Tom Byer: On coaching licenses vs. culture, and prepping kids for organized soccer

Anson Dorrance has said Japan’s rise as a world power in women’s soccer can be attributed a lot to New Yorker Tom Byer, who has spent 24 years running youthsoccer programs in Japan. Byer collaborated with U.S. Soccer after Dorrance recommended him to former Federation President Sunil Gulati. The project took place in the state ofWashington, funded by the U.S. Soccer’s “Innovate to Grow” program. Byer preaches that parents hold the key to creating skillful soccer players and provides methods for parents toencourage their children to play with the ball at home. He has recently been working in the USA, with the Houston Dynamo and Dash. The second edition of his book, “Soccer Starts at Home,” is set to be released in the coming weeks.