you doing this, so I don't see you being successful 177 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: here because it takes too much work. And I love that, 178 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,559 Speaker 1: but not everyone does. How do you use a chip 179 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: on your shoulder and work through you know, because let's 180 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: face it, you can have a chip on your should 181 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: you're still gonna face rejection, You're still gonna face failure, 182 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: You're still gonna face those things. How do you use 183 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: that chip as as fuel to help you pushed through it? Yeah? Absolutely, 184 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: I Mean it's something that we talked with our players 185 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: about each season, is like your why you know, why 186 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: do you get up out of bed? Why do you 187 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: play soccer? Why are you showing up? Why are you 188 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: on this team? You know, a lot of it comes 189 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: down to that passion. Now you're talking about like you know, 190 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: because you want to get better, because you want to 191 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: be a part of a team because you want to 192 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: be a part of something greater than yourself. You know. 193 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: So in addition to you know that why and like 194 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: why why are you here? You know, is just trusting 195 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: that process. We talked with our players a lot about 196 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: you know, like you are going to hit rejection, you 197 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: are going to fail, you are going to make mistakes. 198 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: But what matters is how you respond to those, you know, 199 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 1: how you get better. We talked with our team about 200 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: getting one percent better each day. And in order to 201 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: do that, you know, we can't be snacked and we 202 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: can't be just in the same place. We have to 203 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: make mistakes, we have to play at speed, we have 204 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: to think quicker, we have to you know, grow and 205 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,319 Speaker 1: it is a process. It's going to take some time 206 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: to get to where you want to get to. You know. Um, 207 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: things that are hard don't come overnight, you know, Like 208 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: and that's a big part of my story is yes, 209 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: I had great success my you know, end of my 210 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: high school years of being on the national team, but 211 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: like that started when I was like four or five, six, 212 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: seven years old, you know, playing as many sports as 213 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: I can, putting the work and having fun, you know, like, 214 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: I had a really big passion for the game. It's 215 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: my freedom, you know, that's where I feel most free. 216 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: And I felt a connection to the game, and you know, 217 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: gave a lot to me. So that's why I'm coaching now, 218 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: is to be able to get back to my players 219 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: and help them experience the same things that I did. 220 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 1: So when you talk about when you were younger, I 221 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: want to kind of talk about that a little bit. 222 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,559 Speaker 1: And you know, four or five, six, seven, eight years 223 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,079 Speaker 1: or whatever ages it was playing different sports and all that. 224 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: A lot of times parents will try to I'm a parent, obviously, 225 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: and I want to encourage my kids. But it sounds 226 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 1: to me like some of you, I call you elite athletes, 227 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: that those who have been to the highest of high 228 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: levels and it competed at the high levels. Where did 229 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: you find that drive? Like where did that come from? Intrinsically? 230 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: Was that something that had to be fauster? Did you 231 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: have to learn or was that was there always just 232 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: like this ignited TNT in your veins pump and that 233 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: made you want to go out and compete. Yeah, I 234 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: think it's a combination of a few things. So I 235 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: have childer brothers and naturally you know, I wanted to 236 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: do everything that that they did, you know, all the sports, soccer, 237 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 1: you know, I did baseball with the boys, um, the gymnastics, basketball, 238 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: you know. I attribute playing multiple sports to my athleticism 239 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: and being able to get to the level you know. 240 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: So having those sports and just having um, you know, 241 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 1: environment where I could learn and grow and do something 242 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: that I absolutely love doing. I loved being active, Like 243 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: I am a million miles per hour. Hence I'm so 244 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: busy doing a million things. I was that way as 245 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: a kid. I just like had that fire in me. Um. 246 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: You know. I think my brothers taught me a lot, 247 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: just a lot about discipline, and I mean they made 248 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: me tougher. They literally beat me up. Um, you know, 249 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: like I would tell my mom's stories like that happened. 