When: April 27th 2019
Where: All AYSO Games, including away games
Silent
Saturday is used in AYSO Regions throughout the country with a great deal
of success. Its main purpose is to just let the kids play and have fun without
having to worry about how their performance is affecting the adults on the
sidelines. Silent Saturday is a throwback to the old schoolyard
days when kids would congregate after school and on weekends just to play the
sport all day without regard to who was winning and repercussions for poor play
and decision-making. Coaches are requested to communicate and reinforce this
with spectators!
The objectives of holding a Silent Saturday are:
To
emphasize that the game is about letting the kids have fun and play.
To show that the kids can play well on their own with limited instruction.
To
help the few parents and coaches who feel they must provide constant direction
understand how disruptive it is.
To give players the chance to trust their skills and instincts without sideline input.
To encourage leadership skills among the individual players as they have the unique opportunity of giving their own instruction on the field.
To encourage a sense of true teamwork as the players must learn to rely upon one another and communicate with each other accordingly.
To support our volunteer referees, both youth and adult, by eliminating sideline interference and comments.
While
the vast majority of adult verbal participation is intended to be positive and
constructive, the fact of the matter is that games can (and have in the past)
become so loud that the players often have difficulty hearing each other on the
field. Taking one week off from any verbal interference may help adults gain
perspective on just how loud they've been in the past. You will all be amazed
at how quiet the field will become.
RULES
FOR SILENT SATURDAY:
Spectators: We request that
you make no verbal comments about the game or direct any comments to the
players or referees (or coaches) on or off the field. Clapping IS allowed! Be
creative in how you choose to cheer your child's team - make signs to hold up
or bring a rally towel in the team's color and wave it wildly. There are lots
of ways to cheer other than verbally. But please no noise makers and especially
no whistles, or compressed air horns.
Coaches: It is recommended
that you do not provide any direction - verbal or non-verbal - to players who
are on the field. You may speak quietly to any players on the bench and have a
conversational discussion about the game with the players before and after the
game, and during halftime. If absolutely required, rarely and quietly call a
player on the field to the touchline to provide tactical instruction while the
game is in play (just like you are allowed to do during a normal game). Then
let the player convey the message to his team.
Players: You are encouraged to speak to each other on the field as normal. You are free to support each other and provide direction to each other. Substitute players on the bench must be quiet as well and not cheer or provide tactical instruction to their teammates. Lest they simply replace the coach or act on their behest.
Referees: For this special day, referees are being asked to monitor the spectators and coaches adherence to these guidelines and to offer reminders if the recommendations are not being followed, including notifying the coaches and/or stopping the game if necessary. Continue to verbalize often during the game as you normally would and do not be concerned about the fact they can now hear you off the field as well. You are there to help the players have a safe, fair, and fun time!
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:
Spectators
Talk/educated to the kids on the “bench”
Discuss
the game during quarter and half time breaks
Have one player convey a message to the rest of
the team
