On this episode of the Inside College Soccer Podcast, Don Williams sits down with leading sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to break down his new 2026 book Compete: Developing a Mental Playbook for Performance Under Pressure in Sport.

Dan shares practical, game-ready tools designed to help athletes perform when it matters most. The conversation dives into:

• The High Performance Mindset (HPM) - how athletes can control attention, intensity, and intent in pressure moments
• The Elite Competitor Model - building a proactive, purposeful approach to performance
• The Mindset Scale - a simple but powerful tool athletes can use mid-game to reset and refocus
• Mental Playbook strategies - managing nerves, frustration, and mistakes while developing a “go again” mentality
• In-game routines & confidence tools - how to build consistency and “bulletproof” belief

This episode is a must-listen for players, parents, and coaches navigating high-pressure environments - especially those pursuing the U.S. college pathway, where mindset is often the difference-maker.

📚 Pre-order the book via Hawksmoor Publishing or Amazon
➡️ Learn more: www.danabrahams.com

On the latest episode of Inside College Soccer, Don Williams sits down with Scott Wilson, Assistant Coach of the Florida Tech Women's Soccer Programme, for an in-depth conversation covering his journey from decorated college player to experienced coach operating at both national and international level.

Scott reflects on his playing career at UW-Superior - where he was a 3-year captain, three-time UMAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament champion, two-time NCAA Tournament participant, and 2021 UMAC Defensive Player of the Year - before walking through how that experience shaped his approach to coaching.

Scott and Don also dig into what it takes to recruit effectively at the college level, the realities of building a women's programme, and what young players should know about the college soccer pathway - particularly for those serious about maximising their opportunities at the next level.

🎧 Sponsored by Sports Recruiting USA (SRUSA)
🤝 Brought to you by gapyearsoccer.com

Whether you're a player, parent, or coach, this is a valuable listen from someone who has lived the college soccer journey from both sides - and is now helping the next generation do the same.

On this episode of Inside College Soccer, Don Williams sits down with acclaimed soccer author Luciano Wernicke to discuss his latest book, The Lionel Messi Story: How One Man Revolutionized Major League Soccer.

Wernicke, author of more than 20 books on global football, breaks down the remarkable journey of Lionel Messi - from a young boy in Rosario overcoming growth hormone deficiency to becoming a World Cup champion and one of the most influential athletes in history.

The conversation explores Messi’s defining decision at 14 to leave Argentina for FC Barcelona, and how elite environments, culture, and long-term belief systems create world-class players.

The discussion then turns to Messi’s historic move to Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, the strategic vision of David Beckham, and what Messi’s arrival truly means for the growth and global credibility of soccer in the United States.

Wernicke also shares perspective from his time working with the Costa Rica men’s national soccer team, offering insight into what it realistically takes to build a nation capable of winning a World Cup - and whether the U.S. is moving in that direction.

A must-listen conversation for players, parents, coaches, and anyone serious about understanding the cultural, structural, and strategic forces shaping the future of the game in America.

📖 The book is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books-a-Million, and wherever books are sold.
🎧 Presented by Sports Recruiting USA - www.srusasoccer.com
🤝 Sponsored by www.gapyearsoccer.com