Question Number: 14944

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/5/2007

RE: Select Under 13

David of Houston, TX USA asks...

On a free kick, can a coach ask for the 10 yard distance instead of his player?

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Well, no. Actually. By asking the referee to give ten yards, he is in fact, giving the referee tactical instructions. We know, from reading the USSF memo regarding behavior in the technical area that coaches, while in their technical area are allowed to give tactical instructions to their players....not the referee! When the referee blows their whistle to begin the match, the coach's job is essentially done. It is recognized that a coach may need to get up once in a while to relay tactical information to his/her team -- perhaps in response to something the opponents are doing that was not anticipated. Players are the ones who, should they choose, ask for the 10 yards. And, by the way, the kicking team does not need to ask for those 10 yards in order to get their opponent at least 10 yards off their free kick. It is mandatory for the defending team to retreat at least 10 yards.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No. The player taking the kick must.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

A coach, trainer, etc. may give tactical instructions to his players during the match. A coach, trainer, etc. is required to conduct himself in a responsible manner during the match. A coach, trainer, etc. is required to remain in his technical area during the match. So, that's how the coach is mentioned in the Laws of the Game, there is another mention. Asking the referee to establish where 9,15 meters happens to be isn't one of the things allowed by the Laws of the Game.

Yes, a coach may ask the referee instead of a player, these requests usually fall on deaf ears; until, that is, the referee finds he must use the other place the coach, trainer, etc. is mentioned in the Laws of the Game: takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds;

Usually the coach is better served when he sits and takes notes concerning where he succeeded or failed during the previous week's training sessions.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Oh well I guess I will take a shot at being shot at by my fellow colleagues but a coach asking for ten yards of the team that is TAKING The kick is fine by me as a tactical instruction to his players especially the younger ones as they should ECHO his comments.

If the coach wished to comunicate he could simply yell to his players "Ask for ten yards"! If I overheard that I could say to those same players, "Is that what you want?" and when they say NO! then try and take a quick one that fails they can expect to be subbed at the next whistle! LOL! ;o)
The issue really is we do not respond to coaches talking to us per say unless we are about to warn or expel him from the field. The cry of "subs" is one that annoys me because we try to set guidelines for how subs SHOULD be made without all the hollering. So the fact is I try to ignore what coaches say as much as possible since too many add extra stuff that best be kept quiet! Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14989