Football coach gunned down in front of kids team after training

A football coach was shot dead in front of his junior team as he walked to his car after training.

Much-loved coach Dave Williams reportedly told the children to "run" when he saw armed men walking towards him.

The incident occurred at Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA on Thursday night.

The gunmen fled the scene after the shooting.

"We don't know if there (were) arguments," Fort Lauderdale police told WPLG-TV.

Williams had just completed training with the group of 30 kids and had given out biscuits and Gatorade drinks as a treat.

President of the Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes youth football club Jamaal Gaines said: "I just heard the shots, ran in that direction and found one of my coaches on the ground, fighting for his life.

"It’s shocking. You think you hear fireworks, but you see people grabbing their kids and running."

There were approximately 600 adults and children in the park before the incident.

Children at the scene range in age from four to 14.