Tacoma Soccer Coach Offers Free Training Each Saturday

LEARN MORE ABOUT STEPHEN SWANGER – LINK

When: November 14, 2020 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Where: Vassault Park Tacoma, WA

Tacoma soccer coach Stephen Swanger will be offering free goalkeeper training to players ages 8 – 11 in a small group format at Vassault Park in Tacoma, Washington.   Fairo Goalkeeper Academy (FGA) goalkeepers aged 13+ will be there as well to assist coach Swanger.

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FAIRO GOALKEEPING IS SEEKING NEW STUDENTS IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON!
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Goalkeepers will be guided by coach Swanger and FGA students in making their paces through the session in the basics of the specific FGA curriculum developed by coach Swanger over years of working with goalkeepers of all ages.

Since starting Fairo – Elite Goalkeeper Camps   in 2016 and rebranding as Fairo – Stephen Swanger has trained hundreds of goalkeepers throughout the US and around the world. With Masters degree in education, fluency in Spanish and a student of the game and a fierce competitor, Stephen brings knowledge and passion and unique insights from international experiences onto the soccer field.

Carry the Fire!

ABOUT STEPHEN SWANGER

Stephen Swanger was raised traveling the world as the son of a military officer and was afforded opportunities to play all over the US. Stephen played 1 year at college before testing his luck in Chile where he was discovered playing at a local park and was introduced to Jorge Garces who was the new coach of 2nd division Provinicial Osorno. Garces assisted Stephen gain a contract and was with the Toros as they made the Finals of Copa Chile and were promoted to the 1st division. After some moving around of clubs, Stephen landed at La Union Española where he trained under Nelson Acosta and alongside MLS legend Jorge Dely Valdez of Panama.

After the departure of Acosta, Stephen trained at Talca Rangers, played with Santiago Morning, and then finally after a brief stint and a stomach illness, he made a departure from Chile. Stephen was a trialist at Melgar of Arequipa, Peru, Bolivar of La Paz, Bolivia, and then landed in Cochabamba, Bolovia to train under the guidance of Chi Chi Romero and Dimitrio Angola of the Bolivian national team. The league went on strike in 1993 and Stephen moved to Colorado to work until things were sorted out with league. However, while working contruction Stephen had an accident and broke mulitple ribs, knee cap, cuncussion, and severely broke his arm, leaving it permanantly disabled.

Stephen was then accepted into the University of Colorado where he graduated with a degree in Spanish Literature. After graduation at the age of 27, Stephen joined the US Army, studied at the Defense Language Institute, and served as a Russian Linguist during the Kosovo conflict. While studying Russian in Tver, Russina, Stephen was able to play in local semi-pro league. Upon return to the US. Stephen was selected to play for the US Army team and competed in the all-forces tournament.

At 31 Stephen began coaching by working as the club coach for the University of Colorado, then worked in Valle de Bravo, Mexico at Pumas’ Academy. When he moved to Philadelphia in 2002 Stephen coached for Frankford High School and Germantown Academy unitl 2008 and during that time earned a Masters in Education from La Salle University.

In 2009 Stephen moved to Colorado and was the head coach for Conifer High School. in 2010 Stephen now 42, fell ill with Guillain Barré Syndrome and would take a long stint recovering from the paralysis caused by the loss of myelin of GBS. Stephen got back to coaching, working as a private coach and worked as a head coach at Lake Wales High School in Florida, and the JV coach at the Blue Ridge School in Virginia and moved to Tacoma, Wasshington in 2015.

Since starting his goalkeeping academy in 2016 Stephen Swanger has trained hundreds of goalkeepers throughout The Pacific Northwest, Montana, and Hawai, China, Aragentina. Stephen is the Goalkeeper Trainer for Eagleclaw FC. With a Masters degree in education, fluency in Spanish and a student of the game, he brings passion and unique insights to the goalkeeping position and uses proven pedagogical learning and teaching methods in his intruction.

Playing Experience

All Army Soccer Team 1999

Semi professional contract -Club Provincial Osorno 1992

Extended Trials and Loans

Chile – Club La Union Española, Huachipato, Talca Rangers, Santiago Morning

Bolivia – Club Wilsterman, Cochabamba, Bolivia

Peru – Club Melgar, Arequipa, Peru