Question Number: 16564

Law 1- The Field 9/6/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Mark Alexander of Roanoke, VA USA asks...

Is there a certain area on the sideline that a coach can direct his players from? Is there a coches box that he or she must stay in?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This is called the technical area, and is described in the Laws of the Game. The Laws also tell us that a coach may leave this area to give tactical instructions to a player, but then must immediately return to the area.

Unfortunately, most fields at parks used by recreational and youth teams don't have such an area marked. In many of the leagues in my area, teams are on opposite sides of the field. Without a marked technical area, teams and coaches are free to wander from 18 to 18. And of course they're often in the AR's way. Sigh.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

When the technical area is not provided most referees use the center circle as the limits of how far a coach can run up and down the touchline. If both teams are on the same side of the field the halfway line is the limiting factor on one side and the center circle on the other. In no case is the technical staff [read coach] to approach nearer the touchline than 1 M because that interferes with the assistant referee's ability to see and move freely.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ah, if only there was a box we could put coaches into! Then we couldn't hear them scream and yell at us or their players. All that yelling should be done in practice - game time is time to watch and see if your players figured it out. However, the Laws only give us a technical area to put them in, and it is not soundproofed. The referee can define where the coaches may be, who can be there, and all of this should take place before the game, so there are no 'misunderstandings' under the provisions defining the technical area in the Laws of the Game, located right after Procedures to Determine the Winner of a Match, if anyone wishes to look it up.