Question Number: 25962

League Specific 2/11/2012

RE: Competitive Under 15

Aubrey Waddell of Maryville, TN USA asks...

Many times in USSF competitive youth soccer, the only non-player in the technical area is one adult coach. If this coach behaves in an irresponsible manner and I eject him from the match, must I abandon the match due to no official adult supervision of the team? Is it permissible to allow the team manager (whose name appears on the roster and who has a state-issued pass in my state) to coach the team for the remainder of the match and avoid abandonment? Does the answer to these questions change for adult versus older youth (U17 or U18) versus younger youth (U10 or U11)?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aubrey
If the coach is ejected from the game then he must leave the field of play and sorrounds.
Now it is up to the referee to ensure the adult supervision guidelines are followed as set out in the relevant Child protection Guidelines for that League. If there is no adult supervision in an underage game then I would expect that the game has to be abandoned. In some Underage League that I am involved with there must be two adults present at all times so if one is ejected the game must be abandoned
What I would do is use the Ask Tell Remove method to deal with the sole irresponsible coach. At the Tell stage I would inform the coach that if he is removed then the match will be abandoned. If he has to be ejected then the referee has no choice but to abandon.
In adult games it is not necessary for a coach to be present so there is no requirement to abandon.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Your league or state association will have rules regarding what adult supervision is needed. In my area, if there is no adult with a Risk Management card for the team, the game is abandoned. If that happens because the only adult with a card gets dismissed, there is no one to blame but that irresponsible coach.