Life through Sport Show | Hosted by Omar Zeenni

Omar Zeenni

Omar sits down with athletes and coaches to discuss their personal journeys and examines how those experiences translate to help them in their daily lives.

  1. 05/22/2023

    Ep.25 Louis Hunt, San Diego Wave Goalkeeper Coach | Coach Series

    Life :00 Intro :45 What has fatherhood taught you? 3:20 Any similarities between your coaching and fatherhood? 5:00 How are you REALLY doing? 7:00 Title for the current chapter in your book? ______________________ Player Advice 9:30 Scouting: What are you looking for in a College goalkeeper? 11:35 What are players missing that would make their pro transition easier? 15:10 Working with Canada #1 Kailen Sheridan 18:55 What is something you learned during that process? 20:15 Key traits in Carly Telford and Kailen Sheridan? 24:00 Taking into account a players’, as well as your own journey ______________________ Coach Advice 26:30 What is your training environment like? 29:50 What is the emotional attention you would give to each player? 32:35 What is your confidence (re)building process like? 36:00 What was a bad habit that you had to get rid of? 41:25 Sacrificing: a small opportunity that gave you the best ROI? 47:10 Are you proud of yourself? 48:35 Outro

    Ep.25 Louis Hunt, San Diego Wave Goalkeeper Coach | Coach Series

  2. 05/15/2023

    Ep.24 Chris Sharpe, Colorado Rapids Goalkeeper Coach | Coach Series

    Our guest for today, Colorado Rapids Goalkeeper Coach, Chris Sharpe and my name is Omar Zeenni, Welcome to the Life through Sport Podcast.  As mentioned in the introduction, Chris discusses how players can consistently demonstrate their value week after week to make it harder for the coaching staff to make a decision about who should start. And throughout the episode, he drops gems on topics like: specific character traits that he looks for in players, reflects on his own meaningful failures, and discusses how his experience as a #2 for much of his career has given him a unique perspective as a coach. Chris is not just a highly knowledgeable and respected figure in the goalkeeping world, but also a top footballing mind with valuable insights on life. I am thrilled for you to have the opportunity to learn more about him and his personal journey. 0:00 Intro Life 3:28 How are you really doing? 5:04 What has fatherhood taught you? 6:29 What did your father teach you? 8:24 Book title for this current stage in your life Player Advice 11:34 Scouting: What are some of the tangible character pieces you look for? 15:34 What do you look for in an “emotional profile” of a player? 18:54 What are your thoughts on retention levels; with regards to learning ability? 21:34 How do we instill these character pieces into our players? 24:54 How can a player make it difficult on you throughout the week to influence your team selection? 29:34 How does a player “build their case” to be the starter? Soundbite 32:54 One final piece of advice for players? Coach Advice 37:04 What are failures that you cherish? 42:34 Feeling the vulnerability to fail 44:19 Detail your immediate feelings when the Rapids signed Tim Howard? 48:04 What was a bad habit that you had to let go of? 51:09 Processing failure 54:34 What do you think is the meaning of all this? 57:34 Building strong relationships with players

    Ep.24 Chris Sharpe, Colorado Rapids Goalkeeper Coach | Coach Series

  3. 04/24/2023

    Ep.23 USC Women's Head Coach, Jane Alukonis | Coach Series

    Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 1:50 How was your first season at USC? 2:35 Any doubts after starting 0-2? 3:15 What did you learn from the staff at UCLA? 4:05 What lessons transitioned w/ you from your teaching days? 6:10 How do you think people would describe you? 7:30 OZ: Scouting presentation that was completely wrong 7:55 How have you managed presentations so the they’re not taken literally? Soundbite “we like to do less talking than the players” 9:00 Guided Discovery 9:15 What are some misconceptions about you? 11:10 Creating a training environment — story about old club environment / how everything was scripted 12:45 John Cohn helping set training 13:20 Advice to young coaches on how to create the right training environment 14:24 “you keep it or you attack” 14:40 Goal scoring expert mark Simpson 15:00 How often are you revisiting your team principles? 16:00 Adapting and reinventing yourself 18:10 Steve Cherundolo quote 18:40 Did your club days help you as a HC support your Asst. Coaches’ ideas / growth? 20:00 “Clear Objective, Loose Instruction” 22:05 Early days of Jane 24:50 Jane’s first game as a young coach 25:40 Where does your emotional intelligence come from? 27:00 Working hard for players 28:35 What were you like as a player? 29:10 Getting invited to USYNT’s 30:00 Were you the leader for you HS team? 30:50 “who combines the best” 32:15 Supporting your assistant coaches 34:10 How do you challenge people? 35:00 What were the habits that young Jane had? 36:20 Creating a safe space for players 37:00 Going to Duke 38:20 Being named team captain 39:10 How do you create a sense of urgency with your players? 40:00 Dealing with the last man on the roster? 41:10 Cabral Story 42:55 How do you deal with failure? 45:00 How much value do you hold in the awareness that you don’t know everything? 47:15 Angel City game 47:50 Early days at UCLA as a young volunteer assistant 49:50 Job responsibilities as a volunteer assistant 52:22 Is UCLA where you formed your own game model? 53:10 What has been the proudest moment of your career? 55:55 What kind of a player just Jane look for?l

    Ep.23 USC Women's Head Coach, Jane Alukonis | Coach Series

  4. 04/18/2023

    Ep.22 99' World Cup Winner, Saskia Webber | Player Series

    Our guest for today, 99 World Cup winning goalkeeper, Saskia Webber. Before the NWSL, and before the likes of Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Carly Lloyd, you had the 99’ers. Saskia and the 99’ers captured the imagination of the American public, and what soccer could be in the United States, after they famously defeated China in the World Cup final in front of 90,000 fans. Winning the World Cup would become the cultural moment and narrative shift that many on the team had fought for their entire careers. And as we dive into Saskia’s story throughout the episode, you will realize that the 99 team was not only composed of some of the greatest players in the history of the game, but they also included courageous women who were powerful advocates for women's rights and equality in sports.

