Coach Claysson De Lima

From Rio de Janeiro to the MASL

Claysson De Lima was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he came through the youth ranks of two of the country’s traditional clubs, Fluminense and Botafogo. He later moved to the Los Angeles area and joined the outdoor side FC Golden State Force before building his career in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL), the top professional indoor soccer league in the United States.

He spent close to eight seasons with the club that began as the Ontario Fury and later became the Empire Strykers, and played a key role in the deepest playoff run in the club’s history. In 2021 he was named MASL Goalkeeper of the Year, finishing the regular season 7-3-0 and going 5-1-1 in the playoffs. In February 2026 he was traded to the Tacoma Stars.

Why a playing goalkeeper makes a better coach

Indoor arena soccer is one of the fastest environments a goalkeeper can play in. Shots come from short range, rebounds are constant and decisions happen in fractions of a second. That experience shapes how Claysson coaches: quick feet, a strong set position, brave decisions and calm distribution under pressure.

He still trains and competes at the professional level, so the methods he teaches are the ones he uses himself, not theory from a textbook.

Coaching philosophy

• Technique first. Good habits learned early prevent injuries and bad reflexes later.
• Every repetition counts. Goalkeepers get many touches in every session, not long waits in line.
• Confidence through preparation. A goalkeeper who knows what to do is a goalkeeper who is not afraid.
• Family partnership. Parents always know what their goalkeeper is working on.