250 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: I'm like, yeah, like literally beat me up, you know, 251 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: you know, throw me the ground. But it may be tougher, 252 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: and it may be you know, want that more, you know. 253 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: So I think it's you know the combination of having 254 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: my brothers and just learning the lessons from them, being 255 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: able to play multiple sports and learn lessons that way. 256 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: But you know, like I did learn how to be 257 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: self motivated. That was something that like I chose to do. 258 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: And that's something that I talked with my players about, 259 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: to talk with recruits about. If you're not motivated, I 260 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: cannot make you go run, I cannot make you do 261 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: this summer packet to prepare. You have to make the choice, 262 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: you know. We talked a lot about the choices and decisions, 263 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: you know, like on a Friday night, are you gonna 264 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: sit on the couch and qutch Netflix, or are you 265 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: gonna go to the gym and do this workout or 266 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: you know, like I know, you've got to work a 267 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: couple of jobs of the summer. You have teams you're 268 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,199 Speaker 1: playing on. But you have to make those those hard choices, 269 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, and they do pay off in the end. 270 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: If I'm a parent again, like I am, and I'm 271 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: listening to you, and I'm going, Okay, how do I lead? 272 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: Like let's say my kid has you know, has the 273 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,199 Speaker 1: passion you know, uh my son for instance, so my 274 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: oldest son, uh loves to wrestle. He wants to wrestle 275 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: in college. Right, And I've gone through this. It's like 276 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: I try to lead, but at the same time, my 277 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: wife and I we it's like it's like a tug 278 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: Award's like a you know, I can't make you at 279 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: times want it more than you want it for yourself. 280 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I'm gonna hold you accountable 281 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: to the goals that you tell us you want to achieve. 282 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: I'm not going to allow you to just sit around because, 283 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: let's face it, as much as my kid he's a 284 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 1: pretty good wrestler and he wants to wrestle in college. 285 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: He can get lazy like anyone else, and he's he's 286 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: pretty motivated kid. But it's like, we gotta be parents first. 287 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: We don't want to be that coach, especially if we're 288 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: not the coach, But how do we make sure that 289 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: we're not crossing that line of kind of being overbearing? Yeah? Absolutely, 290 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: I mean it is finding that balance. I mean I've 291 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: seen the full spectrum of parents, ones that you know, 292 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: have no interest, you know, and like the kid looking 293 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: and I'm like, hey, you know, hey dad, hey mom, 294 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: look what I can do. You know, like I can 295 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: juggle five times, and the parents like could care less, 296 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 1: you know it. So obviously that's detrimental to you know, 297 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: that kid really enjoying their sport, you know. And I've 298 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: seen the total opposite extreme where the parent is driving, 299 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: you know, driving the process, like literally trying to live 300 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: through through their kids, you know, really if their glory days, 301 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: I guess, you know, So it is finding that balance. 302 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: You know. For me, I was very grateful to have 303 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,079 Speaker 1: parents who were very supportive. You know, they just wanted 304 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 1: me to be happy and to have fun. You know, 305 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: they were willing to sacrifice their time, money, energy to 306 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: drive me all over the blazes, driving brothers all over 307 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: the place for sports because you know, they saw how 308 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: joyful it made us and how much we really you know, 309 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: got a lot out of it. So you know, I 310 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: think it's yes, you want to make your kids be 311 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: accountable because you know it's best for them, but you 312 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: can't force that upon them because they're gonna just go 313 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: the other way. You know, if my mom was like 314 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: telling me, oh, you gotta do this, you gotta do that, 315 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:23,719 Speaker 1: you gotta do this, and doing it for me, and 316 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: you know, I may have gone the other way. I'm like, 317 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: I hate this one. I don't want to do this 318 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: because you know, my my mom was making me do 319 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: all the stuff that I don't want to do. So 320 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: it's you know, it's turkey for sure. But I think 321 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: just being a supporting, loving parent, and you know, after 322 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: a game, instead of being like, oh, you should have 323 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: made that shot, just be like, hey, did you have 324 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:41,440 Speaker 1: fun tonight in the game? You know, like what did 325 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: you learn? What did you like about it? You know, 326 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: just being supportive in that aspect for sure. When we 327 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: come back many you and I dig into recruiting as 328 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: well as showcases versus competitive games. Where we left off, 329 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: coach and I were about to discuss showcase babies and 330 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:07,080 Speaker 1: the role character plays in recruiting and team culture. Listen, 331 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: youth sports is estimated to be a twenty billion dollar industry, 332 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: and I've read somewhere it's supposed to be like a 333 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: seventy plus billion dollar indittue in like eight years. It's crazy, 334 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: like tripling. It's wild. It's wild. It's wild. But I mean, 335 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: look no further than sports like soccer and baseball, and 336 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: and the amount of costs of being clubs and traveling 337 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: one of the big hot buttons in baseball. And I 338 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: think youth baseball and soccer are very very similar because 339 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: it just seems like they're the most popular in many ways, 340 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: and a lot of kids playing, and that just seems 341 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: to be the same kind of dynamic in the youth 342 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: sports between the two of them, and there is a 343 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: debate as to what's more valuable, you know, playing in 344 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: games or going to showcases, And there seems to be 345 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: in baseball there's like kids that are quote unquote called 346 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: showcase babies. I don't know who's saying this, but it's like, 347 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: you know, we want to get as strong and as 348 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: fast as we can so that we can go out 349 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: to the field where the college scouts are, college coaches are, 350 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: and the pro scouts are, and like run the fastest 351 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: sixty times, you know, throw the hardest, hit it the hardest. 