PARENTS could be stopped from attending their children’s football matches if they dare to make any noise at this weekend’s youth league games in Hampshire.

The Hampshire FA are wheeling out an initiative called ‘Silent Weekend’ this Saturday and Sunday for certain leagues across the area.

It urges spectators, managers and coaches of the region’s youth teams to remain silent throughout matches and “create a positive and pressurefree environment in which children can enjoy football”.

The essential message of the event is to get adults at youth matches to shut up or get out, allowing children to play football in peace without being disturbed.

The Hampshire FA, of course, has put the idea in more diplomatic terms.

They say: “A silent weekend aims to create a fun, safe and developmental experience for all children in youth football by protecting their interests, enabling them to play the game with freedom, without pressure or an overemphasis on winning at all costs.”

The county football association have distributed codes of conduct to the seven participating leagues for adults to follow for this weekend’s action.

A list of ‘do nots’ for parents include not being allowed to communicate with coaches or players during the games and avoiding giving instructions during play.

Parents are not allowed to cheer – although applause is welcome – and they aren’t allowed to have “loud discussions on the side of the pitch”.

There is also a list of taboos for coaches.

They are not allowed to “wander up and down the touchline”, cannot comment on any refereeing decisions and they can’t instruct players or “commentate” on the game.

The Hampshire FA states that if spectators do not follow their code of conduct for the Silent Weekend, they “may be asked to leave the venue, meet with the club’s committee or welfare officer, or asked not to attend future games”.

The participating leagues are: Testway Youth League, Peter Houseman Youth League, Isle of Wight Youth League, New Forster Girls League, New Forest & District Youth League, Eastleigh & District Mini-Soccer League , Southampton & District Girls League.

That means some leagues, like the Southampton Tyro League, have not signed up - so their spectators and managers are free to make as much noise as they normally do.