You can’t know men’s soccer in the United States without knowing the name Landon Donovan. He holds numerous individual awards, internationally and at home and with over 15 years of international play with the USMNT, Donovan asserted himself as one of the most accomplished U.S. players of all time. After retiring four times - and un-retiring three times - his love for the game is undeniable. He recently stepped into a new role: that of a coach of the expansion San Diego Loyal of the professional second-division United Soccer League.
There is strong evidence that sports coaches may hold the key to teaching kids critically important social-emotional skills. Research shows that trained coaches can foster these particular traits that lead to long-term success - we call them High Impact Attributes. They are the things that kids learn while playing sports that help them do better in school, in a job or in their community. They are the things that help youth make good decisions. They are: Self Awareness, Positive Identity, Situational Awareness, Plan B Thinking, Future Focus, Discipline, Social Confidence, and Pro-Social Connections.
For this interview with Landon, our questions focused on HIAs and how sports, in the hands of a highly trained coach, teach these same skills.
HIA: SELF AWARENESS
Up2Us Sports: When in your life did you realize that you were a gifted athlete and that your life was going to be impacted by soccer?
Landon Donovan: I didn’t fully realize the potential I had until I began playing with the Under 17 National Team. At that point, I was traveling around the world, playing against some of the best young players in the world and was able to hold my own.
HIA: POSITIVE IDENTITY
Up2Us Sports: How important is it for professional athletes to use their significant influence to improve society?
Landon Donovan: I don’t believe any professional athlete should feel obligated to use their influence but it is definitely powerful to do so. I like to use my platform to talk about the things I am passionate about and try to effectuate change in the world.
HIA: SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Up2Us Sports: As a coach, you’re now responsible for seeing everything on the pitch and developing strategies for your team’s success. What did you learn as a player that now helps you as a coach?
Landon Donovan: There are many things that I learned as a player that are helping me as a coach. More than anything, I understand what it feels like to be in these young men’s shoes and have tremendous compassion for their struggles and hardships. That’s a powerful perspective to have when making decisions.
HIA: FUTURE FOCUS
Up2Us Sports: During your illustrious international and domestic career as a player, when did you start thinking about life after you left the pitch? When did the idea of coaching arise?
Landon Donovan: During the second half of my career, I began thinking about life after soccer. I didn’t have a clear picture as to what I wanted to do professionally but I knew that I was going to need to find a new passion. Coaching has finally given me that new purpose and passion.
HIA: DISCIPLINE
Up2Us Sports: How did you develop the discipline it takes to be a successful athlete and, can you share a story from your career that illustrates the importance of being disciplined?
Landon Donovan: I believe discipline is developed over time and that it really comes from the desire to be successful. If you want to succeed at something badly enough, you will devote and commit yourself in any way necessary to achieve your goals. I was constantly faced with temptations that could have gotten me off track but I almost always made the right decisions to ensure that I was still dedicated to being successful.
HIA: SOCIAL CONFIDENCE
Up2Us Sports: You have been critical of the sport’s industry’s response to mental health issues and have courageously talked about your own struggles with depression. What role do you believe sports, and a great coach, can and should play in helping our youth become mentally healthy and build the confidence they need to live healthy, happy lives?
Landon Donovan: To my point above, nobody should feel obligated to utilize their platform in a certain way. That being said, as a coach, my mission is to positively impact the lives of these young men and the mental aspect of their lives is as important (if not more so) than anything they do on a soccer field. I feel a great sense of responsibility to make sure our players are healthy, happy and becoming better players and people every day.
HIA: PRO-SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
Up2Us Sports: You traveled around the world and played with hundreds of diverse teammates. What did you learn about the importance of building trusting relationships and positive camaraderie with your teammates? What effect has that had on you as a coach and as a person?
Landon Donovan: In my opinion, you can’t have a successful team unless you have trust and camaraderie. There are too many adverse moments during a season that need to be dealt with and it’s impossible to handle them correctly without trust, honest communication and teamwork. The best teams I’ve been on have had a sense of togetherness and family about them that pushed them over the edge competitively.
