About
We have some of the best talent in the area as coaches. Our coaching talent ranges from current and former college players, former professional players, along with high school and college coaching experience. This talent pool shares in our vision for training and player development that maintain the traditions of the sport while building the character of the player.
Our Story
We have a long track record in the youth sports industry, we have decided to branch out into the youth soccer market. Many programs provide 2-3 field practices per week breaking down skills and drills, yet at times this is hard to accomplish with all players and all the varying skill levels. We have taken the current model for youth soccer and followed some general rules for success, while providing a twist that will allow more touches on the ball and allow each player more individual time with the coach to properly prepare each players skills, however there is no substitute for practicing skills at home as often as possible. Bottom line here at the FARM is you have to TRAIN MORE & PLAY LESS to become a player with skills that get noticed at whatever level you play. We have learned over the years that TRAINING and PRACTICE are different processes in player develop within building foundational skills, intermediate skills, and advanced skills for competitive play like club soccer & club tournament play. Training allows players to learn new skills and drills to help grow individual performance. Practice is something you do at home to get reps working on what you have learned at training. Effective training with daily practice is a recipe for SUCCESS!
Training
DEVELOPMENT
Here at the Florida Futbol Academy, we believe that players need to commit to four things that take ZERO athletic ability. We call this the Core 4 and if players can give us these four things every training session, we can help them get better and they can reach and exceed their true potential. The core four consists of the following characteristics:
1. Hustle/Effort
2. GoodAttitude
3. Focus/Concentration
4. Positive words to yourself and others
FUN
Challenging players with instruction and fun activities and providing good tempo drills to stay interested while developing skills is important, especially with young players. Research shows that players will leave a sport or team because of a coach and players stay because of a coach. The point in the message is we want to have fun with a purpose while we continue to develop as a player.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach
Erik Espinoza
Erik Espinoza is a passionate and experienced soccer trainer who brings energy, knowledge, and heart to every session. A former collegiate athlete at Shippensburg University, Erik continued his soccer journey abroad, playing competitively in Spain, and gaining international experience that shaped his approach to the game. With years of coaching youth athletes across the DMV area, Erik specializes in building technical skills, tactical awareness, and confidence in young players. From futsal to indoor and outdoor soccer, his diverse playing background allows him to connect with athletes in every format of the game. What truly drives Erik is his love for soccer and his passion for working with children. His favorite part of coaching is seeing the moment when everything clicks—the instant a player understands a new concept and confidently puts it into action on the field. Watching that growth unfold is what fuels his commitment to each athlete’s development. Whether your child is just getting started or looking to take their game to the next level, Erik brings the experience and enthusiasm to support their development—both as a player and as a person.
Operations Director
Ryan Pryor
Coach Pryor has been a business owner-operator for the past 17 years. He has extensive knowledge in training all age levels and knows what it takes to achieve peak results. His motto with the Florida Lions Futbol Academy is 'you practice-we train.' The mission is to keep growing better players every day!
Coach
Matthew Mulhern
Coming Soon!
PA
Kim
Coming Soon!