352 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: But these kids, from what I gather, and this is 353 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: just you know you turn on Twitter or just from 354 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: enough coaches I've talked to, will say a lot of 355 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: these kids don't want to play the game. You know, 356 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: they know how to win the game for their team, 357 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: like they have to learn how to compete from a 358 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 1: team perspective. Is it like that in new soccer where 359 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: showcases and you know, travel tournaments are like two separate things. Yeah, 360 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: it's pretty similar to baseball. So there are tournaments where 361 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: there is a winner, you know winner those are you know, 362 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: those games matter. Um, you know, obviously like conference games 363 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: matter because that will place you in a higher seat. 364 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: But there's also showcases that happen, and it's more yeah, 365 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: for the college coaches to come in and watch you play. 366 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,479 Speaker 1: You know, there's I D clinics run by outside organizations. 367 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: I D clinics run by this, you know, the university 368 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: or that the staff itself. Um you know. So for me, yes, 369 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: I like watching showcase games because there's three days of 370 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: you know, like I can literally watch like forty to 371 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: fifty games. Um, you know, I'm trying to maximize my 372 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: time recruiting. But I also like all I love going 373 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: to games where where it matters, that result matters because 374 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: there's a lot more at stake and those players know it, 375 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: so you can see their competitive side. So I do like, 376 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: you know, kind of seeing all the above. I want 377 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: to see a kid in my own clinic because then 378 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: I get to work with them one on one. I 379 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: like going to outside organization clinics where there's maybe fifty 380 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: coaches they're working with you know, hundred kids, and you 381 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: get to see a variety of kids, and like it's 382 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: great to see kids in different environments. As well, But 383 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: I think, yeah, the most important for me to see is, 384 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: you know, when a game matters, because that's my college season. 385 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: Every game matters, every training session matters. So I want 386 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: to know how kids going to react to a pressure situation, 387 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: you know, do they crumble or do they rise and 388 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: help their team win. So my kids don't play soccer, 389 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: but well I shouldn't say my older kids don't, but 390 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: I have three. I have a eight year old they're 391 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: coming up on eight, and then uh five year old 392 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: and a three and a half year old, and I 393 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: have a funny feeling that they're gonna you know, they 394 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: do play soccer now, but that could change. So let's 395 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: say my kids get older and they're in high school. 396 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: How much should these parents and kids be traveling across 397 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 1: the country. Where do they need to go? Like? Do 398 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: they need to go to every showcase? Do they need 399 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 1: to go to every travel tournament? Like what's a good 400 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 1: balance for those that just don't have money that's growing 401 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 1: on trees? Yeah, yeah, it's a lot. I mean, especially 402 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: you know, playing on those elite level club teams they 403 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,479 Speaker 1: demand to travel is going to be huge, especially when 404 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 1: you get to high school. I mean that is you know, 405 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: your sophomore, junior, senior year, like you want to be 406 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 1: in front of as many college coaches as you can 407 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 1: to get recruited. You know, So if there's kids on 408 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: your club team or you know, high school team, like 409 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: they want to go to California for whatever reason, if 410 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: they're based on the East coast, like, yeah, maybe going 411 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: to one or two showcases out there would be ideal. 