61. Gilda Doria- Co-Founder, SoccerHead & Scott Baker- Co-Founder SoccerHead and Head Coach of Rowan Univ Men's Soccer

In this episode I welcome the co-founders of a new venture called SoccerHead. Gilda Doria Gilda Doria is a 2x Captain of Duke University’s Women’s Soccer Team where she was a 2011 NCAA D1 National Finalist. She is also a 2016 Boston Breakers Reserves National Champion. Her Co-Founder is Scott Baker, who is the head coach of Rowan University men’s soccer. They met when Gilda was a youth player and through the years came to the conclusion that the most common differentiator they saw in successful players was exposure to a vast network. Their mission is to ensure that access to resources isn’t an advantage reserved for the fortunate few. By creating a community of enthusiasts and experts, they aim to foster future generations of players and fans of this beautiful game. Additionally, we talk about Gilda’s time as a player through the youth ranks, Duke University, and as a professional. Coach Baker discusses college soccer and a little recruiting.

Summary

The conversation covers challenges faced by freshman players, the recruiting process, adjusting to college soccer, overcoming challenges, guidance for players, and the introduction of Soccerhead. The main themes include the importance of finding the right fit, the need for passion and dedication, and the goal of improving the college recruiting process. Soccerhead aims to create a soccer-only network that centralizes the soccer community, facilitates talent identification, and provides resources for players to advance in their soccer journey. The platform seeks to connect players, coaches, officials, and fans, creating a supportive and informative environment for all soccer enthusiasts.

Takeaways

Finding the right fit is crucial for freshman players to have a successful college soccer experience.

Passion and dedication are key factors in achieving success in soccer.

The college recruiting process can be improved by providing accurate information and facilitating connections between players and coaches.

Soccerhead aims to create a soccer-only network that centralizes the soccer community and provides resources for talent identification and advancement in the sport.

Chapters

00:00 Challenges of Freshman Players

02:31 Recruiting Process and First Day on Campus

04:29 Adjusting to College Soccer

06:13 Dealing with Lows and Overcoming Challenges

08:28 Guidance for Players to Maximize Their Experience

15:21 Passion and Dedication in Soccer

17:27 Introduction to Soccerhead

19:24 Soccerhead's Vision and Purpose

22:10 Bringing the Soccer Community Together

24:13 Improving the College Recruiting Process

29:03 Addressing Mental Health and Well-being

37:03 Launch of Soccerhead

40:39 The Future of Soccerhead