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'Silent Sunday': Junior footy league bans parents from making noise

Loud and abusive spectators will be restricted from expressing fiery game-day opinions under new rules being trialled by a junior football club in Melbourne.

Eastern Football League’s junior boys and girls clubs, based in the city’s eastern suburbs, made the announcement to its members last Wednesday.

Its strict policy, dubbed “Silent Sunday”, was set to apply to two rounds of games to give players a better game experience.

It was also the club’s effort to clamp down on parents shouting advice from the sidelines, abusing players and yelling aggressively at the umpires.

File photo of young AFL players. Parents in Melbourne were banned from yelling anything but support during two rounds of junior games.
The club hoped the policy would improve kids' player experience. Source: File/Getty Images

During the trial phase, spectators where told not to abuse umpires, attempt to correct or instruct an umpire’s decision, and verbally abuse players.

They were also told they couldn’t verbally attempt to correct or instruct players, and
verbally abuse any opposition players, officials or supporters.

Instead, those attending the game were asked to cheer after a goal for both sides and encourage both players and umpires.

Clubs were also given the option to ban spectators from the field completely during quarter-time and three-quarter time breaks to ensure there was no interference to coaching.

File photo of AFL players' feet as parents banned from yelling during Melbourne junior matches.
Parents were asked to cheer for both sides after a goal. Source: File/Getty Images

General Manager of Football Operations at the league Dyson Baker, told Sunrise the club wanted to send a clear message about appropriate behaviour to spectators.

“We've got parents who are, in one way or another, abusing children,” Mr Baker said.

“This is a way of starting a conversation, building an awareness and making people understand that what's going on isn't going to be tolerated.”

He said he hoped the initiative would help boost retention rates of umpires.

Earlier this month, a man was charged after punching a parent from an opposing team during a NSW junior football match.

In May, a Perth woman was charged with assaulting a 13-year-old umpire during another junior AFL match.

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