The Rouse Hill Rams Soccer Club is a family based grassroots soccer club and we pride ourselves on creating a positive environment for players to play, coaches to coach and manages to manage. Whilst we encourage spectators to support their kids and teams generally, there is a clear distinction between supporting and sideline coaching. The Rams Soccer Club values it’s reputation on game day and in the community generally and sideline coaching from spectators is one area that the club will not tolerate at any time. 

As the 2016 season begins, there are some important points the club needs to raise about parental behaviour, it’s, impact on play and of course the players in our club. 

Poor sideline behaviour, relates traditionally to strong emphasis on results, parents still exhibit far too much aggression and tension on the sideline as they watch their children play. A number of instances were observed by Committee over the 2015 season both at home and away. Parents pacing the sideline, in continuous commentary throughout the game and showing a clear visual frustration which does NOT create a positive learning environment for our players. The other factor is the impact it has on our instructional referee’s who are all young kids themselves and are learning to officiate games and do not need parents yelling out instructions to players during the game. All the Rams Coaches and Managers have been advised that they are in control as the coach and as a club we expect they will stay calm and in control at all times. Coaches are there to coach. NO SIDELINE COACHING FROM PARENTS WILL BE TOLERATED and ANY INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY A PARENT FROM THE SIDELINE IS COACHING.

Parents please support, applaud and cheer when you feel the need, enjoy the game, enjoy your kids being part of a team and a club that will provide them the very best environment to learn and participate. Development in young players in particular is about creating players who can make decisions out on the pitch and when a coach is delivering a message followed by parents it can become very confusing for those little minds that are just developing themselves.

This quote from an English FA article sums it all up from the player perspective ‘Imagine for a moment what it must be like for a child kicking a ball around on a Saturday morning, surrounded by grown-ups yelling at them, bawling at the top of their voices instructions to pass, or shoot, or dribble, opinions flying around at a volume sufficient to provoke industrial injury. It is hardly an environment conducive to improvement or education, let along enjoyment’.

All instructions that you yell out or give to the players as a parent from the sideline undermine the coach and the ability to create a positive learning environment. Rouse Hill Rams Soccer Club values the positive learning environment.

Throughout the year the club will nominate at least 2 Rounds which will be considered ‘Silent Rounds' and parents will only be able to applaud at home games held at Hills Centenary.

Thank you for supporting the Rouse Hill Rams Soccer Club wishes on this very important topic. 

Regards 

President & Committee 

Rouse Hill Rams Soccer Club