03 BOYS SELECT 1 THE 03 BOYS SELECT 1 HAS FACED SEVERAL HURDLES IN AN from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas to prove Northwest effort to prove that quality soccer is possible in Northwest Florida. Florida can compete with bigger clubs.” Coach Micah Krider says that in spite of the players attending eight The team plays with speed and quickness. They have learned different schools, they put their middle school teams aside and come how to play more physically when their opponents start pushing them to the field as FC Dallas ONLY. Further complicating matters, the region around, their coach says. “They genuinely like to have fun with the ball includes several Army and Air Force bases — meaning that most kids and play best on the counter-attack.” move within three years. “But these kids have learned to trust and lean The team is very close, but the boys also like to jump into practices on each other from the very start of the season,” says Krider, who is with younger teams to try and help everyone around them get better. in his eighth season coaching at FC Dallas-EC. “They encourage each “They are great role models for younger players and always take time other and don’t beat each other down when a mistake is made. As to play around with younger players and teach them new skills,” Krider new players join, strong bonds quickly form and digital communication says proudly. If their coach ever doubted whether everyone on the starts flowing.” team is all in, he recently learned he has nothing to worry about. He To prove that they are in it to win it, Krider says the team set a asked if they wanted to attend an extra tournament, and the boys ALL goal this season of reaching President’s Cup in Florida. “In order said that they want to play. “Not just that they want to play,” Krider to prepare, the boys trained in the Region B Premier League, six points out, “but they want to play with this team above anything else.” hours from home where they played ten league games,” he points One player passed on a family vacation and, on his own, found another out. “Due to the toughness they had to learn and the speed of play family to stay with so he could play with his team. Two qualified for they had to adjust to, they were able to reach President’s Cup this state track finals and are hoping they’ll get to play with their team season, making it to the Elite Eight.” This is the third year out of instead. “They are defiantly passionate about playing soccer with the last four that the boys have made it to President’s Cup and this their team and it is so refreshing to watch and be a part of,” Krider year was their best showing. “This season we also branched out says. “I have been truly fortunate to have parents entrust me with a and played teams from three of the four different regions in Florida, wonderfully positive and energetic group of boys.”