412 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: I know that sometimes parents don't necessarily have a choice 413 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: because national showcases are said and it's part of the 414 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: conference schedule. You know this and not so you know, 415 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: you don't need to go to everything. I think you 416 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: know this comes down to also like those I D 417 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 1: clinics that you choose in like how many schools you 418 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: go visit for those ide clinics. You don't need to 419 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,719 Speaker 1: go to everything, you know, but you just have to 420 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 1: pick and choose. I guess, um, you know what makes 421 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: the most sense for you and your in your family 422 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: financially and what makes most sense for you know, your 423 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: your son or daughter, like where they want to end 424 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: up in school. Let's say you're a young lady, young man, whatever, 425 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: and you don't have the means right, you're a pretty 426 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: good player, but you can't go with everyone. But you 427 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: know they're targeting George Mason, like they want to come 428 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: to your school or any school. How can they get 429 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: your attention? And maybe you haven't had the opportunity to 430 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: see them in person yet. Yeah, so I don't even 431 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: want to tell you how many emails I get a day. 432 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: Like my inbox is never um under two under it. 433 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: I try to check away every day. So like, yeah, 434 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 1: it's just you know, recruits your email on me, and 435 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: I've you got my other duties with Mason, um, you know, 436 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: so it is tough to try to get my attention. 437 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: I mean, I do have two assistant coaches, so obviously 438 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: you know, recruits will email them, you know, knowing what 439 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: showcases we're gonna be going to. So what's great about 440 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: a lot of the leagues and showcases that we go to. 441 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: We can register so you can see you know, the 442 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: list of college coaches. Obviously sending a schedule not the 443 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: day before the event happens, but you know when that 444 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: schedule comes out or even a week or two weeks 445 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: out from it, you know, we we our planners. We 446 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: have limited time and need to maximize effectiveness of that time. 447 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 1: You know, if you're not going to showcase that I'm 448 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: at Like everybody's got an iPhone or a phone nowadays, 449 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 1: you know, videotape yourself doing some drills, doing something cool. 450 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: I know a lot of recruits are now taking advantage 451 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: of creating a Twitter or Instagram account specifically for recruiting. 452 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: You know, they'll post their highlight videos on there. I've 453 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 1: definitely seen some kids that, you know, like you want 454 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:30,120 Speaker 1: to get that spark interest for me to be able 455 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: to want to then ghost you play like I can 456 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 1: travel the ghosts you play like if you're you know, 457 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: living in St. Louis, like and there's a showcase there 458 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: or you've got games there, like I can travel to 459 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 1: come see you. Um, you know. So it's really just 460 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: like finding that that's spark to get in and just 461 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: be different from everybody else that's sending me an email. 462 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:50,199 Speaker 1: I know We've had plenty of conversations. And while you 463 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: want to put the best team out there to give 464 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: you know, your university chances to win and be successful, 465 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,400 Speaker 1: and you're an ultra competitor, you will not sacrifice character 466 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: and doing the right thing for sake of winning. Can 467 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: you talk about character and how that comes into play 468 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: for you looking to bring young women in to play 469 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 1: for you, and where does character and that makeup fit 470 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: you know, if you're granking one, two, three, four five 471 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: from recruiting standpoint, Yeah, it's number one absolutely. You know. 472 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 1: For me, it's my team culture is first and foremost. 473 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: It's it's my family. Like these players are are literally 474 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: daughters on like our second mom. You know, so what 475 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: we have is very special and unique, and you know, 476 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: I need to make sure that as a recruit. Um, 477 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: you know, I'm gonna look at your character to see 478 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: if you fit in. You know, you can be the 479 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: most talented player out on the field, but if I 480 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: see you disrespect your mom after the game, or you 481 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: talk back to your coach or you know anything else, 482 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: look at your social media and see what what you're 483 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,360 Speaker 1: posting out there, Like you know, you're representing me, You're 484 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,360 Speaker 1: representing the team, representing your athletic department in university. Like, 485 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 1: to me, character is number one. You know, everything else 486 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,640 Speaker 1: kind of falls in line after that. Academics for sure, 487 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: probably two, and then athletics. But I'm very protective over 488 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:04,159 Speaker 1: my team culture because I know how one bad character 489 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 1: can affect a good team culture. Do you think that 490 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, you can 491 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: line up with a team full of let's say, I mean, 492 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: you've got to have a certain baseline of talent. But 493 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: what is there to be said, like aside from the obvious, 494 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: like good people, right, good human beings, But what about 495 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: being a great human being makes you think that this 496 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: person might have more upside? Like can you look at 497 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 1: someone say, wow, what a great kid? Does that mean 498 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: they're more teachable potentially, like they could be coachable, they 499 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: can you know, follow more directions, those types of things 500 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: that bring off to you. Yeah. Absolutely, I mean I 501 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: look at every single player as a potential leader, you know, 502 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: And that's what we want in our team culture is 503 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 1: we want servant leaders. We want those you know, who 504 