Ascot United are advocating for the FA Silent Support campaign this weekend alongside our county FA, Berks & Bucks and a number of our junior leagues including the East Berks Football Alliance and the Berkshire County Girls Football League.
The FA have said the following with regard to the weekend, “The landmark National Silent Support Weekend will be introduced over 5-6 November 2022 to encourage spectators and coaches to show their support during the match through applause only.
The FA aim is to reduce pressure on youth players at grassroots level and give them a better opportunity and environment to find their own voice, improve their on-pitch communications skills, develop their own game, and most importantly have fun.
Across the National Silent Support Weekend, we’re encouraging coaches and spectators to show their support by applauding good play from both teams, but refraining from talking or shouting. This is to create an enjoyable, safe and developmental experience for all youth players, so that they can play the game with freedom, without pressure, and without an over-emphasis on winning at all costs.”
The following correspondence has come from EBFA Chair Ian Nile.
“East Berks Football Alliance encourage Coaches and Spectators to show their support by applauding good play from both teams, but refraining from talking or shouting. The team’s Managers/Coaches must co-ordinate before the match if their teams are supporting the Silent Support and then Managers/Coaches must brief their supporters before the match. If the opposition club/team officials, supporters, or members of the public, do not support or breach the National Silent Support Weekend ethos of applause only, then Clubs/Teams and Team Supporters SHALL and MUST take NO action at the matches. Any interventions could lead to conflict situations, which could negatively impact the Players and Referees involved in the EBFA Fixture. Any comments of any poor, good, bad, negative or excellent experiences of the FA’s National Silent Weekend, can be added to the End of Report section of the EBFA Team Marks and Respect Report by the Team Officials after the match.”
You can read all the information on supporting the weekend on the FA website right here.
