'Silent Sunday' sees junior rugby coaches and parents keep it quiet
Sunday 25 January 2015 18:07, UK
‘Silent Sunday’ was observed at youth rugby matches across Yorkshire this weekend, as players and coaches kept quiet as part of a new initiative.
Yorkshire Rugby Football Union issued flyers to their clubs regarding “a small minority who are not living rugby’s core values” and requested anyone watching games at the weekend to stay silent in order to improve both the atmosphere at the games and the decision-making of the players.
The drive was backed by former British & Irish Lions head coach Sir Ian McGeechan OBE and met with positive initial results at the games.
"Kids learn best by making decisions for themselves," said Steve Lee of Yarnbury RFC. "You don't need the intervention of coaches from the touchline, I think that just causes confusion."
The initiative will also run next weekend, and it is hoped that it will boost the sport's popularity among younger players ahead of the World Cup in the autumn.
