Silent Sideline
On Saturday, May 20th at our East Fishkill fields, we will be practicing “Silent Saturday”. This is our first time hosting this type of event and we encourage everyone to do their best to participate. The purpose is to let the kids play their game without distraction from coaches or spectators on the sideline. Many of the greatest soccer players developed their skills by playing on playgrounds, in the streets or just an open field without coaches giving them direction. In addition, it is an opportunity for all of us to examine our behavior on the sidelines. With the rise in unsportsmanlike behavior during youth sporting events, our governing league in the fall of 2021 implemented a Zero Tolerance Policy that directly addresses the inappropriate sideline behavior. Please take a moment to read through these policies https://www.enysoccer.com/about/zero-tolerance-policy/
Goals of “Silent Saturday”
- To give players a chance to trust their skills and instincts without sideline input, and without concern that their mistakes will be corrected from the sidelines in a game environment.
- To permit players to talk to each other on the field, free of sideline distractions.
- To foster independent thinking by our players, letting the game be the teacher.
- To remind coaches, parents, and players that PRACTICE is the time for instruction. Games are the showcase for learning.
- To support our youth referees by eliminating sideline interference and dissension.
Coaches: Please limit your coaching instructions to a minimum, shouting out tactical instructions only when absolutely necessary. For this day, let your players make their own decisions. Speak privately to individual players on the sidelines. Where possible communicate to the field through substitutions.
Players: Have fun and enjoy the freedom.
Parents: Please participate but with a positive tone. Avoid comments that can be heard by the players, referees, or opponents. When a goal is scored, please subdue your reaction to low-key applause.
Referees: We hope that this weekend affords you a more respected and congenial refereeing experience, without facing any critical commentary from coaches, players, or spectators. You should be free to concentrate on executing a fair game. We have not set up rules and penalties you must enforce. We are not asking you to be an enforcer of our requested sideline silence. No yellow or red cards should be issued for non-compliance. We hope that our teams and you will extract cooperation among their peers.
Implementation: This will be a voluntary program. There will be no yellow or red cards issued for non-compliance. This is a chance to see things differently, reflect on our actions, self-educate, and come back to contribute in a new positive way. It is all up to us…. Let’s do it.
Thank you and see you Saturday!
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