Categories
Campaign Silent Sideline

Silent Sideline Weekend: October 04 & 05th 2014

Very often in kid’s sports adults, parents and coaches become overly vocal in their approach to working with young athletes. However well intentioned some of them may be, the results are not always positive. With a Silent Sideline Weekend, the coaches, parents and spectators are asked to keep talking to a bare minimum on the sidelines. One coach from each team will be given the task to instruct (not during the game), whilst everyone else watches on in SILENCE.

Supporters are allowed to clap to show their enthusiasm but the adults are restricted from coaching their kids from the sideline. This is a weekend when kids can make decisions for themselves, without having adults shout 5/6 different instructions at them.

We now know that when adults scream from the sidelines they’re not just invading the children’s play time, they’re preventing children from learning the game in a natural manner.

With the sidelines quiet, players have the chance to concentrate, make their own split-second decisions and learn by them. Instead of being distracted by the stream of noise that usually exists, the kids on the pitch get the opportunity to communicate with one another, deciding who will take the throw ins, the goal-kicks, free-kicks and/or the corner kicks in the game. This also gives them time to think and focus on what they are about to do.

The teeny tiny kids may need a little direction but you must try and let them figure it out for themselves before stepping in. Remember it’s only one game over one weekend.

Why? 

The focus of the weekend is not to take the atmosphere out of the kids’ game but instead try and encourage less coaching from the line. It’s about educating adults that screaming at children whilst they play sport is wrong.

The aim is to eventually get every youth club in Ireland and around the world in every team sport to conform to the ‘Silent sideline weekend.’

Initially not everyone is going to agree with the idea, but one thing is for sure the kids absolutely loved the last one and they weren’t the only ones!! The referees always appreciated the chance to be able to concentrate on the game instead of the sideline.

What’s Expected from Participants?

  • A day when we, Let the kids play.
  • Everyone can get involved.
  • If the opposition aren’t willing to participate, no don’t worry you can learn so much from observing them.
  • Clubs to manage this initiative internally.
  • Club should select 2 sideline keepers to reinforce a positive and silent attitude on the line.
  • Each club should have a silent sideline ambassador.
  • Absolutely NO shouting or directing from the sidelines.
  • Coaching staff to speak to players at halftime and when making changes ONLY (Only when absolutely necessary).
  • Clapping & cheering allowed for goals scored and effort from both sides.
  • No directing or coaching advice from adults at anytime.
  • Absolutely no questioning of the referee in charge of game. (If required call official over).
  • Rope the pitches and provide a designated area for parents. (Stand back, observe and enjoy the game).
  • Kids voices are all we want to hear on match day.
  • Lollipops are a fun way of helping people to stay silent!

Going forward we need less coaching and directing from the line. Encourage, Praise, Clap and Cheer. It’s really important that we allow the kids to take control of their game. I see it all the time, where parents/coaches go over the entire game and point out the child’s mistakes. Not even adults like to hear about the things they did wrong and children are no different.

Kids need praise not criticism. Providing feedback on what he/she did wrong or expressing your disappointment in their play is NOT what they need to hear and will only serve to make a painful situation much worse. Support and encouragement does NOT mean that you coach from the sidelines. In fact, the WORST THING that you can do as a parent/coach is to continually “give instruction” from the sidelines.

Date for your diary: 

  1. 04 & 05th Silent Sideline Weekend
  2. 29th September Silent Sideline Workshop, (Supported by Fingal City Council)

Sign Up for the Silent Sideline Workshop

Sign Up for Silent Sideline Weekend

Supported by: Fingal County Council

NEXT SILENT SIDELINE WEEKEND 26TH & 27TH SEPTEMBER 2015

End

I always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say, please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com and if you don’t have anything to add, please pass this on to a friend.

As always, thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter  @Coachdiary

Categories
Campaign Irish Grassroots Football Silent Sideline

Silent Sideline, the aftershock!

Apologies for the late post, the site was under maintenance.

