Beyond the 11 · Episode 8

Football Starts at Home

with Tom Byer, Author, Soccer Starts at Home

20 October 202613 minHosted by Shaun Harris & Kevin Meredith

The short version

Tom Byer on why youth development starts in backyards and recreational play.

Author, Soccer Starts at Home

Grew up in New York and has spent more than 40 years in Japan and Southeast Asia.
Played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, then professionally in Japan with Hitachi from 1986.
Moved into coaching through Coerver, built his own T3 programme and wrote Soccer Starts at Home.
Works with football federations on youth development across Asia and beyond.

Football is spending millions and millions of dollars trying to unlock what a five dollar little ball in the backyard would have solved.
Tom Byer · Episode 8
The ball doesn't know what nationality you are.
Tom Byer · Episode 8
Talent development is one hundred percent of the kids, not the zero point zero one percent that we need to identify.
Tom Byer · Episode 8

Lines from the recorded conversation, lightly edited for length.

Short cuts from the conversation, straight from our Instagram. Tap a clip to play it.

ReelThe coaching in Japan is no betterLoading the clip…

The coaching in Japan is no betterTom Byer · Episode 8
ReelA $5 ball beats millionsLoading the clip…

A $5 ball beats millionsTom Byer · Episode 8
ReelWhy 23 of 26 play in EuropeLoading the clip…

Why 23 of 26 play in EuropeTom Byer · Episode 8
ReelStop scouting. Start developing.Loading the clip…

Stop scouting. Start developing.Tom Byer · Episode 8