This soccer club banned parents from yelling at their kids’ games

Parents are often their kids’ biggest cheerleaders when it comes to youth sports, but sometimes it can get a little out of hand. If you’ve ever attended a sporting event for kids, then you already know that parents can be a little too exuberant on the sidelines.

One Montana youth soccer club decided that enough’s enough and officially banned parents from yelling on the sidelines this past weekend.

A Bozeman, Mont. club implemented some new rules for soccer parents and other spectators during an event where they hosted 70 different games on Saturday, Sept. 21. Surf Montana Soccer Club called it “Silent Saturday” protocol, according to a press release.

The rules were put into effect to prevent the youth athletes from being put under pressure by the distractions of their parents yelling, and to also prevent referees and coaches from being “abused” by spectators. The rules went as follows:

• No talking, yelling or “conversation” on the parent sidelines of the game
• Minimal direction from coaches on the sidelines, mainly subbing/position changes only
• Absolutely no direct conversation to the referees other than thanking them after the game
• No cheering until the game is over

Field marshals were put in place at each game to enforce these rules. Parents were allowed to cheer when the games ended, however.

Research shows that when kids are yelled at, they can experience stress-induced physical responses that negatively affect their performance. They are also at risk of developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, according to the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.

While some parents weren’t thrilled with the temporary rules, KURL8 News reports that the policy was put in place for parents “to take a step back and sit quietly to watch their athletes play the beautiful game of soccer.”