After experimenting with the first ever-official Silent Sideline in Ireland, including clubs from abroad. The response has been overwhelming positive. Original there were over 100+ clubs and that number has grown dramatically over the weekend with many GAA clubs getting on-board. Parents from other codes took it upon themselves to stay silent for the duration of their children’s game and although the clubs didn’t participate they also wanted to be apart of something unique.

On a personal point of view, I’m delighted with the response from the adults and their willingness to at least try and say nothing for what was only an hour in most cases. In our own game; I spoke with encouraging words about 4 times. When we went a goal down, when we brought it back to 1-1 and then 2-1 and at the final whistle. I was able to see so much more by being able to focus on more. When we focus on the person in possession, that’s all we see. To see the real picture, take a step back away from the line. Even move to higher ground if possible. In order to properly understand the big picture, we need to stop becoming obsessed with one small section of the game. Which leads me to what you the adults said about the weekend:

The Feedback:

“Just wanted to say Congratulations and a big Thank You for #SilentSideline. We observed it at the Cutbush U8 soccer match in Kildare. The kids really enjoyed it. My own son and a couple of other boys said that it was ” much better” than having the parents shouting. My son said that he enjoyed the game more and was better able to concentrate as he didn’t “have to look at the parents”. It was noticeable that the kids were able to communicate with each other on the pitch much more easily. I also found it a lot more enjoyable as a parent and enjoyed clapping instead. I’d really like to see this being introduced for all of the games.” – Joseph Fallon

“The event proved a huge success and we had Ciaran Gallagher (Derry City, Goalkeeper) drop in to support our event. The parents were very generous in their praise and can I take this opportunity to congratulate Antonio on his organisation of the “Silent Sideline Weekend”. Look forward to working with The Coach Diary in the future”. – Jonathan Adair Buncrana Heart FC

“I must compliment you on this idea, which I believe was a resounding success for our players. It was fantastic to only hear the players communication among themselves with no pressure from the side lines. Naturally enough it’s a strange feeling for adults not to get involved but from my own stand point it was very evident that the young kids very much thrived being allowed to make their own decisions & mistakes without fear of retribution. Well done to all behind this initiative”.Robbie Giles Ashbourne United

“Just wanted to drop you a quick mail to let you know that I absolutely loved your Silent Sideline idea this weekend. I was at an U12 Castleknock v Cabinteely match on Saturday morning and it was really nice to hear the kid’s voices for a change – calling for passes etc. and really working together as a team! In the past, I can admit to being a bit loud with my “Common Cabo” chants on the side-lines, but from now on I will be one of the silent types and will be encouraging more to do the same”.- Rob Waters

“Overall it went very well. Weather was good and kids enjoyed being out on the grass again after playing all winter on astro. We had 4 pitches and 60 kids I read out a piece from your website on what was expected from the coaches and parents and Chelsea (age 9) read out ‘a players message to parents’ which we also got on your site. All the kids got a wrist band and all the parents got a flyer. I was busy rushing around making sure every game went smoothly, but 3 or 4 times I notices parents clapping…….. which I never noticed before. Majority thought it was great but one parent commented on the occasion having no atmosphere”. Trevor Gorman Kilmacrennan Celtic FC

“The comments from the Coaches, players and parents where in general positive, there where a few comments that where interesting Our parents on the sideline seem to have became very aware of the negative comments from the opposing sideline and remarked on it.. Maybe in the past they would have reacted to the negative comments. The coaches where delighted that the only instructions the players received where from them. The players felt free to play and make mistakes without negative feedback. (This was not a instant reaction, it was into the second half of the games before the burden of sideline pressure started lifting).

One of games highlighted the negative side of our game..the opposition manager constantly berated his players to such an extent that the ref warned him about his behaviour. This carried on until the parents and the coach became in a heated argument on the sideline in front of both teams of players (11 and 12 year olds). Shocking behaviour!!!! Overall I feel very happy with the day despite the weather, we will be running with the initiative next weekend”. – Robbie – Trim Celtic AFC

As you can read from the comments above, shows why the weekend was so successful.. If anything it got people talking about it. Some coaches felt a bit frustrated, some parents felt it strange not being allowed to shout out encouragement. The weekend was about trusting the kids to make their own decisions. They must be able to try and figure thing out for themselves. Many children never discover how to play properly because of all the shouting and most will go through their entire sporting life without reaching their true potential. The players need more playtime like the play they had last weekend.

