My life changed when I started coming to Forza in 2013. Coach David has helped shape not only the soccer player I am today but also the person I am. I was so nervous when I first walked into my first training session at Forza. The drills were so complex and intense, working so many different aspects of the game all at once. My first session with you was with all senior players, and we were trapping weight balls with our chest and volleying them back to our partner. I remember Max Fuentes was my partner and I kept getting frustrated and embarrassed because I couldn’t do the drill right like him and everyone else. However, you continued to push me at the same difficulty as everyone else, to see how I would handle the situation and to see if I would give up. You always knew how to push me just enough, to make me work harder and to yell not out of anger but in motivation to get the job done. I used to think tennis ball bouncing was one of the hardest drills in the world, but you would tell us not to get mad because it wouldn’t help us get better at it. Now, after countless sessions of tennis ball tapping, I have come to appreciate the effect that that tiny tennis ball brings to the game of soccer. Quickening my feet and improving my touch, I had no idea that those types of drills could improve my technique as a player.  Today, I look forward to every training session at Forza, even when it means waking up at 5:30AM on a school day or summer vacation. I’m excited to see my friends and to learn new drills and skills to improve myself as a player.  Coach David is the best coach I have ever had the honor to train under. His passion for the game and dedication to his players is unlike any other coach I have seen. He treats all his players like family and works hard to see them all succeed. Not only has David has taught me skills to improve as a soccer player but he has also taught me to be respectful, disciplined, and give back to others. Like others I’m sure, I have learned the hard way about complaining about uneven teams, leaning on the walls, or having an untucked jersey. I’ve learned to do crunches even if I’m on the winning team because at Forza we will not let our teammates get better while we just watch them!!! I have developed so many new friendships because of Forza, even with all the little mucnhkins! It’s my second home and family that I love spending my summers, holidays, and free time with. It’s a family I know I will have forever.

Coach David gave 20 other girls and me the opportunity in summer 2015 to travel to Holland and play in five International Friendlies. The 10 days I spent in Holland were some of the most memorable days of my life. I never thought that I would get to see the training grounds and stadiums of real professional teams. I never thought I would get to be trained by and play with professional women soccer players, but after 2 and a half long years of steady improvement, I’m even more thankful that Forza and David had become a part of my life. Even better, I got so much closer to the girls I trained with every day and learned so much more about them other than their amazing soccer capabilities. Playing against older teams in Holland (against 17-32 year olds)  left me with a lot more knowledge, experience, and skills to take back home to my team. I am blessed to have been able to play with all the wonderful girls that went and I want to thank David for giving me that opportunity. Without Coach David, I wouldn’t have gone to guest play at IMG, be recognized at TNGS Spain camp, get to state ODP pool, be on 3 x 3 team going to nationals, attend a German as well as Barcelona camp, or be playing at University of Texas at Tyler. I owe all my accomplishments to you, for revealing my full soccer potential and changing my life.

Love you Coach David,

Miranda Reyna, student since 2013
Univeristy of Texas at Tyler 2020 Class
Future PRO