Hi, I'm Grant Wall, and welcome to the Planet Football Podcast, where I go in depth with the most intriguing people in the world of soccer.

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In this episode I interview Tom Byer, a renowned soccer skills coach,

who's an American, but who has worked primarily in Asia over the years, including Japan.

Tom appeared on an episode of HBO's real sports last fall, and had started a pilot program

with U.S. soccer for the first time in Washington State, working with parents to build a culture of skill development with children.

As he explains in this interview, Byers pilot program is no longer being supported by the people running US soccer.

I mean, my understanding from what you're saying here is that you felt like you had support

from Senial Galate at US soccer.

You felt like you had support from the Sounders and you didn't feel like you

had support from the U.S. Soccer coaching development group or coaching education group and Development Group or Coaching Education Group and Dan Flynn.

Is that accurate?

Yeah, that's pretty accurate.

Yep, that's what I see.

Wow.

All that and more coming up. Our guest today is Tom Byer who is one of the most fascinating people and coaches I think out there in world soccer he's an American who has a very interesting past I wrote a big story about him last fall

When he had been hired to run a pilot program for US soccer in the state of

Washington with Seattle Sounders. And before we get into what has happened

with that program, I wanted to welcome you on the show, Tom.

It's great to speak to you and also just,

if you could get into sort of what your unique story is for any of our listeners who aren't aware of it.

Yeah, thanks. It's great to be here with you, Grant.

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