Rui F.

Red Bull Youth Program – Union, NJ
[Winter 2025-Present]
Assistant coach to two regional select teams working with experienced head coaches and helping to foster young talent in order to reach higher levels of soccer.
Educated through Red Bulls youth coaching education program, learning from the most intensive player development curriculums of any MLS team in the US.

Union Soccer Club – Union, NJ
[Spring-Fall 2024]
Coached two recreational league teams, focusing on skill development and fostering a love for the game.
Designed age-appropriate training programs for players in grades 6-8 (middle school) and 9-12 (high school) to build foundational skills and tactical in-game awareness.
Mentored players individually to improve technical skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship, leading to increased player confidence and engagement.
Managed game-day strategies, player rotations, and substitutions to ensure equal participation and team cohesion.
Collaborated with parents and club officials to maintain a positive and supportive environment for all participants.

I played Varsity at JP Stevens as a captain, then Travel for FC Copa in New Brunswick. In my college career I played club soccer for Stevens Institute of Technology (2018-2022).

I believe every athlete is unique. I like to take a personalized approach to coaching each player. I like to gauge skill level and competency by first talking with players about what positions they gravitate to and why. I then run the first session with basic skill challenges that will help me determine where a player might need help improving. From that point on each session is made to be fun and engaging so that players don't get bored or uninterested. I use activities to sharpen players skills by putting them in game-like scenarios and asking them questions to invoke critical thinking.