Question Number: 32987

The Technical Area 1/15/2019

RE: Select Under 15

Michael of Concord, Ca United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32984

I have three coaches (including myself) and a GK coach for a total of 4 (one somestimes comes but not all the time). Would there be an issue if I have this many coaches in the technical area? They are part of the coaching staff and are valuable to this team. I am surprised that AYSO only allows 2.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Michael,
As stated in previous answers, AYSO regulations impose a limit of two coaches per team so I think that makes it clear that having four coaches would be a technical infringement of these rules. I am not sure why AYSO imposes such a limit but I would point out that even with professional teams who will have multiple coaches working on the training ground during the week, when it comes to game team my observation is that there is normally only the head coach and assistant coach are involved in giving instructions from the sidelines.

For what it's worth, my experience from coaching youth teams is that you can't really 'coach' players - in the sense of teaching specific playing techniques to them - during a game, all you can do is convey technical instructions and I don't know whether you really want or need four different people doing that as it could be confusing, especially to youth players.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Michael
The outcome always depends on the circumstances and the referee.
The Laws of the Game state that only one person can provide tactical instruction at a time so the rest of the TA personnel have to be seated.
How many times is that strictly enforced? With a 4th official it generally is whereas at other times probably not.
Now there is an unless part to this and it is that when the technical area has become unruly with multiple persons shouting in, getting involved in the game from the sideline that the referee enforces the TA rules more strictly.
For what it is worth I as a referee am only really interested in what happens on the field of play and any irresponsible behaviour that happens in the technical area and sideline. Is a referee going to be concerned that one of two extra adults are close to or in the technical area particularly when they do not get involved in the game? I doubt it. Sure at Underage there are plenty of parent *coaches* giving *advice* from the side lines with little done until the persons engages in irresponsible behaviour.