BORN
TO FLY
"Coach William has been far more than a coach to me since we began working together. His training transformed my goalkeeping ability and his guidance prepared me for success off the field as well. Our sessions were defined by hard work, discipline, and unwavering commitment. These lessons made me a far better player and a better person, and they still shape my actions as I pursue my future career as a doctor.
Coach William sets high standards while providing clear, individualized instruction. He pushed me to improve technically and mentally, taught me how to handle feedback productively, and modeled professionalism and resilience. Because of him I am more confident, focused, and reliable both in competition and in my studies. I wholeheartedly recommend Coach William to any young goalkeeper who wants to raise their level. He will help you develop the skills and mindset to succeed on the pitch, and, as an invaluable perk, you’ll build a lasting relationship with a dedicated and thoughtful mentor."
Connor Smith
“Coach Vanzela helped me become a national champion in only my first year of playing competitive soccer at the age of 12. The life lessons, discipline and overall excitement to play the goalkeeper position Coach Vanzela instilled in me lives on till this day. He truly helped me achieve my dream of playing at the highest level.”
Grant Farley
“There is so much I could say about coach William since he’s been the best coach I’ve ever had in my life. William isn’t just a soccer coach, he’s helped me grow as a coach, player, teammate, leader, daughter and so much more. I always envisioned playing soccer in college and coach William made that a reality for me. The first talk we had he was honest from the beginning, telling me that there is a long road ahead, but he will make me into a strong, confident goalkeeper, and all thanks to him I played Division 1 soccer for 2 years and now I play Division 2 soccer while also getting my nursing degree. Coach William takes time to understand every goalkeeper he works with not just on a soccer level but personal level. Throughout the years every session made me a better goalkeeper, leader and now I am a coach because of him. Born to Fly has the best coaching staff I’ve ever met. Everyone only wants to see the best of every player they coach and make a positive impact. #Born2Fly4L “
Alex Stuart
"When I first met Coach William I was around 11 or 12, our very first official session together he had me stand back against the post and catch volleys. I'll never forget when he said with the straightest look on his face “If you rock back and hit your head, it's your fault”. From that moment on it was nothing but tough love. After years of training with Coach William and getting the opportunity to witness his professional career up close, I learned the true meaning of dedication, self discipline and fighting to be better. William not only helped me on the field to be a better player, but he also taught me life lessons. I didn’t always have confidence in myself as a player and would shut down a lot over any mistake I made. Coach William taught me to be strong mentally and helped me to understand that I must believe in myself all the time because there will be people in life who won’t and I must be strong despite that. He is always honest and even when he gets agitated it's from a place of love. With every player he works with he encourages a community of safety, respect, and acceptance. If you share your goals with him, they become his goals too. I am truly grateful to have him in my life."
R'Reeyah
"Being Coach Vanzela’s first ever client was one of the most beneficial decisions both soccer and lifestyle wise I could have ever made. From the demanding yet fun training sessions to the life lessons he has taught me has changed myself and molded me into the man I am today. Beginning working with him at 7 years old to still at this point in time I would highly recommend to any young goalkeeper who is serious on improving their skill level. I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to be playing at the Division 1 level at Elon University and a large reasoning of that has to do with Coach Vanzela"
Nate Kennedy
“After four years of competing at the Division I level, transferring to Johns Hopkins was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Under Coach Vanzela, I rediscovered my love for the game. He instilled in me a renewed sense of confidence, challenged me to elevate my performance, and helped me understand soccer through a more strategic and thoughtful lens. Coach Vanzela demands accountability and consistently pushes his players to improve, but it’s driven by a genuine passion for the sport and a deep belief in each athlete’s potential. I’ve been fortunate to play under several outstanding coaches throughout my career at programs like Penn State and Saint Francis, but there is no one I would recommend more highly than Coach Vanzela.”
Alex Morgret
"Coach William has been the best coach I have ever trained with and has helped me to become the player and person I am today. Over the ten years I have worked with him, he has pushed me to be my best in every way possible and has taught me to never give up. Because of Coach William, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication, resilience, and discipline. The support and guidance I have gotten from Coach William is a large part of why I have been able to play at the collegiate level. With coach William, you not only get a coach but a mentor as well. The life lessons I learned through my sessions and talks with him will stick with me for years to come. He wants to see all of his players succeed and will help you to do so through honest conversations and a lot of encouragement. I would recommend training with Coach William and the Born to Fly staff to every goalkeeper out there who is looking to enhance their skills and is willing to work hard."
Ashton Anderson
I’ve been fortunate enough to play for and work with Coach Vanzela for 5 years. As player at Johns Hopkins University, he pushed me day-in and day-out, and believed in me to be a 4-year starter and 3-year captain. We had a lot of fun winning games and conference trophies, and pushing our NCAA tournament runs each year. As a coach in his clinics and personal sessions, I saw how dedicated and thoughtful he is to each of his players. He lays out a proven game plan to improves a player’s technical abilities, overall fitness, and soccer IQ and maximizes their potential. I only wish I met Coach Vanzela sooner.”
Xander LeFevre
"Coach Vanzela was my first proper goalkeeper coach. He came in at a crucial time in my youth soccer career and helped develop my goalkeeping foundation that ultimately lead me to become a Division 1 starter for 5 seasons at Loyola, winning the Patriot League regular season 5 times, earning the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the year title 4 times and playing professionally for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. His dedication and willingness to pour into the keepers he works with is something I never took for granted. He is a great mentor and friend to me to this day and that started when I began training with him at a young age. I could not be more grateful for having the opportunity to work with Coach Vanzela. He wants every keeper he works with to succeed and that is very clear through his training sessions as they are intentional, informative, demanding, and high quality. I will forever be in debt to Coach Vanzela for helping mold my Goalkeeping career and for the mentorship and knowledge he has given me. I highly recommend Coach Vanzela to any goalkeeper at any age."
Chase Vosvick
"William has had a huge impact on me, both on and off the field. He has helped me more than he knows. He always pushes me to do my best while also supporting me when I need it most. His belief in me has helped build my confidence and made me a much stronger athlete. He creates a positive and motivating environment in his trainings where I feel encouraged to never give up. I’m really grateful to have a coach like Williams who cares and inspires me every day".
Giovanna Calvo
