Florida Fire Juniors Director of Coaching Paul Williams knows a thing or two about competitive soccer.
With three coaching diplomas and experience on 12 different professional teams, Williams has the tools to continue what the Fire have been doing — thrive as the most successful juniors club in Southwest Florida. Two Fire squads, the Under-16 girls and Under-15 boys, will be playing in the State Cup Final Four at Lake Myrtle in Auburndale on Saturday, May 17.
Williams hopes they both continue the winning tradition, but seeing the teams make it this far is a feat to relish in.
“I’m excited for these teams. They’ve worked very hard. Whatever the outcome, I’ll be proud either way,” Williams said.
The Fire have had more teams in the State Cup than any other team this side of the Everglades. They’ve had six teams reach the Sweet 16 and one of the Fire teams make it to the finals last year.
This year, Williams is coaching the sixth-in-state-ranked Under-15 boys in a 1:30 p.m. showdown against state No. 1 Margate Academy. The girls will square off against the Ponte Vedra Storm.
Since his playing days ended in 2002, Williams served coaching stints all across the United Kingdom until moving to the United States last year. He said the American people have been one of his greatest loves, along with his profession.
This makes it easier to show off the greatness of his team to the people of the area. Williams’ approach to coaching is all about the “CAP” — commitment, attitude and potential. If a player gives off a bad vibe, Williams doesn’t want a part of it.
“The most important thing in soccer is the attitude,” Williams said. “I can’t teach the attitude to want to work. I can teach how to play, the first soccer touch and things like that.”
Williams, Administrative Director Dwight Morgan and the rest of his staff will have a chance to develop some skills at their open clinic on Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20. They will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday and 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at North Collier Regional Park in Naples.
Williams said this is a perfect opportunity for people to come and hone-in on whatever skills athletes may have. They’ll be going through different exercises and drills to prep potentials for the main event.
Official Florida Fire tryouts will be from Wednesday, May 28, to Sunday, June 1. Williams said the tryouts will be much more structured than the open clinics, but the clinics are also a chance to see what both sides bring to the table.
“This is an opportunity for kids to impress themselves and see what their about,” Williams said. “The tryouts are more demanding and more competitive. They’re competing for a spot.”
Dwight Morgan has been working with the Fire for five years. He started working with the Chicago Fire and helped establish their Junior presence in Southwest Florida. When it first started, the name use to be the “Chicago Fire Juniors Florida.” Noticing there were nine other affiliate teams, Morgan worked to get their own identity. This has helped the kids get the notoriety they deserve.
“It’s good to let the community know what soccer options are out there,” Morgan said in regards to young and budding leagues.
Morgan, the Naples Daily News 2014 Soccer Coach of the Year, said he wants to get the kids hooked to soccer early and bridge the gap between recreation and competitive play. Teams like the Soccer Sparks, who start at age four, expose kids to the game early on and give parents the opportunity to see if it’s right for them.
At the end of it all, Morgan and Williams just want the sport to live on. So for them, the sooner they can lace a pair of cleats, the better. (link to Naples Daily News)
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FYSA State Cup Roundup - 05/18/14
Excellent run by both the U15 Boys Premier, 2014 FYSA State Cup Finalists and U16 Girls Premier, 2014 FYSA State Cup Semi-Finalists! Lace those boots up and have another go again next year...GO FIRE!!
FYSA State Cup Roundup - 05/05/14
Congratulations to the Florida Fire Juniors U16 Girls Premier and U15 Boys Premier who advance to the Final Four of the 2014 FYSA State Cup! Best of luck to both teams!!
U16 Girls
FFJ 97-98 GIRLS PREMIER (Seed 5th - FL Rank #3 / Region 3 #11)
U15 Boys
FFJ 98-99 BOYS PREMIER (Seed 4th - FL Rank #13)
FYSA State Cup Roundup - 04/01/14
Congratulations to the Florida Fire Juniors U13 Girls Premier, U16 Girls Premier, U15 Boys Premier who all advance through the first round of the FYSA State Cup play! The teams will continue play in this years State Cup along the U14 Boys who's games were postponed due to weather. Best of luck in the next round!!
State Cup Results:
U13 Girls:
FFJ 00-01 GIRLS PREMIER (FL Rank #17)
U14 Boys:
FFJ 99-00 BOYS PREMIER (Seed 1st - FL Rank #1 / Region 3 #13)