You will find more comments in an article I did for the Score.ie 

Some the comments I got from the players:

  1. “It was like street football with jerseys on” u10s
  2. “The first time ever my dad didn’t scream at me and I scored twice. First two goals ever for the team” u12s’
  3. “I really enjoyed the game. I made mistakes and no-one pointed them out. I was able to get on with the game and focus on my performance” u13s
  4. “I’ve been playing football for 7 years and that is the most noise I have heard from our players. Today we played like a team because we were allowed too.” u17s
  5. “I much prefer it like this. I hate it when the parents shout at me” u10s
  6. “I was able to concentrate more than ever before” u10s
  7. “It felt strange at the start hearing no noise from the line. After a few minutes all I noticed was my team mates talking, we started to coach ourselves” u12s

Summary

Majority loved the idea and could see the benefits on the day. Some of the other comments I got were: “I found it hard not to instruct and felt I should be able to instruct, i didn’t like it.” From my experience if you prepare your team well, you won’t need to instruct that much. If and when instructing, wait until the player can’t affect the game and don’t scream and shout. Another way of getting the message across is through another player on field when the game has stopped or the ball is not in play. A sub can also be a way of communicating to players. Many adults stressed that the silence “took the atmosphere out of the game.” The game belongs to the kids not the parents and/or coaches. Just because the sidelines are silent and not noisy doesn’t mean there is no atmosphere, in fact the atmosphere in youth sport is created on the pitch, unlike in professional sport where the pro’s expect an atmosphere – after all we pay good money to watch them perform. We can’t compare what we see on TV (pro sports) to what we see on kid’s sports field. One is a child the other is a paid professional athlete. Just because Jose Mourinho acts like that on the sideline that doesn’t meant it’s ok to act like that during kid’s sports. Comparing is just ridiculous. The noise generated by the adults etc on the line is generally confusing and thwarts the decision making of the players, particularly down at the youngest ages and it also thwarts what you really see.

“Children don’t see what you see. They see what they see.” TCD

At the weekend we had an u17 team get involve with the SSW and the coaches from both sides respected the campaign. I spoke with both sets of players and they both enjoyed the experience. One player said, “I’m with this team 7 years and that is the first time our coach has said nothing, I really enjoyed the game”. One of the coaches did stress that he would have preferred to instruct some of his players as they needed guidance. I suggested to try and get a message across at half-time or if a players wasn’t performing he had 4 more waiting to get on, use your subs.

“95% of children who play sport, play for recreational reasons”

I hope coaches, manager, parents will reflect on this experience and take on-board the feedback from the players and the power of observation. You actually see so much more by saying less and focusing more on the game and not the player in possession or the player about to receive possession.

Finally, this weekend the 5th & 6th April 2014 sees many clubs trying the Silent Silent campaign for the first time, due to the bad weather last weekend. If you are one of the these clubs please get in touch or if you need any guidance just email me. I ask every single to coach/manager to control the screaming parents on the sideline or if you’re a screaming coach, be in control of your own emotions. Children shouldn’t have to play sport in fear of making mistakes. When they make mistakes, they should be able to process the errors themselves not have an adult ridicule them for it. That’s how we all learn, by doing, processing and implementing.

“The manner in which we have sought to micro-manage our young children’ at every free moment. It is nowhere more evident than on the touchline of a kids football game”

So well done for participating. It’s not easy saying nothing; for sure the players are also grateful. Going forward I suggest you try the following:

  • Try organising an internal Silent Sideline at least once a month or
  • Try to work with one team within your club every-week;
  • Make sure the opposition are aware of what you”re doing;
  • Try organise Silent Sideline Blitz that could also be fun;
  • Get lollies and hand them out to the parents & coaches;
  • Rope your pitches and include designated parent zones;
  • Get some signs to keep people informed;
  • Time yourself on the line and see how long you can stay quiet for;
  • Encourage and praise more;
  • Talk less and observe more;
  • Control your line more;
  • Don’t question and call out at every single decision;
  • Stop shouting words like, ‘How is he’, ‘offside’, ‘ah ref’, ‘hard’, pass-pass….you get what I mean;
  • It would be great if leagues rewarded Sidelines for their behaviour. The referees could easily implement this with a fair-play award given to the best-behaved line after each game. Including being quiet. What about a financial reward?
  • Don’t be afraid to try this. Kids absolutely love it and you will too!

