Sunday, September 05, 1999
Soccer league asks parents to zip their lips
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Fed up with loud-mouthed coaches and parents, a girls' soccer league has proclaimed a game day of silence in October where the only sounds should be those coming from the field.
The 200-team Northern Ohio Girls Soccer League is calling Oct. 3 Silent Sunday and encouraging parents and others to be on their best behavior, the Plain Dealer reported Saturday.
The idea comes in response to loutish behavior from parents in the stands and several cases of overzealous coaches, including some who verbally abused referees, league officials said.
In addition to problems with the coaches, the noise surrounding the field was becoming unbelievable, said Al Soper, the president of the league for girls ages 8 to 14.
“No wonder the kids were getting confused,” he said. “We are just trying to cool it.”
Mr. Soper, who is also a league referee, said the noise from yelling parents prompts coaches to yell, which in turn sets a bad example for children.
Twelve-year-old Vicky Pacula of suburban Parma loves playing soccer but doesn't love what she hears from the sidelines. She approves of Silent Sunday.
“You can play and do things you were taught and think you should do, without someone telling you to do something,” she said.
Her father Jim Pacula, a league official, also supports the concept.
He also says many children playing the game know it much better than their parents, who never played themselves.
Yet the parents show up and begin shouting out directions or coaching from the stands, which confuses kids and upsets coaches, Mr. Pacula said.
“Winning isn't the only thing at this age,” he said. “We want to just let them play.”
Paul Emhoff, president of a Cleveland-area boys league, doesn't disagree with the idea. But he said his America Amateur Soccer League of about 280 teams probably won't follow suit.
He said the problem with overzealous fans and coaches arises in part because many young people, including high school players, are serving as referees.
“And some people get verbally abusive,” Mr. Emhoff said.
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