79. Jimmy Conrad - 2009 MLS Humanitarian Award Winner

Hi I’m Scot Cooper and welcome to the Tales From the Trail Podcast by MatchPlay. In this episode I welcome Jimmy Conrad. Among Jimmy’s many nicknames are Conradinho and Your Favorite US Men’s National Team ex-player. Jimmy’s shares his experiences growing up in an environment that created grit and resilience, fighting to live out his dream of playing for UCLA and winning a national championship. He went on to grind his way into the MLS and eventually on to the national team where he played in the 2006 World Cup. He now hosts the popular podcast on the CBS Golazo Network, Call It What You Want with Jesse Marsch and Charlie Davies. Jimmy is a fantastic guest, was very generous and I look forward to having him on again soon.

Summary

In this conversation, Conradinho discusses his experience coaching soccer and the importance of high school soccer. He shares his personal journey and how he overcame challenges to become a professional player. Conradinho emphasizes the importance of mentality and commitment to improvement. He also discusses the need for players to embrace mistakes and learn from them. Finally, he shares his thoughts on coaching girls versus boys and the importance of treating all players equally. In this conversation, Jimmy Conrad shares his experiences as a soccer player and coach. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining emotional stability as a coach and setting clear expectations for players. Jimmy also discusses the challenges he faced in his soccer career, including not being drafted and dealing with difficult coaches. He shares stories of perseverance and the lessons he learned along the way. Jimmy talks about his journey from college to the World Cup and the impact he made off the field, including his involvement in community initiatives. He concludes by highlighting the importance of continuous learning and letting go of entitlement.

Takeaways

High school soccer provides a unique social and competitive experience that cannot be replicated in club or college soccer.

Commitment and a growth mindset are crucial for personal and professional development in soccer.

Embracing mistakes and learning from them is essential for improvement.

Coaching girls and boys requires understanding individual personalities and needs while maintaining consistent expectations. Maintaining emotional stability as a coach is crucial for creating a positive and consistent environment for players.

Challenges and setbacks in a soccer career can be opportunities for growth and self-improvement.

Building strong relationships with coaches requires understanding their expectations and finding ways to meet them.

Perseverance and a strong work ethic can lead to unexpected opportunities and achievements.

Making a difference off the field through community initiatives can be a rewarding and impactful experience.

Continuous learning and letting go of entitlement are important for personal and professional growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Coaching Soccer

03:42 The Importance of High School Soccer

08:41 Personal Journey and Overcoming Challenges

17:42 Mentality and Commitment to Improvement

25:16 Teaching Kids to Embrace Mistakes

31:56 Coaching Girls vs Boys

39:28 Maintaining Emotional Stability as a Coach

41:15 Navigating the Challenges of a Soccer Career

45:37 Lessons Learned from Challenging Experiences

49:19 Managing Relationships with Coaches

56:35 From College to the World Cup

01:08:18 Making a Difference Off the Field

01:13:46 The Importance of Learning and Letting Go