Question Number: 35915

The Technical Area 2/25/2026

RE: Grassroots Under 12

Thomas Brown of , asks...

We have recently come against an opponent who in the last match had a coach located on all 4 sidelines at grassroots level.

We are playing them again soon in a cup semi final and feel this was unfair and would like to prevent it happening again in the upcoming fixture.

I assume the manager should be restricted to one sideline as a technical area.

Are we within our rights to insist they stay to a designated technical area?

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Coach Brown,

Under FIFA rules which I believe govern Grassroots games, coaches should be in the technical area which is on the sideline where the team's bench is located. The technical area extends one meter from the end of each side of the team's bench.

Based on this rule, I believe you have the right to insist that all coaches and managers remain in the technical area. However, the Grassroots association you play in could allow coaching from outside the technical area.

I recommend you check with the person or group in charge of your tournament to verify the FIFA rules concerning coaching only from the technical area are the rules that coaches must follow. If they are, I then recommend you let the tournament director know of the team having coaches outside the technical area and ask the director to talk to that team's manager before the game in order to prevent a confrontation at the game.

Thank you for this question. I hope your team wins the semi-final and final games.




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Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Thomas
Thanks for the question
Anyone listed as technical staff and substitutes must be located in the technical area. It is up the referee to ensure that this requirement is met in a game.
The relevant law is quoted below
** The occupants of the technical area:
# are identified before the start of the match in accordance with the competition rules
# must behave in a responsible manner
# must remain within its confines except in special circumstances, e.g. a physiotherapist/doctor entering the field of play, with the referee’s permission, to assess an injured player**

Now I have refereed many Underage games and it can be difficult to maintain order in some games.
Indeed some pitches may not have technical areas.
I have seen teams only name a manager and assistant yet there may be others who *coach* yet not part of the official coaching staff and not under the control of match officials.
If the ground has a pitch sorround fence anyone not listed on the match card must be located outside the fence yet that may not pose any difficulties in conveying tactical instructions. Some may be parents and a referee will not be concerned about *coaching* by spectators.

While not in the Laws as a referee I would not allow persons close to the goal lines. In some matches I can recall dealing with complaints from goalkeepers about unsporting shouting from behind the goals. I always removed persons from those area in Underage games who moved there during the game and those behaving in an irresponsible manner.






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