Question Number: 35220

The Technical Area 11/12/2023

RE: Professional

GARY WILSON of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire United Kingdom asks...

Can a manager step outside his technical area to retrieve a ball that has gone out of play and give it to his own player to take a quick throw in that results in a goal being scored

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gary
Thanks for the question.

There is nothing wrong in doing this and at the lower levels of the game it happens all the time.

Interestingly IFAB has spelt out the ways technical staff can receive a caution.
** The following offences should usually result in a warning repeated or blatant offences should result in a caution or sending-off:
# entering the field of play in a respectful / non-confrontational manner
# failing to cooperate with a match official e.g. ignoring an instruction / request from an assistant referee or the fourth official
# minor / low-level disagreement (by word or action) with a decision occasionally leaving the confines of the technical area without committing another offence

Caution offences include (but are not limited to):
# clearly/persistently not respecting the confines of their team’s technical area
# delaying the restart of play by their team
# deliberately entering the technical area of the opposing team (non-confrontational)
# dissent by word or action including: throwing / kicking drinks bottles or other objects
# action(s) which show(s) a clear lack of respect for the match official(s) e.g. sarcastic clapping
# entering the referee review area (RRA)
# excessively/persistently gesturing for a red or yellow card
# excessively showing the ‘TV signal’ for a VAR ‘review’
# acting in a provocative or inflammatory manner
# persistent unacceptable behaviour (including repeated warning offences)
# showing a lack of respect for the game

Referees know that ball retrieval is part of the game and a genuine action to help the game will not be sanctioned. I have seen technical staff go off on ball hunting exercises to retrieve match balls that went over fences etc. None of that requires sanction.
Here are some
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IDhK0M6MxmI&pp=ygUeU29jY2VyIG1hbmFnZXIgYmFsbCByZXRyaWV2YWwg
Now we all know that decisions are not always clear. A manager who has been warned about breaches of the technical area rules earlier in the game will not be afforded say any beneficence in ball hunting in the opponents technical area to get a quick restart.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Gary,
happens all the time in the recreational venues . If he retrieved it and sought to delay the other team, we might have an issue! lol
Cheers