Edge of Play. Offering over 200 coaching videos and resources - all completely FREE..!
Helping support grassroots coaches everywhere
​www.edgeofplay.com

All,

As you will have been aware, today has been the inaugural CYFL Silent Sunday event and I wanted to provide a short update. Firstly, I would like to thank all the clubs who have supported the event and really brought into the principles behind the day. As a Committee we appreciate the feedback that we have received and at present I am collating everything that we have been sent; we have been contacted by managers, parents, players and referees as well as having members of the Management Committee in attendance at as many games as possible today. Once we have had the opportunity to digest everything we have received, we will review the day and decide upon next steps and I will of course share this feedback. However in the early stages the majority of the feedback appears to be positive and constructive, although has been sprinkled with some negative and disappointing comments which we will be looking to address.

We appreciate that the initiative may not have been to the liking of everyone; however what has been pleasing has been the fact that people have actually been talking about the initiative and the steps that everyone can take to make our game at grass roots better.

Cheers

Jonathan Brown 
Secretary, Chiltern Youth Football League www.chilternyouthfootballleague.co.uk

We have amended Silent Sunday.

CYFL Silent Sunday 24th March 2019 Further to the previous correspondence that was circulated to clubs, we have received plenty of feedback about the idea and have taken them all on board.

With this in mind we have decided upon the following amendments to the initiative on the day:-

the team coach will be allowed to give minimal instruction to the team from the sidelines
the team coaches MUST be stood on the opposite side of the pitch to the spectators to indicate that they are the person who is allowed to issue instructions
the club assistant referee is NOT permitted to give instructions to players whilst they are acting as lines person - actually this is something that should not happen full stop!
parents MUST refrain from any comments towards players or referee but we encourage they applaude / cheer when a goal is scored by either team.
Yes it will be different to what people are used to but with another report of a referee being reduced to tears and another game abandoned due to the parents in the past couple of Sundays, we MUST try something.

All CYFL committee members will be out and about during the day observing and then giving feedback which we will publish.

Finally...............

Flitwick Eagles Football Club, we thank you.

Not only have Flitwick Eagles embraced the idea of Silent Sunday but they are rolling it out to all their teams across the whole weekend! They are asking their coaches and supporters to remember the ethos of allowing the players and referee to “play the game’ without constant comments from the sidelines disturbing the game. All of their club coaches have agreed to support the initiative.

Again thank you Flitwick Eagles.

If any other clubs have decided upon the same approach or have an idea about how to ensure that the initiative lands successfully on the day, please let us know.