Our volunteer coaches do an incredible job each season bringing the joys of group sports and the love of soccer to our children and community. They also jump through a lot of hoops in the off-season to be your child's coach and navigate more sticky situations on the fields each season than we could even begin to describe! Truly, they are the ONLY reason we are able to have a rec soccer program in this community, and we owe them all a HUGE THANK-YOU!

In appreciation for their efforts this season, Coaches Appreciation Day will also be a day where we will ask all spectators to maintain Silent Sidelines? What, you may be wondering, are SILENT SIDELINES?!? Read on...

AI Overview of the search "Silent Sidelines":

" 'Silent Sidelines' refers to a sports initiative where spectators are encouraged to maintain silence on the sidelines during games, with the goal of letting players focus on their own instincts and decision-making. This involves abstaining from coaching or instructing players, and avoiding comments that could be heard by players, coaches, or referees. While generally quiet, applause and cheering are often permitted." 

Why do we support this practice at FC Richmond?

• To let the kids show off their skills in a quieter environment, minus any yelling
• To be able to hear the kids talking to each other during the game! It is truly incredible.
• To appreciate that they really really don't need us to tell them what to do during games.
• To show our enthusiasm in a quieter way -- FEEL FREE to clap and cheer for great play on both sides! FEEL FREE to make posters, bring pompoms, wear your team's color, wave your arms, jump up and down, show your enthusiasm without using your voices for just this one Saturday!
• So the players can hear their actual COACHES and each other! (If YOU want to coach, Come Coach with Us!)
• To show respect for our Volunteer Coaches on Coaches Appreciation Day by letting them do the coaching, and appreciating "the beautiful game" together, quietly.

Want to know more? Check out this awesome article:

American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO) "Silent Saturdays"

(it's not just us!!!)

Check out how one clever group of team parents opted to celebrate the occasion in this picture:

Then read on and let us know what you think!

Coaches,

Hope this clarification helps. Here are the club guidelines for SILENT SIDELINES/SILENT SATURDAY. When FC has done this in the past it was incredibly well received by coaches, parents, and especially the players. We ask that you keep an open mind and enjoy the games. As a long time youth and travel coach my biggest concern has always been what I call player IQ. How they read and interpret the game through their own eyes. This is a skill many players lack. See this as a fantastic opportunity to improve that player IQ. I think your players are going to surprise you!

Guidelines:

U6 and Younger – These age groups are still learning and need a lot of guidance from their coaches. So, these guidelines do not apply to these age groups. Provide clarification and direction, but try to avoid active coaching while they are playing regarding decision making. (ex. when to pass.....dribble... shoot)

U7-U8 – This age group may have played before but still need a little guidance. For the coaches, please try to use one or two-word directions, more positionally directions like “spread out” - “drop back” - “move up” – Do not use words like, shoot, pass and dribble. These are the things we want them to do without direction.

U10 and Above – Your coaching moments are before the game, half time, or with the players on the bench. This is a great time to take something happening on the field, turn to your bench and teach in the moment. For those on the bench, coaches should provide direction on playing strategies for when they enter the game. Coaches shall not provide any direction – verbal or non-verbal – to the players on the field. During active play, coaches should be evaluating the performance of their team and decide on coaching points to be discussed at halftime and for the next practice.

Halftime coaching points - try to narrow it down to 3 or 4 bullet points to coach. Don't overload them with too much information.

When we allow the players on the field to communicate and make decisions, they learn from each other. 

Players

While on the field, players are encouraged to communicate, to support and provide direction to each other. Thus, to improve their game play. Substitute players on the bench should communicate with their teammates on the field as well. Substitutes are the 12th players on the field, and they see the game from a different perspective. Learning to use your voice as a player from the touchline is a huge tool to help their team.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not the coach telling the players what to say, this is the players watching the game and verbalizing what they are seeing to their teammates.

Let us know how it goes!

(P.S. -- 

The intention of being mindful about what we say from the sidelines is NOT to have players confused or feel they are lacking support from the sidelines. The idea is to give them the space to make decisions on their own and be there to help them when needed.

Coaches, please feel free to "coach" your players as needed to offer them support during their games! We don't want players feeling confused or lacking guidance.

• We DO want to create a space where they can hear each other and problem-solve together on the field.
• We DO want the kids listening for their coaches voices to offer any necessary guidance, and listening to each other as they problem-solve moment-to-moment in the game environment and hopefully quieter parent sidelines help that.
• Please always DO keep instruction positive not critical!)

A mother was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her son. Suddenly the boy bursts into the kitchen.

"Careful! Careful! Put in some more butter! Oh my goodness! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful!... CAREFUL! I said CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!"

The mother stared at him. "What's wrong with you? You think I don't now how to fry a couple of eggs?"

The son calmly replied, "I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm trying to play soccer.