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11

Apr, 2026

SILENT WEEKEND

Silent Weekend is used in AYSO Regions throughout the country. The purpose of this tradition is to encourage players to think and communicate with each other on the field, and to develop their decision-making skills without outside interference. This is particularly helpful for younger players who are still learning the game and developing their skills. The game is the best teacher of the game, when we allow players to make decisions in a game setting. Coaches are requested to communicate and reinforce this with spectators!

The objectives of Silent Weekend are:

To emphasize that the game is about letting the kids have fun and play.
To show that kids can play well on their own with limited instruction.
To help the few parents and coaches who feel they must provide constant direction, understand how disruptive it can be.
To give players the chance to trust their skills and instincts without sideline input.
To encourage leadership skills among the individual players as they have the unique opportunity of giving their own instruction on the field.
To encourage a sense of true teamwork as the players must learn to rely upon one another and communicate with each other accordingly.
To support our volunteer referees, both youth and adult, by eliminating sideline interference and comments.