Silent Saturday

“Silent Saturday” is the ONE DAY out of the schedule in which parents, coaches and spectators refrain from talking, shouting or cheering at players during the game. It applies to our U10 through U14 divisions. 

The concept has met with huge success all over the country, in soccer clubs small and large, including for several years in Burlingame AYSO. The vast majority of feedback regarding Silent Saturday is very positive.

The people who typically enjoy it the most? The kids, of course. This is their chance to show their skills, communicate and support each other as a team, without well-meaning but often distracting parental direction. 

We specifically have our Silent Saturday occur midway in the season, so coaches have lots of practice under their belts, the kids should know each other by name and they’ll have played several games already.

• Coaches should inform their players ahead of time, at practice, about Silent Saturday. 
• Only the referee and the players are allowed to talk during the game. 
• Coaches may only quietly talk to their players on the sideline during substitution breaks, at halftime, and before and after their game.
• Spectators should remain quiet for the duration of the game. 
• Clapping, signs, flags and banners are allowed.

• To foster teamwork—as players must learn to rely on one another 
• To foster communication among players
• To foster leadership—individual players have the opportunity to share (the coaches’) instruction on the field
• To encourage independence—players have a chance to trust their skills and instincts without sideline input
• To encourage self-reflection—players can learn from their mistakes without correction from the sidelines in a game environment
• To support our referees, especially youth referees—games can be called in an atmosphere without sideline commentary
• To remind coaches, parents and players that PRACTICE is the time for instruction. GAMES are the showcases for learning
• To embody AYSO’s mission—that youth soccer is primarily for the purpose of kids playing, learning and having fun—and emphasize one of its six philosophies: player development

Q. What is “Silent Saturday/Sunday”? 
A. Silent Saturday/Sunday is the ONE DAY out of the schedule in which parents, coaches and spectators refrain from talking, shouting or cheering at players during the game.

Q. Who is participating in Silent Saturday/Sunday in Burlingame?
A. Teams in the U10-U14 divisions are participating. 

Q. When is Silent Saturday/Sunday?
A. In Burlingame, Silent Saturday is typically held the last Saturday or Sunday in September, and the second game of our doubleheader weekend.

Q. Has Burlingame ever had a Silent Saturday/Sunday before?
A. Yes, with great success the last few years. AYSO regions across the country have held Silent Saturday (or often Silent Sundays) for many years beyond that.

Q. Why are we having a Silent Saturday/Sunday?
A. To support our children’s development as players. Player development is one of AYSO’s six philosophies. Silent Saturday/Sunday is a chance for kids to showcase their skills, teamwork, communication, leadership and more—for one day out of the season—without parental direction, whether from coaches or spectators on the sidelines.

Q. What do other regions have to say about Silent Saturday/Sunday?
A. The vast majority of feedback regarding Silent Saturdays/Sundays is very positive. Coaches comment on how well their players communicate on the field, something that is easy to miss with all the extra noise of typical game days.

Many kids say they can concentrate more; some say they like not having their parents yell at them if they “mess up.”

Many kids also like being able to make their own decisions. For example, who takes the ball out, who does the goal kick, where to direct a throw-in, when to shoot, when to pass, when to dribble, when to move up, when to move back, when to boot the ball, when to clear it, etc.

Remember, kids go out on the playground every day and play soccer, baseball, basketball, kickball and other sports without needing help or cheers from the sidelines.

Q. What should coaches do?
A. Coaches should inform their teams of the planned Silent Saturday/Sunday ahead of time, letting them know what to expect. During the game, coaches should remain silent, only clapping. Coaches may talk quietly to their players on the sidelines during substitutions, at halftime and before and after the game.

Q. I’m a coach and find it irresistible to give instructions. What should I do?
A. Consider Silent Saturday/Sunday a chance for you to practice Positive Coaching, one of AYSO’s six philosophies.

• Give instructions at practice, and let the kids showcase their abilities, including communicating with each other about positioning, etc., during the game.
• Bring a chair or towel and sit down. Being loud while sitting is much harder to do than while standing.
• Bring pen and paper and take notes on player performance and topics to cover at practice.
• Consider letting your co-coach manage the game on Silent Saturday/Sunday and spend the game on the spectator’s side to take it in from a different perspective. Apply what you’ve observed at the next practice.

Q. I’m a spectator. What should I do?
A. Sit back and enjoy the game. Feel free to talk quietly amongst yourselves, but refrain from talking, shouting or cheering at players during the game (that is, no vocal chords). Clapping is allowed. Artificial noisemakers are not. Bring homemade signs to show your support.

Q. Someone else on the sideline is cheering or otherwise being loud. What should I do?
A. Politely remind the person that today is a special day, Silent Saturday/Sunday. Kindly ask that they refrain from using their voices during the game.

Q. I’m a coach and the other team’s coach is shouting instructions to his or her team. What should I do?
A. Politely remind the other coach that today is a special day, Silent Saturday/Sunday. Kindly ask that they refrain from using their voices during the game.