Alika Fonseca has been named as the Intermediate head Football Coach for the 2023 football season.  

As the new head coach for the Intermediate team, his goal is to lead the team and  build their skills as athletes, as well as developing themselves as individuals.  However, the process begins with developing skills like perseverance and a strong mindset as the focus of his first season as the head coach.  

In Fonseca’s first year as the head coach, there are many obstacles that come with the hefty task.  “It’s always tough to be a first year head coach and hear a lot of chatter from outside,”  explains Crusader Intermediate Offensive Coordinator, Acen Cabral.  In order to have a successful season, Fonseca will need to trust his coaching staff and his own abilities.

Many coaches at the intermediate level focus on the fundamentals of the game which are a very important part of the development of a player. Fonseca also recognizes the importance of  getting them adjusted and comfortable with the game.  

“A lot of kids haven’t played with pads, haven’t played full contact yet,” explains Fonseca, “and they first have to adjust to getting hit or hitting somebody.”“Coach Fonseca has had a great plan,” says Cabral.  “It’s the same system we run on all the levels with a little twist of his own; but it’s really good.”  

Fonseca believes that staying engaged with the parents is an important part of being a head coach and likes to also think from a parent’s perspective.  “When I’m coaching, when I’m out there, I’m thinking, okay, if my son was on the field right now and he was being coached, what would I want to see from the coaches?  And that’s what I try to bring out everyday at practice.”