2. Technical Area
1. The technical area extends 1 yd on either side of
the designated seating area and extends forward
up to a distance of 1 yd from the touch line.
2. It is recommended that markings are used to
define this area.
4. Technical Area
3. The number of persons permitted to occupy the
technical area is defined by the competition rules
4. The occupants of the technical area are
identified before the beginning of the match in
accordance with the competition rules.
5. 5. Only one person at a time is authorized to
convey tactical instructions from the technical
area
6. The coach and other officials must remain within
its confines except in special circumstances, e.g.
a physiotherapist or doctor entering the field of
play, with the referee’s permission, to assess an
injured player.
6. 7. The coach and other occupants of the technical
area must behave in a responsible manner
7. Rules of Competition – What do they say?
The IYSA State Cup ROC do not address the issue.
HOWEVER…
Since IYSA State Cup is technically just a stage of the USYS
National Championship Series, those ROC, where
applicable, do apply.
8. USYS Standards of Team Conduct
Only four (4) team officials will be allowed on the team bench during
games. Team officials are expected to cooperate with game officials
and to follow procedures established. No coaching will be allowed
from the touchlines. Degrading remarks directed toward players,
opponents, or game officials in any language may result in being sent
off the game site.
9. We are to be prudent, professional, and
compassionate with regard to teaching,
informing, and asking the coaches / team
officials to comply with the rule.
Set the standard before the match and do so in
a non threatening manner.
10. Be advised that the assessors will be watching
how the referee crew manages the technical
area.
In the absence of a 4th official the duty of
managing the technical area with predominately
fall upon the SAR/AR1.
11. Balls bagged up and not available for warm-up,
including the GK.
Players seated and wearing pennies.
Coaches / Team Officials do not necessarily
need to be seated, they only need to conduct
themselves in a responsible manner.
12. The throwing of water bottles onto the field is
prohibited at all times.
All players, substitutes, and substituted players
can be shown cards by the referee.
Do not show cards to Team Officials.
Ask, Tell, Remove applies.
13. If you caution a substitute or substituted player,
it can only be for one of three reasons:
UB, DT, or DR
You CAN NOT caution a substitute or
substituted player for E/RE or L.
14. If you verbally caution or dismiss a coach your
match report may only reflect one reason for
doing so:
Irresponsible Behavior
15. IYSA State Cup
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Respect Begets Respect
Editor's Notes
Online Training Script:
Welcome to U.S. Soccer’s online training for the Grade 7 Referee Course.
Training for this course is specific to preparing officials for the amateur adult game.
This presentation focuses on advantage.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:
The number of persons permitted to occupy the technical area is defined by the competition rules
The occupants of the technical area are identified before the beginning of the match in accordance with the competition rules.
Referees, we are to be prudent, professional, empathetic, and compassionate with regard to the teaching, educating, informing, and asking the coaches and team officials to comply with this particular rule of competition.
Set the standard before the match and do so in a professional and non threatening manner.
A technical area is not normally designated in our league games and local tournament. As such, this rule will be unfamiliar and probably somewhat uncomfortable for coaches and assistant coaches to conform to.
Please anticipate the coach leaving the technical area and approaching the touchline or even standing on the touchline.
Give them a few seconds to self correct. If the coach does not self correct, THEN ask them to return to their technical area.
Remember, most of these coaches aren’t going to break this rule just for the sake of breaking a rule. Their mind is on other things.
They get excited, they get emotional, they want to communicate technical and tactical instruction to their team.
Let them say their peace, then pick strategic opportunity in which to ask them to return to their technical area.
Please referees, be kind about the enforcement of this rule. We will not be militant or overly strict in our pursuit of trying to enforce this rule.
In the spirit of Ask, Tell, Remove I encourage you to kindly ask the coach several times before you are forced to move to the stage where you are having to tell the coach to stay within the technical area.
Also remember, according to FIFA LOTG, only once coach at a time can give tactical instruction to his team from the technical area.
The coach and assistant coaches will inevitably forget about this but most will not do so maliciously. Again, wait for a strategic moment to quietly and professionally remind them that only one coach at a time may convey instruction to the team from the technical area.
Referees, even though I am asking you to give this particular rule special consideration it will at no time allow the coach or assistant coach to verbally abuse you.
If you have been kind and respectful with your reminders about the technical area and the coach becomes belligerent or disrespectful toward you, then this is now an issue of misconduct and no longer an issue of technical area enforcement. At this point you must take strict action against the coach using the guidance of Ask, Tell, Remove.
