Paula Zuluaga

Education

USSF C License

Coerver Youth Diploma I & II

Bachelor of Recreation and Sports Management, Florida International University

Playing Experience

Florida International University Women’s Soccer 2010-2014; MVP of 2013 Season

Coaching Experience

Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at Florida International University (Fla.), under Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt

Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at Johnson & Wales University (Fla.), under Head Coach Eric Dobrzanski

Coach at Florida’s Olympic Development Program (ODP)

Assistant Girls Soccer Coach Immaculate LaSalle High School

Co-Head Girls Varsity Coach at Mater Academy in Cutler Bay

Head Girls Soccer Coach at South Kendall Sunblazer Soccer Club

Why do you coach?

I am passionate about coaching because it allows me to create. I love the ability to be able to create, manipulate, and problem solve the complexities of coaching individuals as well as teams. I do not train anyone and just walk away from the training sessions as transactions. I like to embody my work and I embody the players or teams I work with. I am a constant creator of what can be improved, how can it be improved, and how can I help these individuals reach their maximum potential. As I reach 10 years of being a full time coach I am falling in love more and more with the psychology of youth players. I am learning that coaching youth players is much more than just showing these players how to change directions in a 1v1 or perform multiple scissors to beat a player. It is about building confident players who have an intrinsic desire to improve, learn, and achieve new milestones because they can do it. I coach because I want to give players of all levels an opportunity to be coached by a good coach and as a coach I want to teach them more than the game. I want them to walk away believing in themselves, being strong minded, learning consistency, and being disciplined because it is these traits that make you an athlete and a great student of life.