Just some ideas going forward. The next Silent Sideline weekend is planned for September 2014, date tbc. Please use every opportunity between now and then to keep calm and stay quiet. Let us not forget, youth sports is supposed to be an enjoyable “game” organised for and played by kids. Its’ purpose is to teach game/life skills, tactics and a love for sport. It should always be fun. Unfortunately, the reality of today’s youth sport experience is vastly different to ours. Misguided adults, both parents and coaches are inadvertently and selfishly distracting the child-athlete from what’s really important and, in the process, killing his/her joy for the game. Over coaching and winning at all cost mentality needs to go. My aim is to try and educate people that there is another way, a better way!

Pictures to follow next week, in the meantime send on your picture or clips of the SSW to info@silentsideline.com

See also www.silentsideline.org 

You can also download SSW PDF here >Silent Sideline Weekend Press Release -signed and click to view the Silent Sideline Video 

Thanks for participating!

I always like to hear your opinions. Please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. Thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary

Categories
Irish Grassroots Football

Silent Sideline Weekend Update

Just spend the most productive few days at the Running School becoming a Master in DMS which is Dynamic Movements Skills. If you have’t heard or seen DMS, then check this out > DMSDynamic Movement Skills will be coming to Ireland soon. The results after just 6 sessions are incredible. More to follow.

Silent Sideline

This week I will be marketing the hell out of SSW. Friday I will be talking on the Grassroots Soccer Show at 7pm on Dublin City Radio, followed by Johnny Lyons on 98FM’s “Now That’s What I Call Sport” at 9am Sunday and then onto Today Fm with Matt Cooper on Wednesday 19th March. I’m still looking to get the support from various leagues and clubs around the country including the DDSL Although I’m told I should have an answer from the committee very soon. No sign of the SDFL getting involved just yet, but hey we still have two weeks. In any other leagues need some more information please don’t hesitate to ask.

In saying all that, I have you and the clubs support; the most important people in this entire campaign. After the kids of course. The Silent Sideline Weekend family is growing by the day and with two weeks to go there is still time for more to get involved. If you need any flyers or are interested in purchasing a SS Pack, email us below.

Remember: Criticism is bookmarked in a child’s head in big red writing. It’s not good for their self-esteem and in lots of cases, kids will walk away from the game for good. No-one likes to be shouted at, not even the little kiddies!.

Don’t forget to send on your video clips (short) and pictures of the weekend. I will be doing a video montage or everything I receive. So please, be adventurers!

The Party Is Getting Bigger…

Ashbourne United, Ardee Celtic, Ballymun United, Blayney Academy FC, Blessington FC, Brookfield Celtic, Buncrana Hearts FC, Carlton and Rothwell Ginants JFC (UK), Cashel Town Schoolgirls, Castleknock Celtic FC, Castle Villa AFC, CarlowJuvenileLeague, Carrick United AFC, Coerver Coaching Munster, Cherry Orchard FC, Corofin United FC, DDSL, Douglas Hall AFC, Drogheda Town FC, Dunboyne AFC, Dunshaughlin Youths, East Meath United, Fettercairn YFC, Fingal County Council Sports, ISRS Dublin (Refs), Harolds Cross Y.C, Hartstown Huntstown FC, Howth Celtic, Jobstown Celtic, Kilbarrack United FC, Kildare League, Kildare Yown AFC, Kitchener Soccer Club (Canada), Laytown United, Liffey Celtic Underage, Liffey Valley Rangers, Lusk United, Malahide United AFC, Metropolitan Girls League, Moyglas (TSSDL), Naas AFC, Nireas Paros FC (Greece), NorthDublinSchoolboyLeague, Nor’West Optimist Soccer (Canada), Passage AFC (cork) Peterhead BC Phoenix (UK), Palmerstown FC, Rivermeade FC, Rivervalley Rangers FC, SandyhillShangan, Shannon Hibernians, Shankill FC, Skerries Town FC, Stamullen FC, Strand Celtic FC (Sligo) St.Francis FC, St.Kevin’s Boys, St.Malachys, St.Pauls Artane, Terenure FC, Tipperary Town Ladies Soccer, Trim Celtic AFC, Wayside Celtic FC, Wicklow District Schoolboys League, Woodlawn Sportslink & Your club next…

