What they said: LFA Welfare Officer
The man who came up with the idea of the Silent Weekend, Neil Yates, declared himself delighted with the results of the initiative.
“It was outstanding. I spent my weekend travelling to as many games as I could and it was everything that we had hoped for when we came up with the idea.
“The only voices you could hear were children’s, and the adults could only be heard when they positively reinforced the kids with a round of applause.
“It was a complete twist from what we usually see during the games at the weekends.
Yates admitted that there have been some concerns from parents and coaches who felt restricted and unable to encourage their young ones, but the former referee has pleaded with them to be patient and trust in the children to make decisions for themselves on the pitch.
“That’s the way they are going to learn. We have to trust in their own abilities and make them more independent and decisive.
“They will know what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong without an adult shouting at them from the side.
“Junior football is a relatively new concept and we’re only learning how best to approach it through experience.”
“It was outstanding. I spent my weekend travelling to as many games as I could and it was everything that we had hoped for when we came up with the idea.
“The only voices you could hear were children’s, and the adults could only be heard when they positively reinforced the kids with a round of applause.
“It was a complete twist from what we usually see during the games at the weekends.
Yates admitted that there have been some concerns from parents and coaches who felt restricted and unable to encourage their young ones, but the former referee has pleaded with them to be patient and trust in the children to make decisions for themselves on the pitch.
“That’s the way they are going to learn. We have to trust in their own abilities and make them more independent and decisive.
“They will know what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong without an adult shouting at them from the side.
“Junior football is a relatively new concept and we’re only learning how best to approach it through experience.”