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FOR KIDS. Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Gutierrez (left) with ‘Football Starts At Home’ Founder Tom Byer (center) and Camiguin Misamis Oriental Regional Football Association (CMORFA) President Mike Batiles enjoy the company of young footballers during the launching of the ‘Football Starts At Home’ grassroots program here in Cagayan de Oro City. (Photo by Kjay Edorot)
MindanaoToday.com | PFF launches ultimate grassroots program
By: Jack Biantan
* ”Football Starts At Home” development program of Japan based coach Tom Byer launched here in Mindanao over the weekend.
CAGAYAN De Oro City — Newly elected Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president John Gutierrez personally launched here Sunday (June 23, 2024) the ultimate grassroots program which will eventually produce world class footballers for the country in many years to come.
“Football Starts at Home” program of Japan based coach Tom Byer is the most effective way to teach ‘Maste
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y Of The Ball’ to children as young as 2-6 six years old, before they could even play formal team football with their clubs.
Gutierrez launched the program with former American professional football player and founder Tom Byer, and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officials Ake Pastoral, and Dominic Salao.
Byer also brought his 18-year-old son Kaito Hasegawa Byer who was featured in the demonstration videos showing how he learned to play the beautiful game when was still a toddler.
Coaches, parents, players and officials from the different clubs in Cagayan de Oro City, and from Misamis Oriental who are all members of the Camiguin Misamis Oriental Regional Football Association (CMORFA) under president Mike Batiles attended the forum.
The PFF team and Byer were also at Camp Philips in Manolo Fortich town, Bukidnon last Saturday where the Bukidnon Football Association (BUFA) hosted the group. Gutierrez is the General Secretary of BUFA.
Central Visayas Regional Football Association (CVRFA) of president Rodney Orale hosted them Monday. They will then flew to Tarlac Tuesday and then to Quezon City at the University of the Philippines Diliman on Friday, June 28.
“We are privileged that our country is already starting this program before the rest of Asia. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will only look into this project starting this November during the AFC Congress,” said Gutierrez.
According to the 63-year-old Byer, “Football Starts At Home” program emphasizes on the importance of getting children comfortable with having the ball at their feet as soon as possible and the vital role that parents play in early childhood development.
“Football Starts At Home” also shares the message of positive effects of early parental engagement with their son or daughter and how emotional support helps motivate and inspire families who can get any child off to a flying head start into the game of football,” Byer said.
He also said that “Football Starts At Home” is an innovative approach to youth development, focused on children ages 2-6 years old that has proven track record of success in terms of developing both football-specific skills and coordination.
“The approach focuses on putting miniature football at the toddler’s feet from the time he or she can walk; but rather than teaching children to kick the ball away from themselves, the focus is on pulling it closer and retaining control of the ball,” he added.
Gutierrez, the former University of the Philippines booter who won the PFF presidential election late last year, on his part stressed that our country will not see the results of this program yet.
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“Maybe in many years to come if I am no longer president, we could see the results. This is one football investment that do not cost much. We do not need a pitch. We do not need a coach. We just need a size 1-2 football, the parents and the kids. The parents can teach their kids the mastery of the ball very early. When the kids reach the age of six, they will already be masters of the ball before they could even join a club,” he said.
Byer also added that football is the most popular sport in the world but there are only very few countries which win the World Cup. “These countries like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, and France keep on winning the World Cup all the time. There are 205 member countries of the World Cup but only very few win the the Cup,” he said.
He added that is because these countries have deep rooted ‘football culture’ which starts when the children are still very young.
“In Asia, which countries always qualify for the World Cup? Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. These countries have deep football culture and their kids start playing football with their families,” he said.
Gutierrez also pointed out that Leonel Messi did not learn to play and master ball control with Barcelona. He was already a good player and had excellent mastery of the ball when he young and he learned it not from the club but from home.
He pointed out that football loving parents who want their kids to learn the mastery of the ball can start now. “It takes only few minutes everyday to bond yourselves with your kids with a small football,” he said.
Gutierrez then announced that the details of the project will be available on the PFF.org.ph website soon.
However, the registration for the parents and kids who would like to join the project are now available online. (jackbiantantambok@gmail.com)
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