Supporters banned from cheering during junior games as part of EFL crackdown on bad behaviour

Spectators at junior football games in Melbourne’s east may have noticed a quieter atmosphere at recent matches. And the experiment preventing them from cheering, clapping and even going onto the ground has been welcomed by clubs.

The umpire’s whistle would have been easily heard during the EFL’s “Silent Sundays” matches. Picture: istock

A suburban football competition has moved to prevent parents from cheering and clapping during play as part of a crackdown on bad behaviour at junior games.

Clubs in the Eastern Football League have also been given the power to ban spectators from the ground at quarter-time and three-quarter time during the ‘Silent Sundays’ initiative.

The league’s website states supporters are only allowed to “clap and cheer after each score only” in a move to “give players an opportunity to trust their skills and instincts without sideline input”.

EFL general manager of football operations Dyson Baker said the competition wanted parents to continue to encourage players and “to avoid negative comments that come along with junior footy”.

“That was probably the biggest thing, so that everything remains positive,” Baker said.

“There’s a lot of verbal abuse and negative remarks directed at opposition players from time to time.

“If we can change that environment (and) make people aware of what they’re doing, hopefully that will end up developing the culture moving forward and it’s a much more positive environment for, not only the players, but also umpires and spectators.”

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Baker acknowledged it could be an extreme measure to improve crowd behaviour.

He said two-thirds of clubs opted to ban spectators from the ground.

“It’s not as if we’re trying to stop parents and spectators from being involved and passionate about the game, it’s just about highlighting and starting the conversation on exactly what is going on and making people a bit more self aware,” he said.

There are no penalties for parents and spectators who breach the rules and Baker said it could be introduced annually.

He said the move to ban parents from the ground at breaks was to give “coaches a bit of free air and a chance to deliver their message without distraction”.

“The amount of times a coach will give his address for four minutes of the five-minute break and then the moment he turns his back and the players start to walk to position, that’s when you often see parents are pretty inclined to go and contradict everything the coach has just said and it happens more often than not,” he said.

The first week of the trial was held last Sunday. Picture: generic, iStock

The first week of the trial was held on Sunday, from under 8s to under 17s in boys and girls’ football.

Blackburn Junior Football Club president Peter Parker supported the trial.

The Burners were one club that stopped supporters from going on the ground.

“It was a weird feel on the day because parents were certainly talking about it,” Parker said.

“Some were joking about it but the only way it influenced was parents not physically going on the ground.

“Everyone abided by that and it was fine but if it’s creating conversation, I think that that’s a really good thing.”

Parker said parents had to be aware of their behaviour.

“We don’t want parents coaching their children — the coaches are there to coach, the parents are there to spectate,” he said.

“As a talking point to do this for a couple of weeks, I think it’s good. It creates conversation and only improves behaviour.”

Mitcham Junior Football Club president Anthony Grace said the trial allowed parents a chance to reflect on their behaviour.

“Anything that can be done to prevent that (poor parent behaviour) I think should be encouraged,” Grace said.

The trial will end this weekend.

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