Players Weekend will be observed for all league games on the weekend of October 22 & 23
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The guidelines are quite simple:
1. Spectators are encouraged to listen for communication among the players and cheer (not instruct) for good plays by either team. Negative comments about any player or official are to be avoided.
2. Coaches are asked to refrain from the constant barrage of instruction during the course of the game.
3. Referees and coaches will acknowledge substitutions by having players standing at the halfway line ready to go in.
The goals are for a more enjoyable experience for all:
1. Develop our players thinking and creative ability to make decisions on the field without constant sideline intervention.
2. Improve the players’ ability to communicate with each other on the field by reducing the outside noise level.
3. Support ALL of our referees by eliminating ALL sideline dissension and intervention.
Soccer is a sport where youth players truly make the decisions on the field without constant input from coaches and spectators. Unfortunately, some LIJSL coaches spend the entire game shouting all kinds of instruction to their players. The spectators do the same. Not surprisingly, LIJSL players have gone up to referees asking them to try and silence the adults. Spectator abuse of referees is the number one reason that most officials quit in their first year of refereeing.
The league first held this type of weekend in April of 2002. Since then, many coaches, spectators and players have asked that it continue to be implemented. Coaches and spectators are amazed at the communication among the players; they actually could perform without step by step instruction. A majority of club presidents voted to hold this weekend again once in the Fall and again in the Spring.
Coaches and/or spectators that don’t adhere to this policy will receive 0 points in the appropriate sportsmanship rating.
Most importantly, ask your kid(s) if they enjoyed playing Players Weekend.