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 1: are speaking up when they don't see your you know, 505 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: like someone says something wrong that doesn't align with our 506 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 1: team culture and values. You know. So that's you know, 507 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: that's what I look for, is that potential you know. 508 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,199 Speaker 1: And those that do have good character are you know, 509 00:21:56,280 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: more coachable, They're more willing to accept control, criticism and 510 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 1: want to get better. They're the ones that are a 511 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 1: little bit more self motivated because they have their head 512 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 1: on right and they have their motivations in their heart, 513 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,479 Speaker 1: their head in the right place, and you don't want 514 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: to do it for the greater good versus you know, 515 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: the ones that are out for you know, just for 516 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: themselves and in their own glory. You've mentioned it before 517 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: in the very beginning, and I would love for you 518 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 1: to end on this and and talk about you know. 519 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: I know, I know, based on our conversation, you've talked 520 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: about your why. And it seems to me like, not 521 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: only are you a goal setter, but you go back 522 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: to your goals and revisit your why. I'm sure I 523 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 1: know I have to do that at times in my 524 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 1: professional life and even in my parent life, you know, 525 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 1: to remind myself because we I have those days that 526 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 1: are dead or tough and challenging, and I gotta remember 527 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 1: why I do things I can't get, you know, put 528 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: the cart ahead of the horse. Why is it important 529 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: for these young kids to write down goals and be 530 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: a goal setter and think and talk about why they're playing, 531 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: Because it's very easy. There's a lot of pressure out there. 532 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: It's very easy for sports to become not fun and 533 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 1: seem like a job. Do you think having those goals 534 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: and remembering your why can you talk about how that 535 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: might be helpful to keep kids on the right trajectory. Yeah. Absolutely. 536 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: I mean you're at a starting point wherever you are, 537 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: you know, and it's important to think to the future 538 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 1: and write down process goals and outcome goals and you know, 539 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: goals that you can control, goals that you know you 540 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,400 Speaker 1: might necessarily control, and you know, through your process goals 541 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 1: you get to those goals. It helps with that self motivation, 542 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 1: It helps, you know, with that character building, It helps 543 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 1: with you being able to process, you know, like what 544 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: you're going through, you know, and to relate those back 545 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,119 Speaker 1: to your y you know. For me, like my platform 546 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 1: that God gave me a soccer you know, and he 547 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,919 Speaker 1: gave me awesome experiences playing the game, and now I 548 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: have an opportunity, you know to kind of give back 549 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 1: to the game and give my players you know I 550 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: said it before, you know, an awesome experience. And you know, 551 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: that's one of my goals for me. My goal is 552 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: for every single one of my players, so like, invite 553 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: me to their wedding, you know, ten years after they graduate, 554 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:53,919 Speaker 1: you know. So we talk about goal setting with our players. 555 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: We talk about individual development plants, you know, that are 556 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: specific to each individual. You know, not all my players 557 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: are the same. Not all my players want the same goal. Yes, 558 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 1: we want to win and we want with the conference 559 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,680 Speaker 1: and make it a national tournament, you know, but specific 560 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 1: to them and what they want to accomplish in list 561 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 1: for years. Like, they're all different, you know. Some of 562 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: do you want to keep playing soccer. Some want to 563 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 1: go to grad school, so I want to job right away. 564 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 1: You know. Some have a specific idea of who they 565 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 1: imagine themselves to be by the senior year. That's one 566 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:21,719 Speaker 1: of the questions that I asked my freshman. How do 567 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: you envision yourself senior year? What does she look like? 568 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: You know, how does she speak? Um? What are the 569 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 1: things that she's saying and doing? Just so that they 570 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,919 Speaker 1: can start to think that far ahead, so that they 571 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: can put to work in you know now, and realize 572 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 1: how important those goals aren't, how important that process is. 573 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: I love that. I freaking love that, and I freaking 574 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: love you. Manya Popione George Mason, University of Women's Soccer 575 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: Reform Sports Project Advisory board member. I am lucky. I 576 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: can't thank you enough. As always appreciate it's been awesome. 577 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: That's Manya Pupione, head coach of George Mason's women's soccer team. 578 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,479 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Reform Sports Project podcast dom 579 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: Nick Boticourt and Our goal is to restore a healthy 580 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 1: Ellton perspective in all areas of sports through education and advocacy. 581 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: For updates, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, 582 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: or check out our website by searching for the Reform 583 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: Sports Project