If you can’t have fun then maybe it’s time to re-think what you’re doing. I really like the point by Mark O’Sullivan an Irish UEFA A coach working in Sweden: 

“Many think that kids can only learn in adult organised environments (school, Organised Sports), what is worse is that kids are now starting to believe it. Modern organised football training has led to a coach led culture resulting in passive kids who don’t take control or ownership of their own development. The safety option is not to have learners as it is a longer process that rarely gives short term results and in the culture of the coach and early elite development there is very little patience.” – Footblogball

Please support the campaign, to help improve participation in Kids Sports.

Sign Up Now

SATURDAY 29th & SUNDAY 30th March 2014

Fill out my online form.

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I always like to hear your opinions. Please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. Thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary 

Categories
Irish Grassroots Football

Coach Diary Updates

By the time you get this email Dan will have landed in Dublin. Just in case you don’t know what I’m talking about, go here to find out > DAN ABRAHAMS.

March has arrived and the Silent Sideline Weekend is upon us. If you haven’t sign up yet you still can. Packs are also available, however we have limited stocks. To find out more email support@silentsidelineweekend.com.

Signed Up So far: Just to mention that many clubs from the KDUL, NDSL, CARLOW JUVENILE LEAGUE, METRO GIRLS LEAGUE are also supporting but haven’t entered their details into the system. However we know, the kids have their support. Please enter your club NOW! > Sign Up

Ashbourne United, Ardee Celtic, Ballymun United, Blayney Academy FC, Blessington FC, Brookfield Celtic, Carlton and Rothwell Ginants JFC (UK), Cashel Town Schoolgirls, Castleknock Celtic FC, Castle Villa AFC, CarlowJuvenileLeague, Carrick United AFC, Coerver Coaching Munster, Cherry Orchard FC, Corofin United FC, DDSL (tbc), Douglas Hall AFC, Drogheda Town FC, Dunshaughlin Youths, East Meath United, Fettercairn YFC, Fingal County Council Sports, ISRS Dublin (Refs), Harolds Cross Y.C, Hartstown Huntstown FC, Howth Celtic, Jobstown Celtic, Kilbarrack United FC, Kildare League, Kitchener Soccer Club (Canada), Laytown United, Liffey Celtic Underage, Liffey Valley Rangers, Lusk United, Malahide United AFC, Metropolitan Girls League, Moyglas (TSSDL), Naas AFC, Nireas Paros FC (Greece), NorthDublinSchoolboyLeague, Nor’West Optimist Soccer (Canada), Peterhead BC Phoenix (UK), Palmerstown FC, Rivermeade FC, Rivervalley Rangers FC, SandyhillShangan, Shannon Hibernians, Shankill FC, Skerries Town FC, Strand Celtic FC (Sligo) St.Francis FC, St.Kevin’s Boys, St.Malachys, St.Pauls Artane, Terenure FC, Tipperary Town Ladies Soccer, Trim Celtic AFC, Wayside Celtic FC, Woodlawn Sportslink & Your club next…

I always like to hear your opinions. Please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. Thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary

Categories
Irish Grassroots Football

Sign Up to The Silent Sideline Weekend

Please support the campaign to help improve participation in Youth Sports.

Sign Up Now

Weekend of 29th & 30th March 2014

Listen to the first interview about the SSLW by clicking on this link> ‘GAME ON’ 2FM 

Fill out my online form.

