National Silent Support Weekend 15-16 March

The FA’s annual National Silent Support Weekend will take place over 15-16 March 2025, to promote good behaviour on touchlines across grassroots youth football.

Grassroots football leagues across the country have been invited to take part in the weekend by choosing to run games with the coach voice only, or to run games that are completely silent, with the emphasis on positive support. 

The aim of the National Silent Support Weekend is to reduce pressure on youth players at grassroots level and give them a better opportunity and environment to find their own voice, improve their on-pitch communications skills, develop their own game, and most importantly have fun. 

This year, 194 leagues have signed up to take part - including the Mid Sussex Youth Football League - with 65,400 teams and over 878,000 players, the highest numbers since the first National Silent Support Weekend was introduced in 2022. As a club, we support this initiative and all our teams will be taking part this coming weekend.

During Silent Support Weekend, applause from spectators for good play – and quiet encouragement from coaches – is welcome. Spectators are encouraged to refrain from talking or shouting, with coaches supporting the players as they need to. This is to create an enjoyable, safe and developmental experience for all youth players, so that they can play the game with freedom, without pressure, and without an overemphasis on winning at all costs.

England Football’s Director of Football Development, James Kendall, said: “It’s fantastic to see record numbers of leagues across the country signing up to take part in Silent Support Weekend, promoting positive behaviours on and off the pitch. This weekend will provide young players with a great way to find their voice, make their own decisions and enjoy their game, without any distraction. Alongside our new Grassroots Code and Respect The Standard campaign, we want to unite everyone across grassroots football to drive positive standards of behaviour on and off the pitch.”