Question Number: 17258

Law 3 - Number of Players 10/12/2007

RE: Competive Under 15

Charles Mac of Greenville, PA USA asks...

How vocal should or can a coach be during a match? If a coach has a concern or question concerning a call made by the ref what is the proper manner in which to address the ref? If after addressing the ref in the proper manner the coach is not satisfied or disagrees what should the procedure be?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 3 Decision 2: "A team official may convey tactical instructions to the players during the match and he must return to his position after giving these instructions. All officials must remain within the confines of the technical area, where such an area is provided, and they must behave in a responsible manner."

Do you see anything there about instructing the referee how to call the game? I thought not.

If the coach is not satisfied with the performance of a referee, there are plenty of ways to get this information to the proper authorities. Ask your league or club who to contact.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Law 5: "The Referee: --- 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.

Given that every other sport played in this country expects the coaching staff to yell and vehemetly disagree with a match official who does something you don't agree with I understand why you would ask such a question.

Ref Voshol tells you what you may do. I relate what may happen when you exceed those limits. Choose wisely coach...

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

A coach may be as vocal as he wishes as long as he is addressing his players and instructing them as to tactical information. Coaches are NOT to yell, scream, shout or otherwise be vocal towards the referee. A referee will never tell you how to do your job. Not a game goes by where I don't think "what is that coach/player thinking?" but I will NEVER voice those thoughts. Likewise you will NEVER hear a referee say "Coach, your idiotic offside trap isn't working. What's the matter with you, are you blind?" Yet, coaches somehow think it's OK to verbally question and argue with the referee. All this said, I think 99% of us will be happy to discuss any call/non-call at the half or after the games if approached in a calm and respectful manner. Stick to coaching and let the referee do his/her job without any interference.

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

See Question: 17345

See Question: 17477