• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 4, 2025

#StayAtHomeChallenge Revamps Tommy Thompson’s YouTube Interests

  • San Jose Earthquakes player Tommy Thompson is using YouTube to teach youngsters the fundamentals of soccer while stuck at home.
  • Thus far, the 24-year-old’s #StayAtHomeChallenge has more than 200K views across his social media platforms.
tommy-thompson-youtube
Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Before becoming a professional player with the San Jose Earthquakes, Tommy Thompson remembers growing up and doing what every aspiring player does: looking to the greats for inspiration.

“I was inspired a lot by players like Messi or Ronaldinho and the videos that were put out on YouTube with the skills that they were doing,” Thompson said. “ I remember as a kid, whenever I would see those videos, I’d want to learn how to replicate it.”

FOS REPORT: 54.5% of industry executives believe that it would be at least 60 days before leagues resume play.

With the coronavirus pandemic putting a pause on the MLS just two games into the 2020 season, Thompson is using his growing social media presence to stay connected with the future generation of soccer stars.

“It’s a great opportunity for me and the kids in this area,” Thompson said. “It’s something that hasn’t been done before, and that excites me. I’m excited to continue to work on it, and now’s the perfect time to inspire kids who need the inspiration, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep that going.”

“I thought now it’d be a good opportunity for me to give back,” he said.

Without MLS matches and practices on his schedule, Thompson’s new routine is going on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to showcase moves and tricks that his viewers can work on – wherever they might be.

The idea behind the lessons came from Thompson’s dad, who runs a soccer club in Sacramento. After both realized the need for kids to have ideas of what they can do despite the current playing and practicing limitations, Thompson took to social media to keep them active.

It all began when Thompson launched his very own #StayAtHomeChallenge on March 15. Since then, the video has generated more than 200,000 views across his social media platforms, the vast majority coming from Twitter, he said. It even inspired MLS to post about the challenge on Twitter the following day.

Once he saw that the demand was there for people to watch his content, Thompson wanted to maintain that momentum.

“I took it upon myself to make a makeshift cameraman out of some storage boxes, and I put my iPhone camera up there, and then I started doing skills that I used to do as a kid,” Thompson said. “I want to give kids ideas on what they can still do at home.”

READ MORE: Utah Jazz Turn To Players For Podcast Content

While Thompson’s initial success came mostly from Twitter, he has noticed an even more significant potential on YouTube. While other YouTubers post videos of skills tutorials, none of them also play professionally, he said. 

After creating his YouTube Channel in March 2019, Thompson had only posted 12 videos nearly a year later, generating an average of roughly 99 views per post. 

But since reposting the original #StayAtHomeChallenge video on YouTube on March 16, he has created an additional 91 skills videos. More than 100 people have created their own skills tutorials and posted them on social media using the #StayAtHomeChallenge hashtag.

The clips, ranging from lessons on doing box steps to hot steppers, have generated more than 18,700 views and an average of 205 views per post. 

Overall, Thompson’s content output on YouTube since March 2019 has increased by about 667%, and his average views per post have risen 107% during that same period.

READ MORE: New York Giants Hunker Down With YouTube For Offseason Content

Already, brands have connected with Thompson to help release positive content during this difficult time. Sutter Health, a Northern California-based health system and partner with the Earthquakes, worked with him to bring the pair’s “Get Earthquakes Fit” initiative online via social media. Thompson also landed TV interviews with NBC News Bay Area and KTVU2, an Oakland-based Fox affiliate.

While Thompson acknowledges that his reach isn’t that of an NBA player, it has not stopped him from trying to reach the thousands on social media who are connecting with him through these videos.

“I’m just trying to give my fans and my followers what they want,” Thompson said. “And right now, during this challenging time, it’s clear that the tutorials are what needs to be my primary focus.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Leo Messi

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 16, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is introduced before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers in game five of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center.

NBA Taking Cues From NBA Twitter in Restoring Finals Pageantry

The NBA and ESPN/ABC made several changes on the fly.
John Fisher

A’s Owner John Fisher Eyes MLS Exit Ahead of Billion-Dollar Vegas Project

The Earthquakes owner said he had hired a bank for a sale.

Featured Today

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.
June 17, 2025

Zaslav Takes Pay Cut, TNT Sports Future Unclear in WBD Shake-Up

The TNT Sports parent company retools its executive pay after shareholder pushback.