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News Detail

1

Jul, 2020

What is Silent Saturday

What is Silent Saturday?

"Silent Saturday" has been instituted in AYSO Regions throughout the country finding 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.

No one except the referee and the players are allowed to talk during the game. The coaches may only talk to their players during substitution breaks (quarters), at halftime, and before their game.

Parents and spectators will remain quiet for the duration of the game. CLAPPING IS ALLOWED.

The objectives of holding a "Silent Saturday" are:
• To reemphasize that the game is about letting the kids play and have fun.
• To give the players a chance to play totally on their own.
• To eliminate the verbal questioning of the referees' decisions.
• To help the few parents and coaches who feel they must provide constant direction, and to understand that the kids can play very well on their own with limited instruction.

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.

Watch a video on the value of Silent Saturday