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I always like to hear your opinions. Please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. Thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary

Categories
Campaign Irish Grassroots Football Silent Sideline

SHHhhhh ‘just, let them play’ Silent Sideline

I first heard about this idea some years back even before I set up this blog. I believe it started in the US. It’s something I have been meaning to try and push with all the leagues across the country for some time now and I had originally posted something back in 2011 I think. This year I’m going to make this happen, one way of another but I will need your help.

Too often in kids sports; adults, parents and coaches become overly vocal in their approach to working with young athletes. However well-intentioned some of them may be, the results are not always positive. With a Silent Sideline Weekend, the coaches and parents are asked to keep talking to a bare minimum on the sidelines. One coach from each team will be given the task to instruct (not during the game), whilst everyone else stays silent.

‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.’ – Maya Angelou

Supporters are allowed to clap to show their enthusiasm but adults/Coaches are restricted from coaching their kids from the sideline. This is a weekend when kids can make decisions for themselves, without having adults shout 5/6 different instructions at them. When adults scream from the sidelines they’re not just invading the children’s playtime, they’re preventing children from learning the game in a natural manner. Sideline screaming is just ignorance, we need to educate adults on stages of development. We expect far to much from children at a very young age. We must not forget, we are talking about children not adults.

How does it work? 

  • No Shouting Instructions.
  • No Shouting at the ref.
  • No Shouting at the opposition.
  • Absolutely No shouting when a player is about to receive to ball or pass it.
  • Silent at all times.
  • Kids voices heard everywhere.

With the sidelines quiet, players have the chance to make their own split-second decisions on the pitch and learn by them. Instead of being distracted by the stream of noise that usually exists, the kids on the pitch get the opportunity to communicate with one another, deciding who will take the throw ins, the goal-kicks, free-kicks or the corner kicks etc. This also gives them time to think and focus on what they are about to do.

Why? 

The focus of the weekend is not to take the atmosphere out of the kids’ game but instead try and encourage less coaching from the line. I want every team in Ireland in organised leagues in ever sport to conform to the ‘Silent sideline’ weekend. Not everyone is going to agree with this idea, but one thing is for sure the kids will!

‘You should hear children’s voices, not hear parents SHOUTING, ‘Come on ref, what was that?’ ” he said. ”We want to have a positive environment for the kids to play in.’

I’m aware that many teams have some great coaches & parents who may already give minimal instruction and focus on the positives in a game more than others. This exercise is to highlight the over coaching from adults on the sideline across kids sports in Ireland and mainly soccer. I think a lot of kids will benefit from this even if they are use to hearing encouraging words every weekend.

You can be sure that one population that favours the silence is the referees. They will love this, and I’m sure they would love to have it every weekend.

What’s Expected from Participants?

  • To get all clubs and leagues to sign up across the whole of Ireland and other countries.
  • Clubs to manage this initiative internally with our support and the support of their members.
  • Clubs should select 2 sideline supervisors to keep people calm and explain the process.
  • Each club should have a silent sideline ambassador.
  • Absolutely NO shouting or directing from the sidelines
  • Coaching staff to speak to players at halftime and when making changes ONLY.
  • Clapping allowed for goals scored and effort for both sides.
  • No directing or advice from adults at anytime.
  • Absolutely no questioning of referee in charge of game at anytime.
  • Rope the pitches and provide a designated area for parents.
  • Kids voices are all we want to hear.
  • Lollipops could be a fun way of helping people stay silent!
  • PDF flyer available on request.

Can you imagine a weekend when kids voices were heard everywhere……..I can!!

‘just, let the kids play’

Lets make this happen; let’s start talking about it….!! If any leagues and/or club administrators are reading this, please get in touch. I have just emailed you all.

If this doesn’t make you think about the damage we are doing to kids every weekend, then maybe A Players Message To Parents will!

Please LIKE this post or COMMENT below if you’re in!

Weekend of 29th & 30th March 2014

Listen to the first interview about the SSLW by clicking on this link> ‘GAME ON’ 2FM 

Fill out my online form.

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I always like to hear your opinions. Please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. Thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary