Question Number: 20289

The Technical Area 10/17/2008

RE: Competitive High School

Roman Nowak of Rockland, Ontario Canada asks...

I am a coach and a new Convenor for our high school soccer league. A quick question about an interpretation I can't seem to find. Does the ejection of a coach during a game have an impact on the game itself? Does the game continue? Is there a substitution? In high school sports we only have one coach, so if he gets ejected, what is the next step for the game?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Don't know about high school or Canada for that matter. In the US for youth soccer there must be a responsible adult to take over for the departed coach for the match to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Roman,
I have a private contact in your area that can help you which I will pass along privately but the policy, given there are 16 or 17 districts each responsible for their own regulation and policies.

Unlike a player if the coach is dismissed, he must remove himself from the field. Players who are red carded and sent off can be allowed to still remain in the technical if there is no other responsible adult/guardian that could take care of the player say back in the bus. The team MUST have a legally certified responsible adult REGISTERED with the league present on the field with the team or that match is going to be over!

As a GENERAL policy the school must have those associated with the team as teacher/coach or parent/coach cleared via the security checks as as responsible for supervising the team. If a parent is the coach or acts as an assistant, they must appear on the roster as such. Then if the coach is sent off (better find out if he understands the meaning of responsible behavior) a security cleared assistant can take his/her place. If there is NO secured party on the roster the match is abandoned and the league will decide upon further action to be taken, as in whether a replay or a result will stand, with appropriate discipline to the coach for his or her behavior. As any warm body simply will not do hopefully the parents will take a role in being security cleared to act on the youths behalf! There could be bylaws where the sex of the coach or responsible adult must be the same as the team.
Cheers