How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

In Episode 16, Toriono Davis, Professional Scout in US and Europe, Connector, and Entrepreneur, talks with Phil about the ins and outs of the DISC Model of Human Behavior, how he uses it to connect deeply and quickly with his players and clubs, and help them reach their potential, the power and importance of mentorship, and why you might want to give your recruits a DISC assessment before signing or hiring them. Specifically, Toriono discusses:

His story, how he developed his passion for soccer and leadership, and how a guy who didn’t even like soccer as a kid ended up working as a professional scout (3:05)
What the DISC Model of Human Behavior is, why it is important to you and your teams, and how he uses it to help the clubs and players with whom he works to reach their potential (9:46)
Why and how we need to tailor our approaches to our different team members based on their personalities (17:33)
How leaders of soccer team/club and all other organizations can use the DISC to maximize their results more efficiently (25:53)
How the DISC can help players and their parents understand each other better, help families, and help disenfranchised people as well (31:14)
Whether certain personality types fit certain positions in soccer, other implications of personality assessments in the context of the game, and why coaches and employers may want to give their recruits personality assessments (37:58)
The importance of understanding a player’s/employee’s motivation, hunger, and passion in your leadership of him or her (52:45)
The importance of mentorship (which is throughout the interview) and Toriono’s book recommendations (58:08)

Source: https://www.howsoccerexplainsleadership.com/torionodavis/

WPSL U21

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – The Women’s Premier Soccer League unveils the formation of a second league under the WPSL platform - WPSL U21 - which will launch this summer in selected markets across the United States.

The WPSL enters its 23rd season this spring after taking 2020 off due to the coronavirus pandemic that impacted sports throughout the world. As home to 140 clubs in 32 U.S. states, the WPSL continues to serve as the largest and longest-active women’s soccer league in the world.

Due to the continuous high demand for elite amateur soccer during the summer months, the WPSL has elected to immediately expand its footprint for girls and women’s soccer by adding the under-21 model to go along with its highly successful league that features many of the country’s most accomplished amateur players. Nearly 70 percent of WPSL rosters consist of current collegiate student-athletes, and over 53% percent of players selected in the last four National Women’s Soccer League Drafts paved their way via the WPSL.

“Despite the WPSL’s continued consistent growth, there is an obvious need to add additional playing opportunities for a number of talented young players – and provide them the opportunity to compete at high levels during the summer months,” Sean Jones, WPSL president said. “To date, the initial response to the new league has been more favorable than even I anticipated…and we look forward to adding many new clubs to our U21 platform in the coming weeks."

WPSL U21’s season will run from mid-May thru late July and match day rosters will be limited to 18 players; with each club permitted to dress three players over the age of 20. Current WPSL clubs have first-right-of-refusal to operate U21 squads within their own geographic area and the league has opened up inaugural season applications to non-WPSL squads, effective immediately. The league will align clubs geographically and split into individual conferences and divisions with the goal to keep operating costs at a minimum and reduce travel distances and times to reduce health risks.

Source: https://www.wpslsoccer.com/news/2021/03/17/wpsl-unveils-second-league-set-compete-in-2021

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

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WPSL Alumnae spotlight

Nearly 70 percent of WPSL rosters have collegiate student-athletes, and over 53% percent of players selected in the last four NWSL DRAFTS

WPSL U21