Question Number: 18986

Law 3 - Number of Players 5/5/2008

RE: REC Under 7

Kathryn Duenas of Staten Island, NY USA asks...

Is a coach allowed on the field at anytime during a game with or without the ref's permission? My daughter's coach came on to the field after 6 minutes of play to pull her out of the goalkeeper position because she wasn't moving. And right after a goal was scored. She's 4 1/2 years old and had never played this position before and was excited to get the chance. For some reason, she froze. I don't agree with the coaching decision but, would like to understand the rules concerning this more clearly. Not sure if a timeout was called. It all happened so fast!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Coaches are allowed on the field with the ref's permission, typically to assist a player who has been injured. They may not run onto the field whenever the urge strikes them!

The coach does have the right to substitute another player for the goalkeeper, provided it is done during a stoppage in play and the ref is informed. Since play stopped after the goal was scored, the opportunity to sub was there. Sometimes for the very little players, a coach will be authorized to go onto the field to help the substitution process along - change the goalkeeper's jersey, etc.

There are no timeouts in soccer. But play will be temporarily halted to allow for substitutions.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Coach must wait until a stoppage of play and then request a keeper change. There is no reason for him to be on the field of play for this but most referees at this low level of play would probably ignore the coach's breech of the rules. The coach is only allowed on the field of play if beckoned by the referee.

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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Kathryn,
In my opinion, at 4 and 1/2 kids should not be playing keeper or attacker or defender or midfielder, sweeper, striker or any thing but fun soccer at 3 aside. In mini soccer coaches are generally allowed on the field as coaxers more than coaches from 3 to 9 aside mini matches for u-10 and under. Once we are 11 aside, all laws intact then coaches are confined within the technical area. Only when the referee requests the coach for say an injury to a player is a coach permitted to enter the field.
In mini soccer subs often are interchanged as play continues. Opportunity to touch /play the ball is why mini sided matches are better for youth than an 11 aside system. We gradually introduce the bigger fields and field more players as they work on understanding such fundamental concepts of the triangle, the diamond, deep, wide, support, all the while providing opportunity to actually play with the ball so they can have opportunity to develop good habits and correct movements as muscle memory and primary focus on repetitive training lays the ground work for advancement later in life. Skill is the application of technique and tactical awareness. For a coach to work with youth they need to understand the cognitive and comprehension spans of young players is at times minimal in length and soccer is more by doing than telling.
Cheers


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Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee must give anyone permission to come on field. Now, in younger level games sometimes the league will allow this. At the U7 and below stage the idea is to instruct the players how to play the game and coaches on the field is sometimes a good way to do that.

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