    Ep.22 99' World Cup Winner, Saskia Webber | Player Series

  5. 04/03/2023

    Ep.21 How I dealt with Adversity in my Career, Omar Zeenni | Player Series

    In today’s episode, I’m going to share 2 stories from the 9 month period from my playing career that would shape me as a player, a person and how I coach today. I guess you could say that this time was a driving force behind why I started this podcast. Because as I reflect, it taught me everything I needed to know about adversity, discipline and the realities of life. Here were a few of my takeaways and things that I try to communicate to my goalkeepers today: Your confidence MUST stem from a proper structure of training habits, nutrition, gym and mental training. . . Achieving this takes thankless work, with the awareness that, self doubt is inevitable but, even at your lowest, this foundation will give you a sense of identity, and trust, that you’ve done the work … and that shot to your confidence is merely a minor setback vs a fatal one. The second takeaway is that bad habits have a way of creeping up at the most inopportune times.  • If you lack the discipline to correct them, they can create a level of doubt that has you playing off fear versus instinct.  • So don’t wait until you’re hit with adversity to address them, be proactive and stubborn about getting this done. Lastly, is that everything in life has a process attached to it. And while it’s difficult to know exactly when you’ll be faced with adversity, it’s crucial to have a structure in place that can be used to rebuild yourself.  • Each process will ask a different level of patience but, as long as that foundation is there, you will have the clarity needed to guide you through it.   Now, let’s get into the first story where, my lack of foundation and trust in my own process would turn into a continued spiral that would cost my starting job with the LA Galaxy academy. It was through this time that I felt a sense of isolation and lack of identity . . . but, as I came to understand, it was my first really test with adversity and one that would prepare me for the rest of my career.  Once again, you’re listening to the life through sport podcast, Enjoy the show.

    Ep.21 How I dealt with Adversity in my Career, Omar Zeenni | Player Series

  6. 03/27/2023

    Ep.20 UCLA Goalkeeper Coach, Juan Cervantes | Life through Sport

    Our guest for today, UCLA Goalkeeper Coach, Juan Cervantes. As you heard in the intro, Juan is all about the investment when it comes to developing his goalkeepers. He believes that it’s not only our job as coaches to tell you what you’re missing, but to also then provide you with the necessary tools to help you find success. And it’s through his collective experiences as a player that have shaped this approach. For evidence of this, look no further than the investment from his father. Working long hours and still showing up at every training, at every game, at every gym session. Making sure that Juan had the gloves, the shoes, and the equipment needed for him to succeed. To Big Joe, another father figure . . . taking the time to shape Juan into the goalkeeper they both knew he could be; both in the gym and on the field.  It’s through investments like these that Juan understood the value of sacrifice when it came to mentorship. And throughout the episode, you’ll hear all about how he transferred these experiences into his coaching methods. Once again, you’re listening to the life through sport podcast, My name is Omar Zeenni, enjoy the show.

    Ep.20 UCLA Goalkeeper Coach, Juan Cervantes | Life through Sport

  7. 03/20/2023

    Ep.19 Omar Zeenni x Football & Beyond Podcast | Life through Sport Show

    For this weeks episode, we changed it up a bit. I had the pleasure of being a guest on the @footballxbeyond podcast, where we discussed everything from my start as a coach, to if Arsenal can hold on in the title race, to breaking down my top 5 saves of all time! I had such a great time sitting down with Leon and Jorgio, who both do an amazing job with their show. If you haven't already been following them, be sure to give them a follow on Instagram and YouTube so that you won't miss any of their future drops! For now, enjoy the episode with the football and beyond crew and we’ll be back with our regular interview setup next week! once again, this is the life through sport podcast, enjoy the show.  Instagram: @footballxbeyond @jorgioblamo @theleandre

    Ep.19 Omar Zeenni x Football & Beyond Podcast | Life through Sport Show

  8. 03/13/2023

    Ep.18 Former LAFC Left Back, Jordan Harvey | Player Series

    Our guest for today, former Left Back for LAFC, Jordan Harvey.  Jordan’s path has been filled with obstacles. For examples of this, look no further than when he didn’t make the final cut for his Olympic Development Program team at 13 OR when he went undrafted in the MLS Superdraft. For most, these setbacks would have forced many to reconsider or be more realistic with their career plans. Instead, he saw these bouts with adversity as them happening for him, and not to him.   That small shift in perspective would push him to not only make his ODP team, but to forge forward where, he’d eventually captain the United states U-17 side at a World Cup and, turn that super draft snub into a 16 year professional career.  His story is one of perseverance and persistence and Im super excited for you guys to hear share it.

    Ep.18 Former LAFC Left Back, Jordan Harvey | Player Series
See All (25)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Omar sits down with athletes and coaches to discuss their personal journeys and examines how those experiences translate to help them in their daily lives.

Information